Mtn. Grove student appointed to U.S. Naval Academy

Eric Pinson, Mtn. Grove, left, is one of four students in the Eighth U.S. Congressional District of Missouri whose nomination to be appointed to a U.S. military service academy was accepted. The nomination was made by Rep. Jason Smith, right. Pinson is set to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. During a celebratory dinner held April 21 in St. James, Smith recognized all four appointees, including students from St. James, Sikeston and Farmington. “I’m incredibly proud of these bright young men for earning a spot at one of our nation’s highly competitive service academies,” said Smith in a statement to media. “All of these young men are exceptional students and leaders in school. On top of excelling in the classroom, they have also made a real difference serving and giving back to their communities. They will now take on the difficult but highly rewarding task of preparing for a career in military service. I know they have a very bright future ahead and I’m excited to see what they will accomplish.”