WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) held an event to honor the 30 high school students from California’s 52nd Congressional District who have been nominated to the U.S. military service academies. Each year, Rep. Peters has the distinct pleasure of recommending a group of outstanding individuals to one or more of our nation’s service academies - the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. The nomination makes them eligible for a fully funded education, with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

“The opportunity to nominate students to our country’s military academies is one of the most rewarding duties I have as a member of Congress,” Rep. Peters said. “These students have already earned a reputation as young leaders in San Diego, and now they represent the future leaders of our Armed Forces.”

The highly qualified young men and women were selected after applying and interviewing with Rep. Peters’ independent Service Academy Nomination Board. The carefully chosen candidates are as follows:

United States Air Force Academy

Grace Ritz- Coronado High School

Asher Ellis- Francis Parker School

Holden Brosnan- Cathedral Catholic High School

Samuel De La Cruz- The Bishop's School

Alexxis Brown- Westview High School

Tyler Wheeler- Torrey Pines High School

Blake Eastman- Serra High School

Andrea Carruthers- Mira Mesa High School

Isaac Schultz- La Jolla High School

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Nick Blanchard- Rancho Bernardo High School

Grant Gould- Coronado High School

Rigney Herrera- Cathedral Catholic High School

United States Military Academy

Benjamin Berry- San Diego City College

Joshua Boamah- Scripps Ranch High School

Chloe Covington- San Diego High School Science & Technology

Kate Hartford- La Jolla High School

Nathan Kim- The Cambridge School

Jonny Tanner- The Hotchkiss School

Gwendolyn Vestal- Del Norte High School

Ryan Knight- Culver Academies

Samantha Stern- Rancho Bernardo High School

United States Naval Academy

Thomas Gillcrist- Canyon Crest Academy

Christie Linnard- The Bishop's School

Natalie Schirmacher- Del Norte High School

Caitlin Fish- Naval Academy Prep School

Andrew Schulz- Canyon Crest Academy

Reid Gohlke- Gordon College

James Gray- Torrey Pines High School

Claudia Compton- Point Loma High School

Phillip Richman- Iona College

Students interested in the nomination process can learn more by visiting Rep. Peters’ service academy page or by calling his San Diego office, at 858-455-5550.