Dear Friends,

Kentucky’s Second District is home to very bright and talented students, and I am proud to represent them and their families. Each year I have the opportunity to nominate students to U.S. service academies as well as host the Congressional Art Competition and Congressional App Challenge for Kentucky's Second District. I’m always impressed by the resumes of students pursuing service academies and with their desire to serve our country. I also enjoy seeing the amazing artwork that students create and the coding skills that middle and high school students use to develop their own apps. Please join me in congratulating students who received service academy appointments this year and our most recent winners from the Congressional Art Competition and Congressional App Challenge. Also, congratulations to all of our recent graduates!

Service Academies

It’s an honor to personally notify and congratulate students on receiving appointments to the United States service academies. This year five students, who received nominations through my office from Kentucky's Second District, were offered service academy appointments. Earning an appointment to a service academy is a competitive process that takes years of hard work and preparation. The application process to service academies is also extensive. Several of the academies require students to directly apply to the academy and also receive a nomination from their Member of Congress, U.S. Senator, or another official nomination source.

As a West Point graduate, I take my role of nominating students to service academies seriously and consult the Second District Academy Board, which includes veterans and community leaders, to make nomination decisions. I make an effort to either call or visit each student from Kentucky’s Second District, who receives a service academy appointment and also a nomination through my congressional office.

This year I was able to meet Kelsey McKnight from Bullitt Central High School, who was offered an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Kelsey is interested in flying and majoring in computer engineering.

I was also able to visit Keegan Solmos from Nelson County High School, who received an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

I also had the honor to call three impressive students from Kentucky’s Second District about their appointments.

Clayton Lewis from Owensboro Catholic High School received the first service academy appointment in Kentucky’s Second district this year, who was nominated through my congressional office. Clayton received appointments to the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy.

Two students from Hardin County also received appointments. Mark Cecil, who was homeschooled, received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, and Eli Kraan from Central Hardin High School received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Each of these five students had impressive resumes, ambition, and dedication, and I’m proud of all of them. The next nomination deadline for my office is November 12, 2021. Learn more about the service academy application process HERE.

Congressional Art Competition

Each year I’m proud to host the Second District Congressional Art Competition. This year we had 46 pieces of artwork submitted. The first place overall winner’s artwork is displayed in the U.S. Capitol among other winning artworks from congressional districts. Several of the other winning artworks are displayed in my local office. This competition is a fun and great way to showcase the amazing art talent of students in Kentucky’s Second District.

This year I was able to meet winners and participants from Bardstown High School and Nelson County High School.

Alexis Gribbins from Nelson County High School won this competition two years back-to-back. This year she won with her artwork, “Portrait of an Eagle.”

Kentucky's Second District Students In the News

Spectrum News: Bullitt Central High School Student Offered an Appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy

Kentucky Standard: Students Recognized for Congressional Art Competition

Messenger Inquirer: Answering the call to serve: OCHS's student's West Point acceptance inspired by late classmate

How can I help?

My office and I are happy to help you and provide assistance with navigating federal agencies. To contact my office, please click HERE or call 270-842-9896.