Fort Campbell, KY. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – U.S. Congressman Mark Green presented certificates and challenge coins to 17 young adults Tuesday at Fort Campbell who were among 30 nominees from the 7th Congressional District to the U.S. Military Academies.

Those academies are West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The nominees underwent a rigorous process to earn a nomination to one of the four service academies.

Green talked about the nominees he was honoring. “These are the young men and women who will go into our nations military and they will serve our nations defense. Most of them will go on to lead after their military careers. They’ll lead our nation, so this is the future right here,” said Green.

One on the nominees from Rossview High School in Clarksville, Sawyer Griffy, said this about his nomination and getting ready to enter the Naval Academy.

“It’s really good to be able to come here with Mark Green and get this recognition. It feels great and it’s something that I’ve wanted to do. Going off to the Naval Academy will be a new experience, but I know I’m going to come out better than when I went in. I’m going to be able to better myself as a person and help to better my country,” Griffy said.

Those recognized, their hometowns and high schools:

West Point nominees
Robert Allen-Franklin, Father Ryan High School Jack Dellinger-Brentwood, Ravenwood High School
Hunter Henderson-Clarksville, Rossview High School
William Kaylor-Brentwood, Ravenwood High School (Kaylor also received a nomination to the Air Force Academy)
Joshua McKinley-Clarksville, Kenwood High School
Asher Tabor-Brentwood, Brentwood High School Raquel Zitta-Duck River, Hickman County High School

Naval Academy nominees
Cody Baker-Clarksville, West Creek High School Michael Brown-Franklin, Franklin High School Hayden Garza-Brentwood, Brentwood High School Sawyer Griffy-Clarksville, Rossview High School Eyan Hudson-Camden, Camden High School (Hudson also received a nomination to the Air Force Academy)

Air Force Academy nominees
Camdyn Cooper-Santa Fe, Santa Fe High School
Audrian Gutierrez-Clarksville, Rossview High School William Kaylor-Brentwood, Ravenwood High School Hailey Kim-Nolensville, Nolensville High School, Winnie Martin-Brentwood, Mascoutah High School

Merchant Marine Academy nominee Sally Grigsby-Clarksville, Clarksville Christian School