Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senator Todd Young has announced his nominations for appointments to the United States service academies. The senator's office received applications from 140 high school students, and an advisory board selected by Senator Young conducted interviews with 75 candidates. Ultimately, 47 students from Indiana were nominated.

A nomination is a necessary step in the application process for admission to a service academy but does not guarantee acceptance. Nominees are evaluated based on personal merit, which includes character, leadership, academic performance, physical fitness, and participation in extracurricular activities.

“I had the privilege of recommending a talented group of Hoosiers for admission to the United States service academies this year,” said Senator Young. “These young men and women are highly qualified to serve our country, and I’m very proud of their hard work. I wish them the best of luck in their application process.”

The nominees span several prestigious institutions:

For the United States Air Force Academy: Cooper Burton (Wheeler High School), Anna Daughtry (Wabash High School), Braedon Forward (Culver Academies), Sara Hoeppner (Leo Jr/Sr High School), Tucker Hutchinson (Triton Central High School), Evan Maxwell (Brownsburg High School), Rick Orr (Warsaw Community High School), Madalyn Richardson (Washington Township High School), Dirk Rumfelt (Fairfield Jr/Sr High School), Warner Sims (Pendleton Heights High School), Quinn Smith (Concordia Lutheran High School), Vance Toth (Knightstown Community High School), Ryan Verkamp (Jasper High School), Andrei Wallstrom (Canterbury High School) and Sean Windell (Heritage Hills High School).

For the United States Military Academy: John Benson, David Callahan, Leo Dillinger, Cameron Echard, Alexander Fan, Luke Herring, Gregory Hutcheson, Bradley Kehler, Anna Mauch, Keirsten Nies, Tait Owens, Max Phenicie, Gavin Poteet and John Roberts.

For the United States Merchant Marine Academy: Justyn Anciso, Ben Christner, Connor Day, Samara Ducasse, Brayden Mercier Jacob Moss Garrett Quick Robert Shaw Parker St. John

And for the United States Naval Academy: Sebastian Harbeson Jessica Kang Kate Laherty Thomas Mariani Jackson Nevil Santino Pape Adam Peterson Nathaniel Temeles Gabriella Villanueva