January 22, 2026 3:05 a.m.
On Wednesday, Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz announced that he nominated sixteen Oregon students for consideration for admission to the elite United States service academies.
A release said that includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine academies.
Bentz’s Service Academy Nomination Board, made up of retired and active-duty military officers who interview potential candidates for service academies attendance – recommended each student based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement and character.
Congressman Bentz said, “I am honored to nominate those outstanding young Oregonians to America’s service academies”. Bentz said, “Years of hard work, dedication and commitment to character development have earned these future leaders these much-deserved nominations. By pursing a higher education at one of our country’s select service academies, these students have shown a desire to lead by example, grow intellectually, and serve the United States in uniform”.
Students selected live in Deschutes, Grant, Jackson, Klamath, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wasco counties – all part of the Second Congressional District. No Douglas County students were on the list.
The full list of students is posted with this story at www.541radio.com
Students who are interested in learning more about service academy nominations can visit Bentz’s website at: https://bentz.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations.
The 2025 Academy Nominee’s Oregon are as follows:
Deschutes County
- Kelsea Bomke, daughter of Kurt and Jen Bomke of Bend, attending Oregon State University- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
- Lucy Fisher, daughter of Ryan and Tamara Fisher of La Pine, attending La Pine High School- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy and United States Naval Academy.
- Cooper Garus, son of Toby and April Garus of Bend, attending Trinity Lutheran High School- nominated to the United States Naval Academy.
- Taylor Goodrich, daughter of Alex and Tiffany Goodrich of Bend, attending Oregon Family School- nominated to the United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy and United States Merchant Marine Academy.
- Jackson Hartley, son of Patrick and Jill Hartley of Bend, attending United States Air Force Academy Prep School- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
- Steven Miller, son of Steven and Melanie Miller of La Pine, attending United States Air Force Academy Prep School- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
Grant County
- Vincent Raschio, son of Robert and Sena Raschio of John Day, attending Grant Union High School- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
Jackson County
- Aviyah Jones, daughter of Adam and April Jones of Jacksonville, attending Rogue Community College- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
- Gabriel Medina-Banuelos, son of Roberto Cervantes and Yolanda Medina of Medford, attending Chesterton Academy of the Rogue Valley– nominated to the United States Military Academy.
- Keegan Thonstad, son of Dennis and Cassandra Thonstad of Medford, attending South Medford High School- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy and United States Naval Academy.
- Benjamin Warner, son of Sean and Audra Warner of Central Point, attending Crater High School- nominated to the United States Military Academy.
Klamath County
- Miranda Vincent, daughter of Wayne and Suk Ching Vincent of Klamath Falls, attending Henley High School- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
Umatilla County
- Jefferson Steele, son of Jesse and Kelly Steele of Pendleton, attending Teach Northwest Charter School- nominated to the United States Naval Academy and United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Union County
- Kaden Jones, son of Trevor and Alynn Jones of La Grande, attending La Grande High School- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
Wallowa County
- Lauren McBurney, daughter of Lawrence McBurney and Chantay Jett of Joseph, attending Joseph Charter School- nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.
Wasco County
- Sterling Coburn, son of Mark and Staci Coburn of The Dalles, attending The Dalles High School- nominated to the United States Military Academy.