March 9th, 2026

Husted hosts reception with service academy nominees

“The future of our nation is very bright with these talented, driven young people standing up to serve and lead.”

ASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today hosted a reception for his 53 U.S. Military Service Academy nominees and their families.

“One of the great honors I have in representing Ohio in the U.S. Senate is to make nominations to our military service academies. I’m confident this group represents the very best of Ohio. The future of our nation is very bright with these talented, driven young people standing up to serve and lead,” said Husted.

The United States maintains five military service academies, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress. After evaluating the applicants’ academics, athletics, extra-curricular activities and community service experience, Husted’s office conducted in-person interviews with applicants qualified for academy admission.

Members of Congress can nominate a maximum of 55 students annually, including up to 15 applicants to each of the Air Force, Military and Naval academies, and up to 10 to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. A Congressional Nomination is not necessary for admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy.

The following students from Ohio have received a nomination from Husted as candidates to the service academies:

United States Military Academy

West Point, New York

Jacob Bednar           Columbus, OH

Tejomaya Bheshaj   Fairlawn, OH

Shea Broski               Hudson, OH

Haidyn Bunker         West Farmington, OH

Maegan Chrysler      New Albany, OH

Ellen Erwin                Centerville, OH

Evan Frissora           Dublin, OH

Morgan Hamilton      Columbus, OH

Tiernan Hunter          Columbus, OH

Akash Joshi               Holland, OH

Sophie Lang              Pepper Pike, OH

Daniel McMillan        Gambier, OH

Anica Rane               Cincinnati, OH

Jacob Schleiff           Cincinnati, OH

Kiera Spinelli             Batavia, OH

United States Naval Academy

Annapolis, Maryland

Mason Altman           Cincinnati, OH

Kylie Bradshaw         Galena, OH

Raine DeAngelis      Westlake, OH

Milli DeVenne            Galena, OH

Connor Durant          Hilliard, OH

Gianni Faiello            Louisville, OH

Derek Fan                 Beachwood, OH

Josiah Haskins         Canal Winchester, OH

Broderick Hicks        Perry, OH

Grayson Houk           Crooksville, OH

Hannah Hunt             Upper Arlington, OH

Dylan Hunter             Westlake, OH

Everett Lynch            Columbus, OH

Connor Schaaf         Cincinnati, OH

Sarah Van Dress      Berea, OH

United States Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Grant Bauer              Sandusky, OH

Karis Beineke           Marion, OH

Laney Bottemiller     Bellbrook, OH

Colin Broxterman     Cincinnati, OH

Parker Bush              Salem, OH

Phoebe Hamant       Centerville, OH

Halder Hernandez    Springboro, OH

Grady Kinsey New Philadelphia, OH

Mia Lauvray             Coshocton, OH

Milan Lillis                  Upper Arlington, OH

Brady Lynch              Columbus, OH

Coby Miladinovic      Medina, OH

Anderson Rowe        Elyria, OH

Owen Swonger         Perrysburg, OH

Keanu Valdez           Pickerington, OH

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point, New York

Jack Buell                  Pandora, OH

Margaret Bush          Beavercreek, OH

Amira Bzdafka          Pickerington, OH

Kayla Duffee             Bexley, OH

Paul Madden             Mount Sterling, OH

Gavin Minich             Bloomdale, OH

Lillian Schulteis         Columbus, OH

James Swiger           Chesterland, OH

Students who receive a Congressional Nomination to one of the Military Service Academies must still earn admission to their nominated academy and continue to maintain eligibility for that admission until their arrival on campus, including maintaining their excellent records in academics, integrity and physical fitness. They must also successfully complete the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) assessment, among other rigorous requirements.

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