Student receives military academy nominations
Courtesy photo Kellogg High School senior and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Commanding Officer Shae Curran (center) stands with Sgt. Maj. Jeff Smith, Cadet Captain Mathias Benson, Cadet 1st Sgt. Jared White and Major Craig Petersen at the JROTC’s Marine Corps Ball. Curran has been nominated for appointments to all of the major military academies.
KELLOGG — Kellogg High School senior Shea Curran has been nominated by both Idaho senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo to multiple military academies.
With nominations to both West Point (U.S. Army) and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Curran will now be waiting to see if she gets an appointment from either of the prestigious military academies.
Curran is waiting to see what comes of the nominations, but has essentially figured out where she wants to go in life and will pursue a career in the medical field no matter where she ends up.
Each academy has a certain number of openings in each field, including medical, so Curran will face competition for one of those spots if she receives and accepts an appointment.
She would like to pursue her doctorate after she fulfills any military commitment (if she doesn’t make the military a career).
“I have the University of Montana as a backup plan,” Curran said. “If I don’t receive an appointment, then I have already been accepted there. I want to end up in the service though, so if I don’t get an appointment, I’ll probably go to medical school first and then commission into the Air Force or Navy.”
Curran will find out in March if she has received any appointments.
“I know this is a big deal, but for me it really is more like the next step in the process,” Curran said. “If I could choose whatever academy I wanted to, it would probably be the Air Force Academy because it will lead into the medical field I want to pursue afterward.”
Curran is one of 86 individuals to receive nominations from the two senators — who were pleased with the vast array of students they had to select from.
“It is an honor to nominate such a remarkable group of students to our nation’s prestigious military academies,” Senator Risch said. “Each student has met the high standards required to attend these schools. I commend them for their desire to obtain a first-class education and serve our nation. They are each truly deserving of this honor.”
Crapo echoed his counterpart’s sentiments.
“I have the esteemed honor to nominate distinguished students to the U.S. military service academies each year,” Crapo said. “These students demonstrate their strong commitment to service and country by pursuing higher education in one of these academies. I congratulate these Idahoans on their nomination and have every confidence in their leadership and academic skills as they continue to represent our state well into the future.”
Prior to receiving these nominations from Sen. Risch and Crapo, Curran was nominated to all four of the service academies by Rep. Raul Labrador.