Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Two New Mexico lawmakers in Washington recently nominated a Logan High School student to U.S. military academies.
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, a Democrat in New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District and assistant speaker of the U.S. House, on Dec. 16 announced his nomination of Logan High senior Jason Knight to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) announced Dec. 17 his nomination of Knight to the Air Force Academy.
Interviews of candidates took place in Lujan’s district in early November. His Service Academy Selection Board picked a total of 26 nominations to academies for the Navy, Air Force, Army and Merchant Marines.
Udall’s military service panel, which was comprised of active-duty military personnel, veterans and community leaders, also interviewed Knight. Udall ultimately issued 39 nominations.
Students, such as Knight, may be nominated for more than one service academy.
Selection to these academies is among the most competitive and rigorous in the country; only a few from each state are accepted by the service academies each year. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2020.
Nominees must submit an application that includes a personal statement, resume, letters of reference, academic transcripts and standardized test scores. If nominated, applicants must meet admission requirements for each academy. The academies make the final decision on who will be admitted.