Local student nominees to attend United States service academies

Four local students have been appointed to attend United States military service academies after receiving nominations from Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez last February, a press release earlier this month announced. Seven of Gluesenkamp Perez’s 20 nominees were appointed to the academies.

United States service academies instruct students in leadership, allowing them to graduate and serve as officers in the U.S. military, the White House website states. Service academy graduates serve in a military branch post-graduation.

Cordelia Ashley of Ridgefield will join the U.S. Naval Academy. Ashley is captain of Ridgefield’s track and cross country teams and founded the school’s Military Interest Group, the press release stated.

Ridgefield High School Student Jacob Bell will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Bell is Ridgefield High School’s Student Council president and serves as treasurer for his school’s National Honor Society chapter, the press release stated.

Nominee Roxanne Casey, of Woodland, will join the U.S. Marine Academy after five years as a U.S. Naval Sea Cadet. Casey achieved the rank of chief petty officer while attending Cedar Tree Classical Christian School in Ridgefield, where she led her varsity mock trial club to Washington’s state competition.

Jacob Peay, of Battle Ground, will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. Peay participates in the United States Air Force Junior ROTC program at Battle Ground High School, where he earned his private pilot’s license.

Nominees Joseph Blanshan, of Vancouver, Lily Morgan, of Tenino, and Ethan Freund, of Kelso, will also attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.

For more information on United States service academies, visit whitehouse.gov/service-academy-nominations or gluesenkampperez.house.gov/service-acade my-nominations.