Smith Announces Nominees to U.S. Service Academies

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) today announced his nomination of the following students to the U.S. Service Academies for the class entering the fall of 2011.

Thomas Blanton is a recent graduate of Alliance High School in Alliance. He has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

John Dodson, son of James and Patricia Dodson, is a senior at Southern Valley High School in Oxford. He has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Tom Cravey is a recent graduate of Grand Island Senior High School in Grand Island. He has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Shane German, son of Scot and Linda German, is a senior at Chase County High School in Imperial. He has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Onanong Iemkoontod, daughter of Ryan and Omruthai Smith, is a senior at Kearney High School in Kearney. She has been nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Tyler McKeone, son of Tod and Michele McKeone, is a senior at Lexington High School in Lexington. He has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Gregory Nordhues, son of Bob and Patti Nordhues, is a senior at Kearney High School in Kearney. He has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Thomas Sullivan, son of William and Marianne Sullivan, is a senior at Chase County Schools in Imperial. He has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Applicants met personally with Smith's Academy Advisory Committee and were evaluated on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, career motivation, personal traits, letters of recommendation, essays, and personal interviews. Each Academy will make a determination regarding appointments by April of next year.

"Serving in one of the U.S. Service Academies is both an honor and a tremendous commitment, and these students have shown the dedication and drive needed to succeed. I have full faith they will live up to the high standards set before them with distinction and dedication," Smith said.