Ernst Nominates Iowa Students to U.S. Service Academies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, today announced that she has nominated 32 Iowa students to be considered for appointments at United States service academies.

“It’s a tremendous honor to nominate so many outstanding Iowa students who work tirelessly in their classrooms and throughout their communities to make a difference,” said Senator Ernst. “This nomination is the next step in their admissions process. Today, I congratulate and thank them for their leadership and willingness to take a significant step forward and serve their country.”

Each year, Senator Ernst has the honor and responsibility of nominating Iowa students to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The admissions process at the service academies is incredibly competitive and the Iowa Senator encourages students to apply for more than one academy.

To learn more about service academy nominations, click here.

Below is a complete list of the students nominated by Senator Ernst for the Class of 2021.

United States Air Force Academy

Nathan Abramoff, Iowa City

Jackson Cole, Altoona

John Colgan, Iowa City

Savannah David, Granger

Lindsey Dee, Ankeny

Brayden Elbert, Indianola

Shannon Guy, Davenport

Jack Vander Voort, Orange City

Keaton Van Soelen, Waukee

Noah Welch, Urbandale

United States Naval Academy

Connor Ascherl, Granville

Nathan Betts, Dyersville

Chloe Bender, Ackworth

Samantha Fults, Rowley

Bryce Foxen, Charles City

Patrick Gorman, Springville

Jack Giannettino, Burlington

Justin Manternach, Mount Vernon

Aidan Palmer, Des Moines

Elizabeth Worthington, Brooklyn

United States Military Academy at West Point

Ryer Barnes, Cedar Rapids

Jerry Bastin, Muscatine

Zach Bunn, Bettendorf

Bronson Brown, Muscatine

Griffin Clark, Gaithersburg, MD (Originally from Lisbon, IA)

Garrett Dolan, Muscatine

Jacob Fischer, Ankeny

Brock Jennings, Osage

Patricia King, Sioux Center

Calvin Pieper, Waukee

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Colin Kerkhoff, Waukee

Josh Krehbiel, Elkhart

Senator Ernst received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University where she joined the university’s ROTC program. After graduating, Ernst was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, and after a few years in the Reserves, transferred to the Iowa National Guard. In 2003, she served as a company commander in Kuwait and Iraq, leading 150 Iowa Army National Guardsmen during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Senator Ernst retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard after 23 years of military service.

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