Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) today announced the names of 20 students who have been nominated from the Fourth District of Oklahoma for entry into one of America’s prestigious military academies, which provide for the undergraduate education and training of commissioned officers for the United States Armed Forces. The military service academies that require a congressional nomination are the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy.
The nomination process is highly competitive. Applicants are evaluated for academic performance and standing, including class rank, SAT/ACT scores and school records. Other criteria considered by Cole and the recommendation panel includes athletics, physical fitness, extracurricular activities, recommendations and leadership potential. Upon congressional nomination, students become eligible for appointment consideration at the service academy (or academies) to which they have applied.
“I am honored to recommend a tremendous group of candidates from the Fourth District of Oklahoma for potential appointment to one of the nation’s most prestigious military academies,” said Cole. “These leaders represent some of the best and brightest of their generation. And by boldly and willingly answering the call of duty, they are an inspiration to us all.”
The list below includes the names, hometowns and high school information of the students, as well as the academies to which they were nominated. Note that applications are still being considered by the selection committees for potential fall 2020 admission at the various academies. Several of the students received nominations to more than one academy.
U.S. Air Force Academy
Samuel Jun, Oklahoma City – Casady School; Dalton Carson, Ada – Ada High School; Jordan Willis, Mustang – Mustang High School; Katelyn Spillman, Newcastle – Newcastle High School; Sydney Gunter, Lawton – MacArthur High School; Paige Knobelsdorf, Choctaw – Choctaw High School; Ty Herrin, Choctaw – Choctaw High School; Carson Perry, Marietta – New Mexico Military Institute High School; Brayden Bryant, Ardmore – Ardmore High School; Ashley Nail, Davis – Sulphur High School
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Jacob Cordova, Moore – Moore High School; Paige Knobelsdorf, Choctaw – Choctaw High School
U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Bryson Stricker, Ardmore – Plainview High School; Zachary Nemecek, Oklahoma City – Southmoore High School; Mark French, Ardmore – Lone Grove High School; Joseph Kelly, Lawton – Eisenhower High School; Heyward Hutson, Cache – Cache High School; Samuel Jun, Oklahoma City – Casady School; Kirby Snow, Sulphur – Sulphur High School; Jonathan Kim, Oklahoma City – Westmoore High School; Jacob Cordova, Moore – Moore High School; Paige Knobelsdorf, Choctaw – Choctaw High School
U.S. Naval Academy
Kirby Snow, Sulphur – Sulphur High School; Trace Stewart, Marietta – Marietta High School; Jonathan Kim, Oklahoma City – Westmoore High School; Jacob Cordova, Moore – Moore High School; Brody Sturges, Noble – Noble High School;Samuel Jun, Oklahoma City – Casady School; Joseph Kelly, Lawton – Eisenhower High School; Paige Knobelsdorf, Choctaw – Choctaw High School; Ashley Nail, Davis – Sulphur High School