BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 17 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), on Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Vermont State House, will recognize 23 young Vermonters who the delegation is nominating to United States military service academies for the class of 2030. 

If selected, these students will join current Vermont students at one of the five military academies. To help these nominees learn about the academy experience from current students, Sanders, Welch and Balint will begin the event by hosting a roundtable discussion with the nominees and current students. During this discussion, nominees and current students alike will have the opportunity to share why they are interested in public service, as well as the leadership and duty that comes with serving our nation in uniform. Following the roundtable in the House chamber, Sanders, Welch and Balint will present the nominees with nomination certificates in the Cedar Creek Room. This room, and the large painting within, commemorates the Battle of Cedar Creek — the Civil War battle where the most Vermont regiments saw action and played a prominent role. This backdrop is a fitting reminder for attendees and nominees alike of Vermont’s long, proud history of military service. 

The five military academies, which provide tuition-free undergraduate education and training for individuals commissioning into the armed forces, are: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. As part of the application process, candidates must receive a nomination. While applicants may qualify through other political sources, a congressional nomination is the most common. Graduates of the military academies are commissioned into the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine or Space Force, with a five to eight-year service obligation. 

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/ 

The following students were selected by members of Vermont’s congressional delegation. Their nominations have been submitted to the academies, which will make final admissions decisions.

Jack Ahmann, Burlington — U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch 

Thomas Cotter, Mendon — U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Connor Decker, Waterford — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Adam Dufor, Windsor — U.S. Military Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch 

Cavan Farrell, Berlin — U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Grady Gallagher, Chittenden — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders 

Sawyer Garthaffner, Addison — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch 

Neave Glennon, Burlington — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch 

Ethan Gratton, Barton — U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch 

Aidan Keough-Vella, Bridgewater Corners — U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Roy Lucas, Norwich — U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Cannon Martin, Fayston — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch 

Cade Mulchahey, Essex Junction — U.S. Military Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Magnus Nilsson, Shelburne — U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Griffin Norton, Rutland — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch 

Amelia Pinkham, Saint Albans — U.S. Naval Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Francis Robinson V, Richmond — U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Kai Schulz, Williston — U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Leona Smith, Jericho — U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

John Underwood, Morrisville — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Davin Visconti, West Townshend — U.S. Naval Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch 

Nora Ward, South Londonderry — U.S. Naval Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Beck Welch, White River Junction — U.S. Air Force Academy

Nominated by: Sanders, Welch, Balint 

Details 

What: Nomination ceremony and roundtable discussion with Vermont’s U.S. service academy nominees and the congressional delegation

When: Saturday, Dec. 20, at 11 a.m.

Where: Vermont State House, House Chamber and Cedar Creek Room

Press RSVP Required: Attendance is limited to the nominees, their invited guests, current cadets and members of the press. Media members must RSVP by contacting press@sanders.senate.gov.