WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced the appointment of Ellen Marie Miota to the United States Air Force Academy. Miota is a student at Grace Christian in Watervliet where she stars as a multi-sport varsity athlete on the volleyball, cross-country, basketball, track and soccer teams. Additionally, Miota is Vice President of the student council, a member of the National Honors Association and the 4-H and volunteers as a piano instructor at the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ellen to the Air Force Academy. One look at Ellen’s accomplishments thus far tells you everything you need to know about this extraordinary young woman,” commented Upton. “I spoke with her by phone over the weekend, she is definitely a young leader on the rise. I know she will continue to make Southwest Michigan proud as she begins her education at the Air Force Academy. We are all looking forward to see what she does next. I encourage any local students looking to follow in Ellen’s footsteps to apply to the U.S. service academies and to contact my office for nomination information.”

Upton nominates students to military services academies from Michigan’s Sixth District who have excelled in school and extracurricular activities and are interview by members of his Academy Advisory Board, which is made up of community leaders. The individual academies make the final decision on military appointments. Upton nominated Miota and 16 other Southwest Michigan students to the United States service academies last December.

Students interested in attending a service academy are encouraged to contact Upton’s Kalamazoo District Office for further information at (269) 385-0039 or by visiting his website here.