Special to The Hays Daily News

HUTCHINSON -- Rep. Jerry Moran recently announced the 2009 First District Service Academy Selection Board. The 16-member board reviews applications and interviews candidates who are applying for admission to U.S. service academies. These include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those selected will enter the academies in June.

"It is an honor to witness such dedicated and hard-working young men and women seek out a military education with the ambition to serve our country," Moran said. "The members of the Service Academy Selection Board will be presented with the challenge of narrowing the field of very qualified candidates during the interview and selection process."

The Service Academy Selection Board will meet to interview candidates Nov. 21 at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene. Following interviews, the board will make recommendations to Moran for his decision. The members of the 2009 First District Service Academy Selection Board from northwest Kansas are:

* Ron Lucas of Goodland: owner and manager of Goodland Greenline Inc., U.S. Army.

* Rev. Delbert Stanton of Hays: serves Kansas United Methodist churches in Udall, WaKeeney, Atwood, Medicine Lodge, Wichita and Hays and also on Dane G. Hansen Foundation Scholarship Committee in Logan.