Cape News

U.S. Representative Jason Smith has extended his congratulations to three students from Missouri's 8th Congressional District who have been accepted into U.S. service academies. The students, nominated by Smith, are Colby Bailey of Festus and Lois Pippin of Imperial, both set to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Michaley Krizman of Poplar Bluff, who will join the U.S. Naval Academy.

Smith expressed his pride in a statement: “Congratulations to Colby Bailey, Lois Pippin, and Michaley Krizman for earning their spot at one of our nation’s esteemed service academies. For over a hundred years, the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy at West Point have prepared young Americans with the skills and training they need to become the next generation of military leaders."

He acknowledged the difficulty of gaining acceptance: “Earning a spot at these institutions is anything but easy. Each of these students are proven leaders who went above and beyond in the classroom and made a significant impact on others through community service.”

The selection process considers leadership skills, academic success, physical ability, and extracurricular activities. A committee of Missouri residents reviewed applications before making recommendations to Smith.

Smith is now accepting applications for 2026 nominations to various service academies including West Point and the Naval Academy. Interested parties can contact his Farmington office or email Donna.Hickman@mail.house.gov for more information. The deadline for submissions is October 24, 2025.

Additionally, an Academy Day event is scheduled for September 13, 2025, at Jefferson College in Hillsboro for those interested in learning more about academy life and the application process.