13 Johnson County students earn appointments to U.S. service academies

Thirteen Johnson County students recently earned appointments to United States service academies.

It’s a prestigious honor that comes after a grueling application process that includes the requirement that students be nominated by a member of Congress.

This year’s class of appointees from Johnson County, most of them recently graduated high school seniors, received a certificate for their appointments at a sendoff ceremony hosted by U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids on Friday.

It’s a rigorous application process

• Davids’ office said the third-term Democrat initially nominated roughly 30 students from her district, and these 13 were the ones who met the criteria for entry from a review panel, as well as their respective service academies.
• The application requires three letters of recommendation, a 500-word essay and a summary of community service, extracurricular activities and family responsibilities.
• There are also medical and physical tests to pass, background checks and the need to prove yourself as a leader.
• “Taking the time and energy and resources, emotional resources, to apply to and go to a service academy is something that very few people are even willing to try,” Davids said in remarks made at the sendoff ceremony.

At least one applicant re-applied

• Jinwoo Kim, a 2022 graduate of Blue Valley Southwest, leaves for the U.S. Naval Academy at the end of June for a six-week training.
• Kim went through the process with the U.S. Air Force Academy last year, but after that fell through, he spent one year at Mercersburg Academy, a private college prep and boarding school.
• Now, Kim said he’s looking forward to training, meeting his fellow cadets and going through the process alongside his new company.
• “I’m really excited just to be part of something bigger than myself,” Kim said. “I’ve always looked for a purpose bigger than myself and serving my country is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a young kid.”

The following 13 Johnson County students received appointments:

United States Naval Academy

• Truman Connor of Mission Hills, Pembroke Hill School
• Jinwoo Kim of Overland Park, Blue Valley Southwest
• Anthony Melick of Overland Park, Missouri Military Academy

United State Merchant Marine Academy

• Xander Mallory of Olathe, Olathe West
• Barrett Waller of Overland Park, Blue Valley Northwest

United States Military Academy (West Point)

• Nicholas Murphy of Leawood, Blue Valley High
• Lukas Haase of Overland Park, Blue Valley Southwest
• Zachary Clark of Shawnee, St. James Academy

United States Air Force Academy

• Noah Higbie of Lenexa, Rockhurst High School
• Aidan Behymer of Overland Park, Blue Valley Northwest
• Carson Baker of Overland Park, Blue Valley West
• Jayden Oquendo of Olathe, Olathe Northwest
• Lauren Steinlage of Olathe, St. James Academy

Go deeper: These Shawnee Mission area students earned U.S. Service academy appointments