{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-nominates-iowa-students-us-service-academies-0", "Grassley Nominates Iowa Students to the U.S. Service Academies", "2014-12-23", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Senator Chuck Grassley has nominated 37 outstanding Iowa students for consideration for appointments to the U.S. service academies. Young Iowans who want to enter the academies and serve our country are remarkable for their accomplishments and leadership. These candidates are an impressive reflection on our state and signal continued excellence in the U.S. armed forces, Grassley said. Each year Grassley has the opportunity as a U.S. senator to nominate either current or future Iowa high school graduates for a select few service academy placements. The Air Force, Military, and Naval academies all select at least one qualified student from Grassley's nominations. The Merchant Marine Academy makes selections in proportion to states' representation in Congress. Grassley said he encourages Iowa students to consider applying to more than one service academy due to the highly competitive nature of admissions. The academies offer some of the best options for higher education, and they offer an outstanding way to serve our country, Grassley said. It's a tremendous opportunity for young Iowans. Students interested in academy appointments should begin the application process in the spring of their junior year of high school. The academies select students based on the number of vacancies available for the next school year. Iowa Representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives also make nominations in addition to both of Iowa's U.S. Senators. Traditionally, the high quality of Iowa nominees results in several Iowa students being selected to attend each of the service academies. More information about service academy nominations can be foundhere. Grassley said he will make announcements as appointments to the academies are offered to Iowans.  The lists below include the names and hometowns of Grassley's nominees for the 2015-2016 school year. U.S. Air Force Academy  Yair Abramoff, Iowa City  Jessica Brown, Sioux City  Jean Etnyre, Pella*  Mark Farlinger, Cresco*  Jeffrey Giannettino, West Burlington  Adrianna Hines, Missouri Valley  Jacob Orr, Johnston  Spencer Silver, Ankeny  Haley Steele, Muscatine  Graham Zomermaand, Sioux Center U.S. Military Academy at West Point  Payton Boylston, Ames  Harrison Gudorf, West Des Moines  Zachary Hoffman, Ankeny  Jaryd Huffman, Letts  Alexander Jones, Council Bluffs  Jonas Mason, Cedar Rapids  Ethan Pieper, Norwalk*  Buchanan Waller, Maquoketa  John Worthington, Hudson  Tobey Yates, Underwood U.S. Naval Academy  Caroline Ascherl, Granville  Robert Beardsley, Bettendorf  Diana Carney, Coggon  Luke Donnelly, West Des Moines  Madeline Gehrke, Clive  Dane Livengood, Treynor  Griffin Lorenz, Marion*  Luis Martinez, Des Moines  Molly Sanders, Ames  Gabrielle Taht, St. Donatus U.S. Merchant Marine Academy  Joseph Budde, La Motte  Jean Etnyre, Pella  Mark Farlinger, Cresco  Nicholas Fox, Clive  Trever Huss, Orange City  Griffin Lorenz, Marion  Ethan Pieper, Norwalk Students denoted with an asterisks(*) were also nominated for appointments to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in addition to the Air Force, Military or Naval Academies.    -30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-nominates-iowa-students-us-service-academies-0"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7104440592229366, "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"}