Jessica Burks receives nomination for three US military academies

Jessica Burks

Jessica Burks, a Yosemite High School senior, has received a congressional nomination from Congressman George Radanovich to the United States Naval Academy, the US Military Academy, and the US Merchant Marine Academy.

"I was shocked when I found out," Burks admits. Radanovich's selection committee was only able to select five students from the 19th Congressional District of the approximately 20 who were interviewed.

Burks, who hopes to attend the US Naval Academy, says that "it has been a long process full of hard work and many essays," and is now waiting to hear from the three academies.

"Just because you receive a nomination doesn't necessarily mean you will be accepted into the academies," Burks says. Upon receiving the nomination, the names of the candidates will be sent to the academies, and from there, they will choose to accept or reject them. "It's such an honor to have even gotten this far," she says.

Burks attended a summer seminary at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland over the summer and states "I enjoyed living as a midshipman for a week and hope to make a career out of it someday.”