Layla Melville, a Ridgefield High School graduate, has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy as part of the class of 2029.
Melville previously attended the U.S. Air Force Preparatory School, where she earned the Deputy Director’s Pin for academic and military achievement. She is the first enrolled member of the Makah Nation to attend a U.S. military academy, a press release from Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez stated.
Melville is one of six Southwest Washington students nominated by Gluesenkamp Perez earlier this year based on leadership, academics and service to the community. Each received and accepted an appointment to a U.S. service academy.
The other appointees include Nathaniel Beaver, Garrett Nebels and Elijah Wall of Vancouver; Luke Wagner of Washougal; and Ayden Henley of Stevenson, the release stated.
“Our service academy appointees, as well as their families, made sacrifices to be the type of candidates we would be proud to have represent us in our Armed Forces,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in the release. “I’m glad I could help give them a warm sendoff and thank them for their commitment to serving our country. Each of these exceptional students will represent Southwest Washington well, and I’m excited to keep up with their ongoing successes.”
U.S. service academies provide education and training to develop future commissioned officers of the U.S. Armed Forces. Graduates serve as commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Applications for the next U.S. service academy cycle are due by Nov. 9. To learn more, visit shorturl.at/Zt2N1.
