BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 23 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (Vt-AL), on Saturday, December 28 at 3:00 p.m., will recognize twenty young Vermonters who are being nominated to be members of the Class of 2029 at the United States Service Academies. At the annual reception held at the Vermont State House, students from across Vermont will receive nomination certificates signed by members of the Vermont Congressional Delegation. Prior to the ceremony, Sanders, Welch, and Balint will host the nominees and current Service Academy students from Vermont for a roundtable discussion.
The five military academies are: U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy. Applicants to U.S. Service Academies must receive a nomination as part of the application requirements. While there are other political nomination sources that applicants may qualify for, a congressional nomination is the most common. The names of this year’s nominees, selected by Sanders, Welch, and Balint through a competitive application process, and sent to the Academies for final decisions, are:
Emma Airoldi of Essex Junction, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Noah Bruttomesso of Middletown Springs, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Henry Bushey of Charlotte, Vermont (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Schuyler Clapp of Norwich, Vermont (U.S. Airforce Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Nathanael Conyers of Waterbury, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
John Hudson Deck of Manchester, Vermont (U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Welch
Gabriel Gardner of Barton, Vermont (U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Nikolas Graupe of Stowe, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Levi Halley of Woodstock, Vermont (U.S. Military Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Aidan Keough-Vella of Bridgewater Corners, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Jonathan McNamara of Essex, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Aidan Militello of Shelburne, Vermont (U.S. Military Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders
Luke Miller of Strafford, Vermont (U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Iola Parry of Lincoln, Vermont (U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Cannon Parsons of Waterbury Center, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders
Derek Renaud of East Hardwick, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Devin Schlegel-Barber of Milton, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Penelope “Pippa” Scott of Mendon, Vermont (U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Representative Balint
Jacob Shevchik of Essex Junction, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Stefan Tallini of West Dover, Vermont (U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy)
Nominated by: Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, Representative Balint
Vermont high school students interested in learning more about attending a U.S. Service Academy can visit: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/services/academies/
Details
What: Nomination Ceremony and Roundtable Discussion with Vermont U.S. Service Academy Nominees and the Vermont Congressional Delegation
When: Saturday, December 28, 3:00 p.m.
Where: Vermont State House, House Chamber and Cedar Creek Room
Note: All attendees are asked to follow Vermont Department of Health guidance and monitor symptoms. Attendees are encouraged to take a rapid COVID-19 test prior to the event.
