Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has nominated 55 outstanding Iowa students for consideration for appointments to the U.S. service academies. Each year Grassley has the opportunity as a U.S. senator to nominate either current or future Iowa high school graduates for a select few service academy placements. The Air Force, Military, and Naval academies all select at least one qualified student from Grassley’s nominations. The Merchant Marine Academy makes selections in proportion to states’ representation in Congress.

Among those nominated to the:

U.S. Military Academy at West Point…was Seth Horsley, from the Carroll High School,in Carroll, and Jose Olivo from the Griswold High School, in Griswold.

U.S. Naval Academy…Luke Schmitz, with the Harlan High School, in Harlan.

And to the Merchant Marine Academy: Gustave Doll, from St. Albert High School, in Council Bluffs.

Students interested in academy appointments should begin the application process in the spring of their junior year of high school. The academies select students based on the number of vacancies available for the next school year. Senator Tom Harkin and Iowa Representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives also make nominations. Traditionally, the high quality of Iowa nominees results in several Iowa students being selected to attend each of the service academies.