2023 Saturday, May 20, 2023 • 10:00 a.m. Centennial Gymtorium Commencement Ceremony 134th Corps of Cadets
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MMA Board of Trustees
R. Stribling Koster, chair
Ann Koster Antoniou
Bob Bailey
Dean Davison ’78
Robert English
Dan Erdel
Chris Gentry ’88
BG Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret)
Jeff MacLellan ’66
Jim Obenshain ’86
Mary Patrick Seigfreid
Dr. Victoria Snider Thompson
Academy Leadership
President: Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret)
Vice President for Institutional Advancement: Mr. Robert Silbaugh
Commandant: COL R.L. Grabowski, USMC (Ret)
Academic Dean: Mr. Mike Harding, M.Ed., M.A., B.A. (Hons), PGCE
Athletic Director: Mr. Brian Meny
Director for Enrollment Management: LTC Greg Seibert (MMA)
Director for Business Operations: Ms. Joan Cotton
Director for Human Resources: Ms. Melissa Miller
Director for Marketing & Communications: Ms. Jennifer O’Donley
Director for Maintenance and Facilities: Mr. Bernard Strunk
Chief Information Officer: Mr. David Wilkins
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Commencement Program
Processional, Marche Militaire (Franz Schubert) MMA Band, Director Mr. James Garrett, Mace Bearer MAJ Peggy Reynard (MMA), followed by Class of 2023
Invocation .............................................. Battalion Sergeant Major-Elect Cadet Gabriel Iglesias Osorio
Pledge of Allegiance Battalion Commander-Elect Cadet Bradley Thumbi
Welcome/Remarks President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret)
Faculty Award ................................................................................................................................................ President Geraci
Company and Cadet Awards ..............................................................Academic Dean Mr. Mike Harding; Commandant COL R.L. Grabowski, USMC (Ret); President Geraci
Valedictorian’s Remarks
Introduction of Keynote Speaker ..............................................................
Cadet Anthony Melick
Cadet Patricio Bravo Knobloch
Keynote Speaker Mr. Richard Dehlinger ’93
“Edinburgh Castle” MMA Band and Bag Pipes
Awarding of Diplomas..............................................................................................................................President Geraci
“Old MMA” (see back cover for lyrics)
MMA Band and Cadet Lucas Sydlewski
Benediction Battalion Sergeant Major-Elect Cadet Iglesias Osorio
Recessional, Marche Militaire (Franz Schubert) .......................................................................... MMA Band
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Keynote Speaker
Richard Dehlinger ’93
Fusileers Drill Team Coach Deputy Commandant for Support & Quartermaster Service
Rick Dehlinger entered Missouri Military Academy as a sophomore in 1990, graduating three years later as battalion commander, the highest-ranking cadet in the MMA corps. Among the honors bestowed on him in the Class of 1993, Dehlinger received the Don Hooten Fellowship Cup, which recognizes the cadet senior deemed most valuable to the institution. Twentyfive years later, Dehlinger returned to his alma mater where he currently serves as deputy commandant for support and quartermaster and coaches the national champion MMA Fusileers drill team.
Dehlinger began his college career at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia before leaving school to serve as a submariner in the U.S. Navy. He spent 10 years on Trident nuclear submarines, serving on the USS Tennessee 734 Gold. Dehlinger was awarded two Navy Achievement Medals, a Battle Efficiency ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He also received the Submarine “Dolphins” Warfare pin, a Nuclear Deterrent Patrol pin with seven stars and Sailor of the Quarter Award. After nearly a decade in the Navy, Dehlinger was honorably discharged as a petty officer second class.
Returning to civilian life, Dehlinger enrolled at Florida State College in Jacksonville, where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in digital media and graphic design. He spent several years as marketing director for Jones Technical Institute in Jacksonville before returning to MMA in 2018 as director of cadet activities. His first order of business was to revive the Scouting program at MMA. He served as Scoutmaster for MMA’s Troop 1889 for three years.
Under Dehlinger’s leadership as drill team coach, the MMA Fusileers placed first in the 2021 All Service Nationals Master Level and the U.S. Army Drill National Championship. Most recently, the Fusileers took first for overall armed drill at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Drill Classic National Championship in Denver, Colorado.
Dehlinger’s stepson, Blake Morais, will graduate with MMA’s Class of 2023.
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The Class of 2023
Valedictorian: Cadet Anthony Melick
Salutatorian: Cadet Gage Blanton
Class President: Kellan Mugisha
Marco Jose Afane Giammattei*
San Salvador, El Salvador
University of Notre Dame
Guillermo Bañuelos Lozano Jr.
Arandas, Jalisco, México
St. Charles Community College
Batkhuu Batatrina Bataa
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Bellevue College
Tsengeg Bayasgalan*
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Indiana University Bloomington
Pablo Francisco Belmonte Gutiérrez
Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
St. Charles Community College
Gage Michael Blanton*
Newburg, Missouri
University of Missouri
Gabriel Edward Canonico*
Falls City, Nebraska
Northwest Missouri State University
Charles Leon Davidson
Mexico, Missouri
University of Missouri
Ernesto Jesus De La Maza Vejar
Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Universidad Panamericana
Peter Elijah Didicher
Hinsdale, Illinois
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Wayland Blake Evans*
Dallas , Texas
Texas Tech University
Ian Hunter Findley
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Henderson State University
Luis Galindo Van Zeller†
Lisbon, Portugal
Universidad Internacional de la Empresa
Charles William George
Dallas, Texas
Southern Methodist University
Benjamin Huynh*
Overland Park, Kansas
Kansas State University
Roy Kaloki Kioko*
Nairobi, Kenya
Saint Louis University
Emiliano Loredo Valdueza
México City, México
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Roman Nathaniel Lowder
Dallas, Texas
University of Texas at Arlington
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Temuulen Michael Manlai*
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Saint Louis University
Prince Enock Manzi Runazi
Kigali, Rwanda
Norwich University
Anthony Robert Melick*
Overland Park, Kansas
United States Naval Academy
Brett Alexander Miles
Dallas, Texas
Houston Christian University
Blake Anthony Morais* Mexico, Missouri
University of Central Florida
Lucas Moreira Dos Reis Almeida
Itupeva, São Paulo, Brazil
Westminster College
Kellan Nziza Mugisha*
Kigali, Rwanda
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Cyprian Kahuuma Mutinyu
Kampala, Uganda
Norwich University
Albert Ogutu
Las Vegas, Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
Derek Paredes*
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Bryson James Powell
Anchorage, Alaska
Western Washington University
Victor Javier Salinas Garcia
Mission, Texas
South Texas College
Alexandre Tristan Snyder*
St. Louis, Missouri
Pennsylvania State University
Christian Michael Stamp
Cape Coral, Florida Florida Southwestern State College
Lucas Robert Sydlewski
Houlton, Wisconsin
United States Military Academy Prep School
Ethan James Tincknell-Hersh
St. Louis, Missouri
Ozarks Technical Community College
Table Rock Campus
Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche
Lisbon, Portugal
Missouri University of Science and Technology
*Delta Phi Honor Society member. Italics denote National Honor Society member.
†December graduate (permitted due to special circumstances; mid-year graduates will not be allowed in future)
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2022-23 Missouri Military Academy Faculty
Mike Harding | Academic Dean. M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Missouri; M.A. in Creative Writing, Canterbury Christ Church University; B.A. (Hons) in English and American Literature, University of Kent; Postgraduate Certificate, Education, Canterbury Christ Church University; Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, University of Cambridge; ACT Certified Instructor
1SG Dale Land, USA (Ret) | Assistant Academic Dean. Ed.D. in Administrative Leadership, Carson-Newman University; Ed. Specialist in Administrative Leadership, Carson-Newman University; M.A. in Teaching, Austin Peay State University; B.S. in Criminal Justice, Troy University
Joshua Allison | English Language Arts Instructor, Foreign Language Instructor. B.A. in International Studies, Union College
CPT Joseph Balvanz, USA (Ret) | JROTC Department Chair, Senior Army Instructor. B.A. in General Studies, Columbia College
Vicki Briggs | Chemistry Instructor. B.A. in Chemistry, William Jewell College; AP Chemistry Certification, Truman University
Michelle Camargo | Spanish Instructor. Ph.D. in Romance Languages Spanish, University of Missouri; M.A. in Romance Languages, University of Missouri-Kansas City; B.A. in Education, Universidad Surcolombiana, Colombia
Wei-Yun Chien | English Language Learners/ Foreign Language Department Chair, ELL and Chinese Instructor. M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, Pennsylvania State University; B.A. in Applied Foreign Languages, Tatung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Elizabeth Clement | English Instructor. M.Ed. in Secondary Administration, William Woods University; B.S.E. in Secondary Education English and B.S. in Business Marketing, HannibalLaGrange University
Rob Dalton | English Department Chair, Instructor. M.Ed. in Teaching and Technology, William Woods University; B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Texas Wesleyan University
Danielle Dorks | English Instructor. B.A. in English, Illinois College
Cheryl Emminger | Mathematics Instructor. M.S. in Elementary Education, Drury University; B.S. in Elementary Education, Southwest Baptist University
James Garrett | Band Director. M.Ed. in Administration, Lindenwood University; B.S. in Music Education, Lincoln University of Missouri
CPT Arnold Kip Jacobsen, USA (Ret) | JROTC Army Instructor. M.A. in International Business Administration and M.A. in Project Management, Keller Graduate School of Management; B.A. in Management, National American University; Certification in Career and Technical Education
Cynthia Kemp | Mathematics Instructor. M.A.E. Mathematics and B.S.E. Mathematics, Truman State University; ACT Certified Instructor
Mark Lucas | Learning Specialist and Guidance Counselor. Ed.D. in Leadership, Policy and Administration, Rutgers University; M.A. in Education Administration, Western Michigan University; B.S. in Health and Human Development, University of Maryland
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2022-23 Missouri Military Academy Faculty
Stuart Mackenzie | Bagpipe Instructor. Piping Accreditation (B.A. equivalent), Senior Teaching Certificate in Bagpipes, Graduate in Piping Certificate, Pipe Majors Certificate, Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Greg Maximovitch | Website Design Instructor. B.S. in Business Administration, William Jewell College
Stephen Maziarz | Mathematics Instructor, Piano Instructor – Private Music Lessons. Postgraduate Studies, The Dietrich von Hildebrand Institute, Gardone, Italy; M.M. and B.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Southern Methodist University; M.S. in Secondary Education Mathematics, Teaching Certificate in Secondary Mathematics, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
MAJ Lawrence McClarey, USA (Ret) | Social Studies Department Chair, Instructor. M.B.A. in Management, Webster University; B.S. in Social Science, University of Illinois
Sheila Meny | Reading Specialist. M.A. in Administration, Quincy University; B.A. in Education, Culver-Stockton College
Chad Miller | Mathematics Department Chair, Instructor. B.A. in Mathematics, Eastern Illinois University; ACT Certified Instructor
MAJ Keith Morgan (MMA) | Business and Technology Chair, Computer Science Instructor. Th.M. in Systematic Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary; B.A. in Economics, University of Memphis
Cheryl Morris | Fine Arts Department Chair, Art Instructor. B.F.A. in Fine Arts and Business, William Woods University
Ryan Nowlin | Middle School History Instructor. Ph.D. in Leadership and Management, St. Louis University; Ed. Specialist in K-12 Educational Leadership, University of Central Missouri; M.E.A. in Administration and B.E. in Social Studies and Language Arts, B.S. and M.S. in Education Administration, Missouri State University
Michael Pemberton | Science Department Chair. M.Ed. in Science Curriculum and Instruction, University of Missouri; B.A. in Zoology, Southern Illinois University; A.S. in Biological Sciences, Rend Lake College
MAJ Peggy Reynard (MMA) | Business Instructor. M.Ed. in Secondary Education, Lincoln University of Missouri; B.B.A. in Business Administration, West Texas A&M University
William Roundey Jr. | Director of College & Career Placement. M.Ed. in School Counseling, Winona State University; B.Ed. in Secondary Education, Concordia University Nebraska
1st Sgt. Christopher Scarlet, USA (Ret) | JROTC Army Instructor. A.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies, Grantham University
Chris Schafer ’89 | Engineering and Science Instructor. M.Ed. in Secondary Education, Regis University; B.S. in Geological Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology; A.A. in Business Administration, Johnson County Community College; Certificates in Management, Leadership, and Finance, Mays Business School, Texas A&M University; ACT Science Certified Instructor; PLTW Certified Engineering Instructor
Roger Siwak | Business and Mathematics Instructor. B.S. in Marketing, University of Missouri; Certifications in Physical Education, Mathematics and Business Education
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2022-23 Missouri Military Academy Faculty
Traevonne Smith | Physical Education Instructor. B.A. in Science of Coaching, Westminster College
Sarah Stott | English Instructor. B.A. in History, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Christina Stout | Choir Director, Vocal Music Instructor. M.S.Ed in Instruction and Curriculum, Northwest Missouri State University; Performer Diploma in Opera, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music; B.M. in Vocal Performance, University of Missouri
Conya Thompson | Fine Arts Instructor. M.F.A. in Costume Design, Western Illinois University; B.F.A. in Theatre, Culver-Stockton College
Rachel Wallace | Science Instructor. B.S. in Earth and Space Science Secondary Education, Southern Illinois University; ACT Certified Instructor
Anthony Yannielli | History and Social Studies Instructor. B.S. in Education and Social Studies, Hannibal-LaGrange University
Our Mission
Missouri Military Academy empowers young men to unlock their potential through a program of academic excellence, character, social development and leadership training within a structured environment.
Our Motto
Love, Honor, Truth
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“Old MMA”
No school shall dim thy fame
No son shall give thee shame
No son forget thy name
Old MMA
Our hearts are bound to thee In love and loyalty
Steadfast thy sons shall be For MMA
Photos of graduates and award presentations will be taken during commencement. Photos will be posted and available for free download at flickr.com/missourimilitaryacademy
Questions? Please contact Matt.Jackson@MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org.
Missouri Military Academy
204 North Grand Street, Mexico, MO 65265 www.MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org
