Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., left, and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., sit during the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree lightning ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WHEELING — Four students from the Northern Panhandle have been nominated by U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin for United States service academies.

Capito, R-W.Va., nominated Wheeling Park students Jameson Maynard and Kaitlin Ortiz and Marshall County native August Welsh, a student at Saint John Paul The Great High School in Dumfries, Virginia for the United States Naval Academy, while Manchin, I-W.Va. nominated Welsh for the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Madonna High School student Eldon Cottrill for the United States Naval Academy.

In total, Capito nominated 36 students across 17 West Virginia counties for service academies, while Manchin nominated 43 students across 19 counties.

Manchin, who is retiring from the Senate after this year, has nominated 925 West Virginia students to service academies during his time there.

“In my tenure as the Senator of the great state of West Virginia, it has been one of my greatest honors to nominate a total of 925 of West Virginia’s brightest young men and women to our nation’s prestigious military academies,” said Manchin. “This year I am beyond proud to recommend these 43 individuals who seek to answer the call to serve our country, and I’m confident that, if accepted, our service academies will further develop them into our next generation of leaders.

“I truly believe we are the most patriotic state in the nation, and I invite all West Virginians to join me in congratulating these hardworking and dedicated students for their nominations,” he continued. “Their courage and commitment give us all renewed hope for the future.”

Capito’s nominees were selected by a board chosen by her who reviewed each application, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations.

“One of my most important responsibilities as a U.S. Senator is nominating bright, motivated West Virginians for admission to our nation’s prestigious service academies, and it is a task that I look forward to every year,” Capito said. “I was extremely proud to nominate 36 outstanding West Virginians to represent our state at the service academies and become our nation’s future military leaders. These young men and women have proven themselves as the best and brightest, and I look forward to seeing them excel in the future.”

Final admission to the service academies is determined by the respective academy. Students who are offered admission will be announced individually in the coming months.