ICYMI: Persistence from Hinson Helps Turn Constituent’s Naval Academy Dream into Reality
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) highlighted the story of Ellie Hance and her mother, Kathy Hance, on her weekly press call as they shared Ellie’s journey to the U.S. Naval Academy and reflected on how Hinson’s office never stopped pushing through the roadblocks Ellie encountered.
After facing repeated setbacks in her pursuit of attending the U.S. Naval Academy following serious medical complications from ACL surgery, Ellie Hance refused to give up. Hinson’s office worked with Ellie, her family, and Naval Academy officials through months of challenges to secure a full review of her case, ultimately leading to the Superintendent approving her appointment. Ellie and Kathy joined Hinson last week to share their story of perseverance and the impact that persistence can have in helping Iowans navigate the federal government.
Read more about the challenges Ellie faced in her own words below:
"I truly believe that the people who represent you are just that—they are a representation of you. And you have an amazing team.
"It was truly incredible. I went through a lot of hardship with getting people to call me back, and never once did your office do that to me. If they did miss a call, that day, I was getting a call back.
"So thank you for your hard work. Thank you for getting answers for me. I really do believe that your team was part of the reason that this got turned around." — Ellie Hance
Read more from her mom, Kathy, below:
"Ellie's story is really a story of resilience and perseverance, and it's something that we as parents tried to instill in her. Despite all of the roadblocks and challenges, she never gave up. We are really grateful for the folks on your team that were able to help us along the way.
"Thanks to that mindset, she's leaving tomorrow to report to the U.S. Naval Academy to achieve her dream.
"Ashley, your team has been a huge part of the success of where we are today. They certainly don't take no for an answer. They exhausted every option, and they did everything they possibly could to help us.
"Your liaison...picked up the phone every single phone call. No one ever asked what party we belonged to. It was completely bipartisan. They were just there to help and support us.
"For your team, it was never about politics. It was always about helping a fellow Iowan and delivering results.
"I know there are many Iowans like our family who have benefited from your team and from your commitment to solving problems and improving the lives of Iowans.
"This may not seem like the biggest story of the day to a lot of people, but to our family, it really is a big deal. Ellie's story is one that we recognize, and we're happy that you're willing to tell it." — Kathy Hance
Interested in attending a United States Military Academy? Learn about the nomination process here. If you experience challenges navigating a federal agency, please contact my team for assistance here or call 319-364-2288.
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