One of the great privileges of representing my fellow Utahns in the United States Senate is the annual opportunity to meet the exceptional young men and women from the great state of Utah who have answered the call of service by applying to the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Under Title 10 of the United States Code, each year members of Congress are authorized to nominate a number of young men and women from their district or state to attend the country’s service academies. And it is my distinct honor to nominate 14 exemplary Utahns this year.

But receiving a congressional nomination does not guarantee acceptance. To be admitted, each applicant must meet — on his or her own merits — the academies’ rigorous standards.

Well, I have studied the applications of these 14 men and women and I can say, without hesitation or exaggeration, that you would be hard pressed to find a more accomplished, talented, patriotic group of American citizens anywhere. And so I was not surprised to learn that all 14 applicants have been accepted and will soon be joining the ranks of our nation’s military academies in the summer of 2016.

Each of these 14 students is of sound mind and body. This will serve them well in Colorado Springs, West Point, Annapolis and Kings Point. But to succeed, they will need more than this.

The journey on which these young men and women will soon embark requires more than mental and physical aptitude. It demands strong moral character — leadership, courage, honesty, prudence and self-discipline. And above all it calls for a steadfast commitment to service and a love of country.

Today, I would like to recognize and congratulate each of these impressive students, all of whom embody, in their own unique way, the standards of excellence on which America’s service academies are built.

Joseph Stryker Cooke will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy. Joseph attended Highland High School and graduated from Quince Orchard High School in Maryland, where he was captain of the tennis team, earning a bid to the state tournament, and a member of the National Honor Society. In addition to serving as a leader in his church’s youth organization and as a tutor at a local elementary school, Joseph worked as a volunteer and prosthetics intern at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Zachary Kirk Daines will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from Syracuse High School and has been attending the Marion Military Institute to prepare for West Point. Zach is a standout athlete in football and track and field, as well as an Eagle Scout, a leader in his church’s youth organization, secretary of his senior class, and a member of both the Future Business Leaders of America and Health Occupations Students of America.

Wyatt Ethan Espell, a North Summit High School graduate, accepted his appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served as a mayor at Boys State, president of the Future Business Leaders of America, and vice president of Health Occupations Students of America, and he is a member of the National Honor Society. Wyatt played on the football team, wrestled, and ran track and cross-country, and he volunteered at the Park City Medical Center. Wyatt spent his summers working with Glaser Land and Livestock.

Ian Alexander Hardy will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy after serving for two years in Tokyo, Japan, on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He graduated from the Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering and Science where he was captain of the CyberPatriot team. While studying at Weber State University, Ian served as the Ozone Telemetry Specialist for the High Altitude Reconnaissance Balloon for the outreach and research team. Ian is an Eagle Scout, Boys State attendee and played on the varsity rugby team.

Stephen Hunter Lee, a graduate from the Intermountain Christian School, will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. An Eagle Scout, with three Eagle Palms, he served as president of his junior class, editor of the yearbook, and captain of the soccer team. Stephen is a member of the National Honor Society and a scholarship recipient from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. An avid rock climber, Stephen is active in a local climbing club.

Michelle Chanmi Lee will be joining her brother at the Air Force Academy. She attended Northridge High School where she was vice president of the National Honor Society. Michelle challenged herself academically by graduating from the Medicine, Science and Health Professions Academy, and she was a member of Health Occupations Students of America. Michelle served others in her role as a group leader in her Vacation Bible Study and as a tutor in the Davis School District. She spent several years with her family on the Yongsan Garrison Army Base in South Korea.

Angela Ayame Marsh will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after graduating from the American School in Japan, where she served as the student body vice president. She was a member of the varsity debate team, and was president of the Shine On Cancer Victims Support Group. A member of the National Honor Society, Angela co-founded and served as president of the Premedical Society and was the grand prize winner in the poetry slam competition. She participates in CrossFit competitions and runs with the cross-country team.

Izaac Adam Polukoff will be attending the Merchant Marine Academy. He graduated from Park City High School and sharpened his academic and military skills at the Milton Academy. He was an Academic All-Star for the Utah High School Hockey League and was captain of his Ultimate Frisbee team. He found many ways to serve others by organizing the Park City Memorial 5K, volunteering with the Kimball Arts Center and with Boston Area Youth At Risk, and participating in the Environmental Club. Izaac is a member of the National Honor Society.

Xavier Ray Price will be attending the Air Force Academy. He is a graduate of Judge Memorial Catholic High School, where he was captain of both the track and field and the football teams. Xavier’s outstanding play on the football field helped his team win two state championships and earned him a spot on the First Team All-State selected by the Salt Lake Tribune. An honor roll student, he also volunteered with the Carmelite Monastery of Salt Lake at their annual Carmelite Fair fundraiser and with the Lady of Lourdes School.

Jacob Abraham Rice, from Morgan High School, will be attending the Air Force Academy. An attendee of both Boys State and Boys Nation, he also served as president of the National Honor Society, president of Empowering Youth to Prevent Suicide, and captain of the track and field team. Jacob was co-captain of his speech and debate team, and in 2015 he was named the Forensics School Sterling Scholar. He used his music skills to play violin for patients at Primary Children’s Hospital and the Pine View Transition Rehab Facility. Jacob serves as a board member of the Young Democrats of Utah.

Mitchell Charles Weller, a graduate of Layton High School, will be attending the Merchant Marine Academy. He was captain of his soccer team, and he served fellow students as a Layton High School student ambassador. A member of the National Honor Society, Mitchell was involved with the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement organization and served as a group leader for the Technology Student Association, where he excelled in engineering contests at the state level. He also worked diligently to obtain his pilot’s license.

David Sperry White will be attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A graduate of Uintah High School, where he served as student body president, David also was vice president of the National Honor Society and captain of the basketball and cross-country teams. He earned his Eagle Scout award and received a scholarship from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. David was honored to attend Boys State and sit on the Vernal Youth City Council, where he served as president of the Vernal Youth in Action and organized the collection and distribution of 500 blankets for the Women’s Shelter and Turning Point Shelter.

Autumn Eliza-Anne Wolfgramm, a West High School graduate, accepted an appointment to the Air Force Academy. She served as the student body secretary and captain of the swim team. She was a mentor for the Freshman Mentoring Society and volunteered with the Panther Pals, a service organization working with children with disabilities. She was also a leader in her church’s youth program, and a member of Health Occupations Students of America. Autumn is fulfilling her grandparents’ dream when they emigrated from the Kingdom of Tonga to seek out better educational opportunities for their children.

Tyler James Wright will be attending the Air Force Academy. A graduate of Springville High School, Tyler was president of the debate team and Health Occupations Students of America. He was an active member of the track and field team, Model United Nations, Boy Scouts, and the Springville Youth City Council. An avid outdoorsman and reader, Tyler volunteers with Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs and the Brookside Elementary reading program, as well as local art and air shows. Tyler serves as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol.

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It has been an honor and an inspiration to meet and to nominate each of these exemplary young men and women. Doing so has given me an unshakeable confidence in the future of this great nation and the future of our armed services.

But to these 14 students, and to all their future classmates from around the country, do not forget: this is but the beginning of your journey.

You would not have arrived at this point were it not for your hard work and sacrifice. But now what matters most is not your accomplishments of the past, but what you have yet to achieve in the future.

Mike Lee is the junior U.S. senator from Utah.

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