Hot Springs' Rasmussen accepted into Merchant Marine Academy

U.S. Senator Jon Tester congratulated Hot Springs’ EmmaRae Rasmussen last week on her appointment to the prestigious U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

EmmaRae is a varsity volleyball and softball player, and captain of her varsity basketball team at Hot Springs High School. She is student council president, senior class president, and a participant in the NASA Globe Program and president of SMART Schools.

“Getting accepted into one of our nation’s four prestigious military service academies is no easy task—you need guts, you need grit, and you need to be dedicated to serving your country,” said Tester. “EmmaRae exemplifies all of those traits. She has proven herself an outstanding student, athlete, community member, and leader, and I have no doubt she will continue to make Montana proud as she moves on to this new and exciting journey.”

Tester nominated EmmaRae — along with 18 other Montanans — in December based on her academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and commitment to serving and leading in the United States military.

A nomination from a member of Congress is the first step in students' applications to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Montana students who are interested in applying to a military academy in the future can request a nomination from Tester.