news

Local students nominated to service academies

By Leila Kheiry

This week, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young announced their nominations of Alaska high school seniors to various U.S. military service academies.

Murkowski nominated 57 Alaskans from across the state. Among them are Ketchikan residents Alex Pihl and Ella Sherrill, nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy; Jeri Langert and Holly O’Brien, nominated to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; and Ella Sherrill received a second nomination from Murkowski to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Young nominated 50 young Alaskans for military academies. He also picked Jeri Langert of Ketchikan for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Ella Sherrill for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Nominations from elected representatives don’t guarantee acceptance, but it’s a step in that direction. According to Murkowski’s office, the nominees are chosen based on academic records, extracurricular activities and leadership skills.