PARIS – Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School senior Amelia Moore’s lifelong goal to become a Naval fighter pilot is one step closer today. She has been nominated by U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, both R-Maine, to three of the five U.S. service academies.

She was one of only two Maine students nominated to three of the nation’s highly-competitive service academies.

The announcement was made Monday afternoon, just days after Moore interviewed with representatives from the senators’ offices and with a representative from Congressman Michael Michaud’s office, so the quick announcement was something of a surprise Tuesday.

“It’s been a deep desire of mine ever since I was young,” said a beaming Moore, who said she always had more fun playing with GI Joes than Barbie dolls as a child. She hopes to be accepted by the the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Moore was also nominated to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y.

Moore said her longtime desire to join the Navy stems from growing up in a family filled with Navy personnel and a mother who instilled in her the importance of being aware of what was going on in the world and becoming a part of it.

“My mom has been really supportive,” Moore said. “She’s always been my major support.”

In making the nomination, Sens. Snowe and Collins issued a joint statement Monday, saying, “We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation’s distinguished service academies.”

“The young people we have nominated have earned this honor through a commitment to strong scholarship, leadership and character.”

To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes members of Congress. Admission to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require congressional nomination.

Heavily involved in school activities such as cross country running, Moore was one of the top 10 high school students in the state in the Class A high jump the past two years. In her free time, she has taken up boxing.

In addition to her activities, she has chosen to take on a heavy academic workload of advanced placement courses.

“It’s a heavy workload, but I’m happy with my decision,” she said.

Moore said with age has come the realization that she needed to work hard and become more focused to get where she wants to go.

“Life’s coming at you whether you want it to or not,” she said.

If she is accepted, she hopes to study aeronautic engineering, Russian culture, linguistics or prelaw, all areas of interest that have developed from school or through her family Navy ties.

The next step in the process will be the completion of the online application, an interview with a “blue-gold” officer from the academy, a physical and completion of her portfolio. She hopes to hear whether she’s been accepted in January.

Where Moore will ultimately end up is a mystery at this point, but she knows if asked if she would not hesitate to serve during war time.

“To serve my nation and people is part of the job,” she said confidentially.