Two students from the southern Pennyrile region have been nominated for appointments to U.S. military academies, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., announced in a press release.
Quinn Wagner Miller, a student from Hopkinsville who attends Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University, received a nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Vincent McQuade, a student from Herndon who attends Trigg County High School, received a nomination to U.S. Military Academy West Point.
They were among seven students that Comer nominated. The others are:
- Jonathan Neal Gold, of Columbia, nominated to U.S. Naval Academy.
- Ryan Dale Hayden, of Mayfield, nominated to U.S. Military Academy West Point.
- Hunter William Mayfield, of Robards, nominated to U.S. Air Force Academy.
- Jesse Punzalan, of Franklin, nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Naval Academy.
- Clare Elisabeth Shirk, of Paducah, nominated to to U.S. Naval Academy.
“Each of these young students have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, and character,” Comer said in the release. “I applaud their desire to serve in our nation’s armed services and wish them the best as they move forward through the appointment process.”
A congressional nomination can be a crucial component in a candidate’s application but it does not guarantee admission to one of the military academies.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
