Grassley Nominates Young Iowans to Service Academies


? Praising the outstanding group of Iowa students seeking nominations to the U.S. military academies, Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced his selections for placement at the West Point Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.; and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

According to Grassley, the highly competitive selection process makes it difficult to narrow the list of nominees each year. "The caliber of Iowa students vying for the few number of openings at our service academies never ceases to amaze me. As always, it's inspiring to see a new generation of such high achievers and talented young people," he said.

Grassley said his 2002 nominations were delayed because of the closure of the Hart Senate Office Building. Grassley's office is located in the building, which was shut down for three months due to anthrax contamination. Grassley said he could not access his files while the building was being treated. He completed the nomination process when the building reopened last week.

From Grassley's nominees, each academy will select students to fill available vacancies for the 2002/2003 school year.

West Point Military Academy (one vacancy)

Wyatt C. Davis, Bayard, Coon Rapids-Bayard High School

Theodore R. Dilla, Ames, Ames High School

Jonathan D. Law, Churdan, Paton-Churdan High School

Devin L. Pomranky, Sloan, Westwood Community High School

Timothy Seberger, Marshalltown, Marshalltown High School

Adam M. Ward, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley High School

Aaron M. Rahe, Dyersville, Beckman High School

Naval Academy (one vacancy)

Eric A. Benjamin, Davenport, Bettendorf High School

Benjamin Bonanno, Des Moines, Dowling High School

Christina Buffington, Cedar Rapids, John F. Kennedy High School

Fredrick W. Dawson IV, Johnston, Johnston High School

Michael J. Gocke, Bondurant, graduate of Dowling High School Gocke currently is serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Krista C. Hakeman, Newell, Newell-Fonda High School

Bryan T. Pates, Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg Senior High School

Air Force Academy (one vacancy)

Kristen Sue Bentz, Dubuque, Dubuque Senior High School

Jacob P. Fischer, Merrill, LeMars Community High School

Matthew S. Hall, Carlisle, Carlisle High School

Kevin P. McVey, Bettendorf, Bettendorf High School

Dustin Ricklefs, Ida Grove, Battle Creek - Ida Grove High School

Joseph K. Robinson, Ankeny, Ankeny High School

Adam W. Tolander, Ankeny, Ankeny High School

Erik A. Warnecke, Walcott, Davenport West High School

Glen Allen Vandervort, Alden, Alden Community High School