Saturday, May 18, 2024 • 10 a.m. Centennial
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
Processional, Marche Militaire (Franz Schubert) MMA Band, Band Director Brad Smith, Mace Bearer MAJ Peggy Reynard (MMA), followed by Class of 2024
Invocation Battalion Sergeant Major-Elect Cadet Seydina Issa Diop
Pledge of Allegiance Battalion Commander-Elect Cadet Mason Brooks
Welcome/Remarks ............................. President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret)
Faculty Award ................................................................................................................................................ President Geraci
Company and Cadet Awards Academic Dean Mike Harding; Commandant Col Rickey L. Grabowski, USMC (Ret); President Geraci
Valedictorian’s Remarks .................................................................................. Cadet Gabriel Alejandro Iglesias
Introduction of Keynote Speaker Cadet Miles Matthews
Keynote Speaker Col Rickey L. Grabowski, USMC (Ret)
“The Crags of Tumbledown” ....................................................................................MMA Band and Bag Pipes
Awarding of Diplomas..............................................................................................................................President Geraci
“Old MMA” (see page 10 for lyrics) MMA Band and Cadet Justyn Daigle
Benediction ..................................................... Battalion Sergeant Major-Elect Cadet Seydina Issa Diop
Recessional, Marche Militaire (Franz Schubert) .......................................................................... MMA Band
Col Rickey L. Grabowski, USMC (Ret), serves as the commandant, overseeing all aspects of cadet life and leader development at Missouri Military Academy.
Grabowski joined MMA in June 2016 as the adjutant, assisting with logistics and administration for the corps of cadets’ residential life. He was promoted to commandant of cadets in 2017. Since then, he has led the Academy’s residential life division, ensuring a safe, healthy living environment for cadets. He also serves as summer camp director, overseeing Leadership Camp, Confidence Camp and Summer Academy.
Grabowski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and psychology from Truman State University. He holds a Master of Science in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College and another master’s degree in military operational art and science/studies from the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
His tenure at MMA began after a distinguished 35-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps. He rose in rank from enlisted Marine to colonel, capping his career as chief of staff for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, the headquarters for the Marine Corps Eastern Recruiting Region. In this role, Grabowski oversaw 20 senior executive managers, 2,000 military support personnel and a civilian workforce of more than 1,400 employees. His responsibilities included managing the Marine Corps’ oldest entry-level training facility — spanning 9,000 acres and 320 structures — and supervising the recruitment and transformation of approximately 20,000 individuals into military service annually. He also directed executive staff efforts supporting a 1,700-person recruiting workforce across 23 eastern states to achieve strategic Marine Corps recruiting objectives.
A combat veteran with service in Iraq, Grabowski has received numerous military honors recognizing his exemplary service. His awards include the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Valedictorian: Cadet Gabriel Alejandro Iglesias
Salutatorian: Cadet Brayden Michael Phelps
Class President: Cadet Bradley Gachugu Thumbi
José Antonio Anguiano Ojeda
Atizapán de Zaragoza, Estado de México Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey
Braden Andrew Atterberry
Montgomery City, Missouri Maryville University
Evan O’Neal Batson†
Santa Ynez, California Westmont College
Pablo Francisco Belmonte Gutiérrez
Guadalajara, Jalisco, México Iona College
Tyler Jared Bien
New London, Missouri
Ranken Technical College
Ian Nicholas Carlson
Urbandale, Iowa
New Mexico Military Institute
Máximo Alejandro Castillo Torres
Los Cabos, Baja California, México
Johnson County Community College
Justyn Case Daigle*
Huntsville, Missouri
Central Methodist University
Francisco José De La Maza Vejar*
Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara
Nathan Christopher Dempsey* Colleyville, Texas
Baylor University
Connor Kieran Edwards* Maitland, Florida University of North Georgia
Aaron James Elford Eugene, Oregon Oregon State University
Ky-Mani Allan Dion Erskine† Phoenix, Arizona University of Arizona
Nathaniel Ryan Espinoza
Miami Beach, Florida Virginia Military Institute
Caleb Joseph Garner
Saint Peters, Missouri
Saint Louis Community College
Gastón Gastélum Reyes
Culiacan, Sinola, México Universidad de Monterrey
Matthew Hale Hallam Dallas, Texas Oklahoma State University
Gabriel Alejandro Iglesias*† Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador University of Notre Dame
Edward Michael Keith Peoria, Illinois
Bluegrass Community Technical College
Emiliano Loredo Valdueza México City, México
Loyola University Chicago
Joshua Henry McCart
Overland Park, Kansas
Johnson County Community College
Andrew Lloyd McConnell Urbandale, Iowa Moberly Area Community College
Landon Robert Meyer Moberly, Missouri Central Methodist University
Michael Anthony Middleton
Overland Park, Kansas Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
Connor Donovan Moore Mexico, Missouri U.S. Air Force
Juan Elías Newlands Chiriboga Quito, Ecuador Volunteer work for a year
Alexander Christian Nikas Highwood, Illinois Central Alabama Community College
Luis Carlos Ochoa Chaveznava
Monterrey, Nuevo León, México Universidad de Monterrey
Khantushig Odbaatar Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Hult International Business School
Russell David Olson*† Indianapolis, Indiana University of Cincinnati
Gabriel Guillermo Ontiveros Breton*
Monterrey, Nuevo León, México Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey
Paulo Pereira De Abreu Donnabella* Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Florida International University
Brayden Michael Phelps*† Temple, Texas Texas A&M University
William Christopher Remshardt Sherman, Texas LeTourneau University
Joseph Hutson Roach*†
Colorado Springs, Colorado Saint Louis University
Bradley Gachugu Thumbi*†
Overland Park, Kansas U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School
Angelo Nestor Urdaneta Torres* Boca Raton, Florida Pennsylvania State University
Javari Kingston Watson Brooklyn, New York Jackson State University
Samuel Abraham Thomas Way Milton, Georgia Indiana Wesleyan University
Zijie Zhou*† Shenzhen, China
University of Washington-Seattle
*Delta Phi Honor Society member Italics, National Honor Society †National STEM Honor Society member
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
Elizabeth Clement | Assistant Academic Dean of Instruction and Learning. M.Ed. in Secondary Administration, William Woods University; B.S.E. in Secondary Education English and B.S. in Business Marketing, Hannibal-LaGrange University
Kristin Adams-Vargas | Learning Specialist. B.S. in Education (Elementary Education and Special Education, K-12), William Woods University; M.Ed. in Special Education Administration and Leadership and Autism, University of Missouri; Ed.S. in Educational Administration and Leadership; University of Southern Utah
Joshua Allison | English Language Arts Instructor and Foreign Language Instructor. B.A. in International Studies, Union College
CPT Joseph Balvanz, USA (Ret) | JROTC Department Chair and 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
Ted R. Brauker | Choir Director and Instructor of Music. M.M in Choral Conducting, Central Michigan University; B.M. in Voice, Central Michigan University
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
Rob Dalton | English Department Chair and 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
Eric Evertson | Science Instructor. M.A. in Teaching. Western New Mexico University; B.S. in Biology (minor in chemistry), University of New Mexico
Jeff Gifford | English Instructor. B.A. in English Language and Literature, Southern New Hampshire University
Cynthia Kemp | Mathematics Instructor. M.A.E. Mathematics and B.S.E. Mathematics, Truman State University; ACT Certified Instructor
CW4 Jason Landrum, USA (Ret) | JROTC Army Cybersecurity Instructor. M.A. in Information Technology Management, Webster University; Certified Information Systems Security Professional
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
Stuart Mackenzie | Music Department Chair and 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
Stephen Maziarz | Mathematics Instructor and 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 and Instructor. M.B.A. in Management, Webster University; B.S. in Social Science, University of Illinois
Sheila Meny | Reading Specialist, English Instructor. M.Ed. in Administration, Quincy University; B.S. in Education, Culver-Stockton College
Chad Miller | Mathematics Department Chair and Instructor. B.A. in Mathematics, Eastern Illinois University; ACT Certified Instructor
Cheryl Morris | Fine Arts Department Chair and 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 and Instructor. 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 Department Chair, 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
1SG 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
Bradley Smith | Band Director. M.A. in Secondary Education, Grand Canyon University; B.S. in Music Education, Central Methodist University
Traevonne Smith | Physical Education Instructor. B.A. in Science of Coaching, Westminster 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
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
“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
Not pictured: Ky-Mani
Allan Dion Erskine, Michael
Anthony Middleton, Gabriel Guillermo Ontiveros Breton, and Joseph Hutson Roach
President: Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret)
Vice President for Institutional Advancement: Mr. Robert Silbaugh
Commandant: Col Rickey 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)
Chief Financial Officer: Mrs. Jennifer Yelton
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
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