{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-announces-military-service-academy-appointments-0", "Johnson Announces Military Service Academy Appointments", "2022-06-22", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Dusty Johnson", "J000301", "dustyjohnson.house.gov", "dustyjohnson", "https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) announced six Service Academy appointments of South Dakota students and residents. They will begin their military training at their respective schools this summer. Johnson nominated each of these students in December 2021 and they recently accepted their appointments.\n\n\u201cOne of the best parts of my job is nominating South Dakota\u2019s best and brightest, in hopes they\u2019ll go on to serve our country at one of our nation\u2019s esteemed military academies,\u201d saidJohnson. \u201cThese six students are choosing a different kind of college experience. Their willingness to dedicate their lives to defending America\u2019s freedom is honorable. I know they will all represent South Dakota well at their respective institutions.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Johnson\u2019s 2022 South Dakota Service Academy Appointees:\n\nImage\n\nDaniel Colby \u2013 United States Naval Academy\n\nDaniel Colby of Sioux Falls, S.D. will be attending the United States Naval Academy and hopes to commission as a Marine Corps Officer. He was a member of MCJROTC for two years, ran varsity cross country and track, and was elected Student Body President his senior year at Sioux Falls Christian. Daniel worked as a head lifeguard for the City of Sioux Falls, served on the Mayor's Youth Council, and started a charity fundraiser with his brother.\n\nDaniel feels honored to have been given an opportunity to serve and protect this country. He elaborated, \u201cI want to give my time and service to the citizens of America because my God calls me to live a life of selfless service. I will never take this opportunity to represent the state of South Dakota and the United States for granted.\u201d\n\nImage\n\nHalle Fjelland \u2013 United States Naval Academy\n\nHalle Fjelland of Spearfish, S.D. will be attending the United States Naval Academy. At Spearfish High School, she was class valedictorian and a three-sport athlete, including captain of her soccer team and runner for the cross country and track teams. Halle was also President of her National Honor Society chapter, on student council, and captain of the debate team. She took a number of dual-credit courses at local colleges and hopes to pursue an engineering career while serving her country.\n\nHalle is \u201clooking forward to the challenge of the Naval Academy, knowing that it will pave the way for a very rewarding career.\u201d\n\nImage\n\nGrace Kaiser \u2013 United States Military Academy\n\nGrace Kaiser of Aberdeen, S.D. will soon be fulfilling a dream she\u2019s had since she was eleven years old: to attend the United States Military Academy. Grace has accepted her appointment to West Point where she wants to be part of something to help others and where she is pushed to be her absolute best. At Aberdeen Christian School, Grace had a heavy math and science curriculum, took four years of Spanish, attended Girls State, and played the saxophone. She was also President of Student Council and captain of both the volleyball and basketball teams.\n\nWhen asked what she is most looking forward to at the Academy, Grace said, \u201cmeeting new people and seeing where I am led through the opportunities that accompany attending USMA.\u201d\n\nImage\n\nGunnar Kvistad \u2013 United States Air Force Academy\n\nGunnar Kvistad of Clark, S.D. will be attending the United States Air Force Academy. Throughout high school, Gunnar ran cross country and track, played baseball and golf, wrestled, played in the band, sang in the choir, and participated with his local Family Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter.\n\nGunnar seeks opportunities to challenge himself at the highest level possible, including in his schoolwork and extracurriculars. \u201cThe Air Force Academy is undoubtedly one of the top educational institutions in the world and can help me propel my future in the right direction,\u201d Gunnar wrote. He hopes to study engineering and aviation and is looking forward to exploring different career paths. His older sister in the National Guard is his source of inspiration to join the military.\n\nImage\n\nJayda McNabb \u2013 United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School\n\nJayda McNabb of Rapid City, S.D. has accepted an offer to attend and play basketball at the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School. At Stevens High School, she was a star athlete in basketball, track, and volleyball, member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, earned academic honors and a member of the National Honor Society. She volunteered at several local non-profit organizations and worked at a nearby historic restaurant.\n\n\u201cLike in sports, teamwork is what I like about the Air Force. The Air Force Academy provides a world-class education while combining athletics, character, leadership development, and military training,\u201d Jayda described. She is looking forward to the personal growth as she begins her journey at the Prep School.\n\nImage\n\nBlake Stark \u2013 United States Air Force Academy\n\nBlake Stark of Sioux Falls, S.D. will be attending his first-choice school: the United States Air Force Academy. Blake comes from a military family and hopes to become a pilot; attending USAFA has been his dream since the sixth grade. At West Central High School, Blake was captain of the cross country team, drumline section leader, and participated in the military youth council. He is an Eagle Scout and attended Boys Nation as well.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-announces-military-service-academy-appointments-0"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9257389940321445, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}