{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-announces-nominations-to-us-service-academies-for-2026-2027-school-year", "Rounds Announces Nominations to U.S. Service Academies for 2026-2027 School Year", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has nominated South Dakota students for appointments to the nation\u2019s service academies.\n\nRounds nominated Emma Kinyon of Rapid City as his principal nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy, Esten Foss of Aberdeen as his principal nominee to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Malia Kranz of Watertown as his principal nominee to the U.S. Air Force Academy.\n\n\u201cEach fall, I have the honor of nominating South Dakota students to attend our military service academies. These students are some of the best and the brightest our state has to offer,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe U.S. service academies are among the most elite educational institutions in the world. After receiving a top-notch education, these South Dakotans will serve our country as active-duty military officers. They\u2019ve worked hard to earn these nominations. We\u2019re proud of these students and their desire to serve our nation.\u201d\n\nEmma Kinyon of Rapid City \u2013 Principal Nominee, U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis)\n\nEmma is the daughter of Jason Kinyon and Megan Byrd. Emma is currently a senior at Rapid City Stevens High School, where she participates in FIRST Robotics, National Science Bowl and the Rapid City Youth Council. She also plays the viola in the school orchestra and plays on the varsity girls soccer team. Emma has also spent two summers conducting research with the Army Educational Outreach Program through the South Dakota School of Mines. Emma is a National Honor Society member and currently holds a 3.9 GPA.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful to have received the principal nomination to the United States Naval Academy from Senator Mike Rounds,\u201d said Kinyon. \u201cThe academy has been a goal of mine for the past 3 years and I\u2019m incredibly thankful for the peers, mentors, and teachers that have inspired me along the way. I\u2019m also deeply grateful for my friends, family, and Senator Mike Rounds for their confidence in me. I\u2019m excited, not only for the opportunity to improve myself mentally, morally, and physically, but to be a part of the U.S. Navy\u2019s obligation to protect and ensure democracy around the world, and to offer my skills and abilities in defense of freedom and peace.\u201d\n\nEsten Foss of Aberdeen \u2013 Principal Nominee, U.S. Military Academy (West Point)\n\nEsten is the son of Kevin and Kerri Foss of Aberdeen, South Dakota. He is captain of the cross country and wrestling teams and participates in track and field. Esten is a member of the National Honor Society and currently holds a 3.96 GPA. Esten volunteers at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and he planned a car wash fundraiser that raised $4,000 for Aberdeen area veterans.\n\n\u201cI am extremely honored to represent my school, state, and country at the US Military Academy, and I look forward to upholding their motto of Duty, Honor, and Country for the next four years and beyond,\u201d said Foss. \u201cThis has been a dream and a primary goal of mine since middle school, and the entire process has taught me about myself and the importance of leadership and integrity. I would like to thank my friends, family, teachers, and all those who helped and supported me throughout this application and my time in high school. Go Army!\"\n\nMalia Kranz of Watertown \u2013 Principal Nominee, U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs)\n\nMalia is the daughter of Raymond and Julianne Kranz. She is a 2-time state champion track and field athlete and plays on the varsity basketball team. Malia also serves as an Arrow Ambassador and on the Watertown High School student council. She also volunteers as a mentor at Watertown Intermediate School, as a Kindness Lesson Leader for elementary students and as a recess monitor at Mellette Elementary. Malia is a member of National Honor Society and currently holds a 4.0 GPA.\n\n\u201cI am deeply grateful to Senator Mike Rounds for the principal nomination to the United States Air Force Academy,\u201d said Kranz. \u201cWithout the relentless encouragement from my family, friends, and community, this opportunity would not have been possible. I am eager to take on the challenges ahead and honored to serve our nation with integrity, discipline and dedication.\u201d\n\nIn addition to principal nominees, Rounds may send up to 14 competitive nominees per academy for consideration by that academy. Each service academy admission board gives full and fair consideration to these nominees and will determine final appointments. Rounds has selected the students listed below to receive a competitive nomination.\n\nU.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis)\n\nEmma Kinyon of Rapid City - Principal\n\nWeston Baker of Brookings - Competitive\n\nMiles Bender of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nCamden Bjergaard of Hartford - Competitive\n\nKiersten Blacker of Spearfish - Competitive\n\nJacob DeYoung of Tea - Competitive\n\nWilliam Hanzlik of Chamberlain - Competitive\n\nBennett Jensen of Dakota Dunes - Competitive\n\nLincoln Mansfield of Hurley - Competitive\n\nJaxson Muck of Stickney - Competitive\n\nAbigail Nichols of Pierre - Competitive\n\nGrace Olson of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nGrant Roth of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nTrinidy Sorenson of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nAnders Van Olson of Yankton - Competitive\n\nU.S. Military Academy (West Point)\n\nEsten Foss of Aberdeen - Principal\n\nWeston Baker of Brookings - Competitive\n\nMiles Bender of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nCamden Bjergaard of Hartford - Competitive\n\nKanin Booth of Summerset - Competitive\n\nJacob DeYoung of Tea - Competitive\n\nBennett Jensen of Dakota Dunes - Competitive\n\nEmma Kinyon of Rapid City - Competitive\n\nAbigail Nichols of Pierre - Competitive\n\nGrace Olson of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nGrant Roth of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nTrinidy Sorenson of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nAnders Van Olson of Yankton - Competitive\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs)\n\nMalia Kranz of Watertown - Principal\n\nWeston Baker of Brookings - Competitive\n\nMiles Bender of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nCamden Bjergaard of Hartford - Competitive\n\nKanin Booth of Summerset - Competitive\n\nLevi Brechtel of Rapid City - Competitive\n\nMax Cook of Gregory - Competitive\n\nEsten Foss of Aberdeen - Competitive\n\nBennett Jensen of Dakota Dunes - Competitive\n\nJaxson Muck of Stickney - Competitive\n\nTyler Mueller of Rapid City - Competitive\n\nAbigail Nichols of Pierre - Competitive\n\nGrant Roth of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nJaxson Sodini of Madison - Competitive\n\nAnders Van Olson of Yankton - Competitive\n\nU.S. Merchant Marines Academy (Kings Point)\n\nAbigail Nichols of Pierre - Competitive\n\nGrace Olson of Sioux Falls - Competitive\n\nAnders Van Olson of Yankton - Competitive\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nStudents interested in attending a service academy go through a rigorous application process. Because the academies are highly competitive, students must meet eligibility requirements in leadership, physical fitness, character and academics. The young people joining the military directly from the academies are among the highest caliber our country has to offer, which is a result of the challenging training and education they received at service academies. Students applying for service academies are required to receive a Congressional nomination as part of the application process. Those appointed receive a scholarship and military appointment and are required to serve in the military for at least five years upon graduation.\n\nIndividuals interested in applying for a service academy nomination for academic year 2027-2028 (Class of 2031) should apply by October 10, 2026. Questions about the academy nomination application process can be directed to Rounds\u2019 Rapid City office by calling (605) 343-5035 or by emailing Academy_Nominations@rounds.senate.gov.\n\nAn informational packet and the application packet can be found on Rounds\u2019 website at https://www.rounds.senate.gov/constituents/academy-nominations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"]], "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.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-announces-nominations-to-us-service-academies-for-2026-2027-school-year"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.015826826915145, "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"}