Eagle, Spring 2020

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Eagle SPRING 2020

Building Young Men Into the Leaders of Tomorrow

EVERY BOY BECOMES A MAN. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT KIND WILL YOURS BECOME?

MMA

M I S S O U R I M I L I TA RY A C A D E M Y

Since 1889, thousands of parents have looked to Missouri Military Academy to give their boys the structure, responsibility and love they need to grow, compete and thrive — and become young men in full command of their lives. Located in Mexico, Missouri, MMA serves young men in grades 7 through 12, plus post-grad year.

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MISSOUR

888-564-6662 • MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org • Discipline + Scholarship + Leadership = Success

Help the Heart of MMA Beat Strong.

FOREVER BROTHERS. FOREVER #MMAPROUD.

MMA Your gift to the Missouri Military Academy annual fund supports the heart of MMA – from scholarships to faculty to athletic and academic programs. Through your support, MMA helps boys become young men known for resilience, self-discipline, perseverance and honor. Your gift matters to the next generation of MMA cadets.

Make a gift online at MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org today.

R I M I L I TA RY A C A D E M Y

A Message from the President Dear MMA Parents/Guardians and Alumni, I’ve had the opportunity to visit with many parents and alumni since becoming the president at Missouri Military Academy over a year ago.

Whether talking with parents about their cadet or with alumni about their alma mater, the same message from them remains clear and constant — challenge the cadets with high expectations; maintain a safe and disciplined environment; continue to invest in robust academic, athletic and Army JROTC programs; and stay true to MMA’s military traditions and heritage.

BG RICHARD V. GERACI, USA (RET)

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Together, we will hold your

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cadet accountable for his learning, actions and decisions.

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Every day we honor the Academy’s traditions, and we are forging ahead with our strategic plan and partnerships, solidifying our position as the preeminent college preparatory military boarding school in the Midwest and central United States.

In so doing, we are producing the next generation of MMA brothers and young leaders of character.

Our success with this important mission ensures the Academy’s long-term sustainability.

Every family who joins MMA enters into a partnership with the Academy — a partnership to motivate, guide, and educate their cadet so he perseveres to reach his full potential with confidence and the academic and life skills he needs to triumph. Together, we will hold him accountable for his learning, actions and decisions even when he fails to put forth his best effort or disagrees with us. It’s our job to guide him — but more importantly, to challenge him to discover his special talents, what he is passionate about, what he is capable of achieving — and to set goals to pursue his dreams.

Structure, discipline and accountability drive our military educational model and have led to success for our thousands of alumni. Enforcement of MMA’s established standards is the backbone of the Academy’s success, with faculty, coaches and staff providing the examples for our cadets to follow.

Parents — I ask that you trust the Academy’s process while supporting and encouraging your cadet to stay the course through graduation.

Alumni — You provide inspiration for each cadet’s own goal-setting and achievements, and your generosity fuels our growth and sustainability. A special thank-you to you for spreading the word and sharing your positive MMA experiences with potential families who are looking for an educational experience like no other, with proven results.

Together, we must all remain focused on the individual success of our cadets and the growth of the corps as we share our time, talent and treasure.

Through our collective efforts, we will sustain MMA as one of the top military boarding schools in the nation with the same ideals and values the Academy was founded on more than 130 years ago.

Sincerely,

Richard V. Geraci Brigadier General, USA (Ret) President

The President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret) and Mrs. Kathy Geraci request the pleasure of your company at

Saturday, the twenty-eighth of March two thousand and twenty Centennial Gymtorium Missouri Military Academy Mexico, Missouri Cocktail reception and silent auction at 5:30 p.m.

Dinner, live auction and entertainment at 7 p.m.

Please RSVP by March 14 RSVP online at bit.ly/Maroon-Gold-2020 Find Lodging at bit.ly/MMA-Lodging Missouri Military Academy

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Contents

SPRING 2020

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Eagle SPRING 2020

The Eagle is a biannual publication produced by Missouri Military Academy. Please send comments, questions and/or suggestions to marketing@missourimilitaryacademy.com.

On the cover, Cadet Noah Royse and his mother Elizabeth Royse. Cover photo by Connor Pearson.

Editorial by CatchPhrase Communications. Design by Connor Pearson. Photography by and/or courtesy of Connor Pearson, Rick Dehlinger ’93, Brooklynn Loposser, Ann Murphy, William English ’20 and Elizabeth Royse.

Building Young Men Into the Leaders of Tomorrow

Missouri Military Academy 204 North Grand St., Mexico, MO 65265 573-581-1776 • MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org ©2020 All rights reserved.

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28 24

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Welcome

4 Letter from President Geraci Highlights

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Photo Journal

10 From the Archives 11 News Highlights 26 MMA Athletics Alumni

32 36 39 42 44 48 50

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Legacy Cadets Alumni Profile: Ricardo Uriegas ’91 MMA Recognition Societies New Alumni Hall of Fame Awards Alumni Updates & Silver Taps In Memory Campus Map

Features 16

Teaching Them How to Take Command The value of today’s military school

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Scouting at MMA Scout Troop 1889 is growing

20 Mom’s Point of View

Letting go to let him triumph

24 Cadet Profiles

Meet a new cadet and our battalion commander

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Summer at MMA Camp options for confidence, leadership, academics, music and sports

Missouri Military Academy

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PHOTO JOURNAL

Take Flight Combining discipline and competition, Colonels athletics emphasize personal character and leadership on and off the field. We believe that being part of a team and daily physical activity are crucial to a young man’s positive development.

All MMA cadets participate in athletics at the middle school and high school level.

Read more about Colonels Soccer on Page 26.

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PHOTO JOURNAL

Cadet Kenny Kazoora uses his head to make a goal in a Colonels soccer game against Fulton on September 9.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Diamond Jubilee Band Source: TAPS 1964

Most members of the band would agree that 1963-64 was another great year for the MMA musicians. Practicing five times weekly once again, the bandsmen performed creditably for the many Diamond Jubilee functions and did a halftime show with the Fusileers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. A veteran facultyman lauded their spring

concert with the glee club as “best in 18 years.”

Stepping smartly as they played for battalion reviews, the 40-plus-member organization several times won honor Company designation for their precision. For most of the year, veteran David Peak served as both commander of the band and drum major.

Five of MMA's musicians—four of them members of the band—won the state's top rating at a music competition at the University of Missouri. In top left photo, from left: George Morrell, trumpet; Major Paul Cherches, MMA music director; Jim Meyers, baritone horn; Fred Mauk, accompanist; Steve Cartmell, tenor; and David Peak, French horn and winner for the fourth consecutive year.

Commander and drum major David Peak

The four winners of the music contest take the stage with their accompanists.

The band at the first convocation passed a reviewing stand loaded with distinguished graduates.

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

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News Highlights

Cadets John Murphy, Ayden Garcia, Bruno Pozzani and Devonte Knight present a check for more than $3,500 to members of Audrain County’s food pantry.

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Local Food Pantries — and Band Company — Win in MMA Canned Food Drive Competition MMA cadets raised $3,567.29 in donations for the Academy’s 2019 canned food drive competition.

The donations help three local organizations — Grand Prairie Baptist Church of Auxvasse, Faith Walk Food Pantry and the Help Center Inc. Food Pantry in Mexico, Missouri — support local families in need.

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78th Annual Evensong The 78th annual Evensong took place on Dec. 8, 2019, at Mexico United Methodist Church.

Described as a “Festival of Lessons and Carols,” Evensong features live readings and musical performances by Missouri Military Academy choir members and musicians, plus the MMA Faculty Chorus.

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#GivingTuesday at MMA On Dec. 3, 2019 — Giving Tuesday — MMA alumni, friends, parents, faculty and staff raised $8,658 in immediate donations and $12,399 in pledges for a total of $21,058 raised — more than six times the amount raised on Giving Tuesday in 2018!

This financial support helps the Academy meet unfunded needs that support cadet life initiatives in our strategic plan, including: • Scholarship support for deserving cadets.

• Athletic programs and facilities, such as baseball, soccer and equestrian programs.

• Upgrades to the rifle range, adding the first-ever MMA Marksmanship Course and providing additional shooting equipment and expendable supplies for training.

• Academic curriculums, particularly science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) programs, such as Project Lead the Way and robotics (middle school).

• New bus and travel expenses for our band and JROTC teams to travel to regional and national competitions.

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N E W S H I G H L I G H T S Continued

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A Look back at Fall Family Weekend 2019 Held Oct. 18-20, Fall Family Weekend 2019 celebrated the induction of new cadets into the 131st MMA Corps of Cadets and honored senior cadets for the beginning of their final year.

On Friday, families shadowed their cadets through their first-semester classes and discovered what a typical academic day is like at MMA. In the evening, the MMA community gathered at the football field to cheer on the Colonels as they competed against St. Paul Lutheran.

On Saturday, families celebrated with the Passing Through Ceremony. An MMA tradition, the Passing Through Ceremony officially welcomes new cadets into the corps, marking their successful completion of the Crucible, Maroon Phase training and handbook test.

At the ceremony, family and friends pinned each new cadet’s hat brass on, signifying their official membership into the MMA Corps of Cadets.

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PHOTO, TOP LEFT: A cadet and his mother walk side by side in Barnard Hall.

PHOTO, TOP CENTER: Cadet Alfonso Martinez receives a kiss on both cheeks from his parents after receiving his new hat brass at the Passing Through Ceremony.

PHOTO, TOP RIGHT: The MMA Band, led

by Drum Major Diego Lopez, marches toward Colonels Field for Review.

PHOTO, CENTER LEFT: New Cadet Kyle Rada smiles with pride after MMA President Richard V. Geraci presented him with his new hat brass.

PHOTO, CENTER RIGHT: The MMA Choir serenades friends and families during the Fall Family Weekend Convocation.

PHOTO, BOTTOM RIGHT: Senior Cadet Bruno Pozzani hugs his mother after receiving his senior ring.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Cadets in New York City, 2019 Educational Tour

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The MMA Color Guard on the field of Busch Stadium Cadet Benjamin Chukwumah takes on an acting role, led by a Bejing Opera performer.

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Cadets then marched to Colonels Field for their battalion review. After the review, seniors received their senior rings at the Senior Ring Presentation.

The Senior Ring Presentation shares a common tradition, one that dates back to the early 1800s, with distinguished service academies and military colleges across the United States.

During Fall Family Weekend Parents Convocation, David and Alice Dawson, parents of Cadet Max Dawson, shared their story of choosing military boarding school education for their son.

“MMA impressed us with the campus, their facilities, their focus on education, their endowment and successful and active alumni and their administrators, teachers and staff who we met at our campus visit,” David Dawson said.

“Ultimately we chose MMA because many of their values aligned with our values. We thought our son could continue to grow on his path and develop as a responsible, self-advocating, productive young man and citizen.”

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On Sept. 28, 2019, the MMA Color Guard, plus more than 70 MMA cadets and 15 MMA family members, attended the St. Louis Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. At the game, the MMA Color Guard presented the flags for more than 42,000 baseball fans in attendance.

Two Beijing Opera performers visited with a group of MMA cadets in September 2019 for a thrilling cultural exchange. The one-hour interactive performance centered on the history and traditions of the Beijing Opera, the most iconic genre of Chinese opera, as professionals demonstrated through traditional singing, dancing and costume.

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Major League Performance

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On-Site Learning Every year, MMA cadets have the opportunity to participate in travel and learn on an educational tour. In March 2019, MMA cadets traveled to Washington, D.C., and New York City to tour some of the nation’s most important historical sites. From the White House to the Statue of Liberty, cadets got a firsthand look at places and subjects they learn about in school.

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Cultural Exchange

At the performance, the company’s translator explained the different characters in the opera as those roles were acted out by live performers.

Cadets were invited on stage to learn from the performers and given instructions to act out roles such as riding a horse and being an old man with a long beard.

Missouri Military Academy

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N E W S H I G H L I G H T S Continued

The MMA Color Guard presents the colors at the Truman Library.

Charles R. Stribling III ’44 Memorial Statue

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Miguel Angel Hernandez Vanegas ’84 leads the MMA Fusileers in the Alain M. Garcia Almada ’06 Field House.

Donated by Sanders Roth ’04, this boom lift will aid in Academy maintenance and repairs.

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Col. Stribling Statue Dedication During Homecoming 2019 on Sept. 14, Missouri Military Academy honored former Academy President Col. Charles R. Stribling ’44, who spent more than 75 years in dedicated service to MMA and its mission, at the Col. Stribling Statue Dedication Ceremony.

During the ceremony, MMA President Brig.

Gen. Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret) addressed the crowd and expressed gratitude for Javier Campuzano ’82, who created this statue as a gift to the Academy with the help of Phil Baum ’63.

To maintain Stribling’s legacy, front and center, for all of our current and future cadets, the statue stands where every cadet walks daily, passing from the barracks to Barnard Hall.

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Color Guard at Truman Presidential Library and Museum Groundbreaking The MMA Color Guard was honored to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for a major renovation at the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri, on Sept. 5, 2019 — the 75th anniversary of Truman’s presidency. The ceremony celebrated the $25 million capital campaign effort that would provide a new Truman permanent exhibition, enhance education programs, expand public programs and modernize exhibits that could inspire, educate and engage a 21st-century audience.

MMA Color Guard opened the ceremony with a parade performance, proudly displaying the flags during the national anthem and throughout the ceremony. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson specifically congratulated the MMA Color Guard for their discipline and bearing during his speech.

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Alumni Support Academy with Time, Talent and Treasure In August, MMA alumni Kurt Bilsel ’81, Jesus Sorinao ’82, Rob Farnam ’84 and Jorge Soriano ’89 — all national title holders as MMA Fusileers — helped teach the 2019-20 Fusileer Drill Team exhibition drill moves. These alumni spent time with cadet leaders to discuss what they learned from their time at MMA in terms of ethical decision-making, honor and integrity.

“We wanted them to know that being a good leader means bringing others to a higher standard,” Farnam says.

In October, Sanders Roth ’04 generously donated $10,000 towards a $16,000 boom lift for maintenance and repair of areas of the Academy the maintenance team is unable to reach with a ladder, such as cleaning the high entryways to buildings, repairing Memorial Chapel steeple, repairing lights, trimming trees and much more.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

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Grants Support MMA In August, Missouri Military Academy received a $25,000 grant from an anonymous foundation to renew annual funding for a scholarship named in honor of D’Cherion Nelson, a 2015 MMA graduate and corps battalion commander. This scholarship supports deserving cadets who need financial support to attend MMA and benefit from the Academy’s 360° Education, focused on developing mind, body and spirit and helping young men take command of their futures.

Also in August, the Allen P. and Josephine B. Green Foundation awarded a $19,000 grant to Missouri Military Academy to restore the steeple atop the Memorial Chapel and Albright Assembly Hall. The chapel has been an icon on MMA’s historic campus in Mexico, Missouri, since 1961.

In November 2019, President Geraci honored Richard White ’47 with an MMA presidential coin for his support for the Academy.

White’s contributions are extensive; he has contributed to improvements in Barnard Hall Library and the Bravo Barracks, as well as the Olympic-sized swimming pool now used by MMA’s swim team. He has also donated decorative eagle figurines, currently on display in the Barnard Hall Conference Room.

During his November 2019 visit to MMA, White toured the Barnard Hall academic building and Stribling Hall, visited a middle-school biology class, listened to Christmas songs rehearsed by a middle school band class, inspected the middleschool robotics classroom and shared MMA stories over lunch with cadets.

MMA is thankful for his support and honored to share the campus improvements to which he contributed.

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President Richard V. Geraci poses for a photo after encouraging a group of new cadets during the 2019 Fall Crucible.

H O W TO TA K E C O M M A N D

Teaching Them to Take Command of Their Lives

THE VALUE OF MILITARY SCHOOL IN DEVELOPING TODAY’S YOUNG MEN INTO CONFIDENT AND HONORABLE ADULTS

By Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret), MMA President I’ve recently seen several stories in the media about higher education offering classes and workshops on “adulting” across the United States, at schools such as University of CaliforniaBerkeley, Wichita State University, University of Nebraska-Kearney and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Young people are actively seeking these classes on how to be an adult. Outside of their parents’ protective homes, they’ve found that their education to this point has focused on academics, but they don’t know how to navigate their lives with basic, everyday life skills. In these adulting classes and workshops, they find practical help, such as how to change a tire or prepare their own taxes; as a parent, grandparent, teacher and president of a military school, I believe what they are really seeking is less tangible than those practical skills — and far more important.

They seek the confidence that they can manage their own lives. Somehow they got this far without many critical life skills necessary to truly succeed.

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“[Educators] are trying to build sturdier adults in the context of what they describe as a mental health crisis,” reports Stephan Bisaha with the Kansas News Service, as shared by NPR last November. Bisaha adds that “mental health advocates hope the workshops can also temper the stress caused by academic pressure and a lack of know-how about living beyond the reach of hovering parents.”

We can’t prepare our young people for every scenario, but we can teach them to handle — with confidence — the challenges, disappointments and opportunities they encounter. We can teach them how to take command of their personal lives and futures. This is what we do at Missouri Military Academy.

Military boarding school is not for every young man, even though I firmly believe that all could benefit from the principles we teach and the values we instill. We have and maintain high expectations for cadets. As a military college preparatory school, MMA takes pride in our structured and disciplined environment with emphasis on accountability — MMA is for

families committed to support their sons in reaching their full potential.

Families may arrive here with a son who is fully ready to enroll, one who craves the structure and discipline, has goals and immediately thrives in our environment of scholarship, leadership and camaraderie among brothers. Or they may arrive with a young man who is drifting in his current school situation and has really not thought about his future. These are the cadets who later are often our biggest alumni advocates, who have come to realize that Missouri Military Academy provided the foundation and guidance they were missing, and the experience that catapulted them forward in life.

We do not let cadets sit on the sidelines. At times, this experience is uncomfortable for them, but it never fails to be life-changing. We facilitate and guide their learning and growth with support from their peers, so they can take command of their future with a high degree of confidence.

We take cadets beyond academic success. Cadet involvement in every aspect of the Academy’s 360° Education requires hard work, perseverance

H O W TO TA K E C O M M A N D

Staff member Brian Donaldson helps a cadet catch up to his group during an early morning hike.

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“We can’t prepare our young people for every scenario, but we can teach them to handle the challenges and opportunities they encounter.”

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and grit on their part. For those who take full advantage of our programs, we see them thrive and grow.

Inside and outside of the classroom, we develop life skills, such as respect for diversity, selfreliance, problem-solving and building personal relationships. We teach cadets more than critical thinking and problem-solving — we teach them to be decisive and to deal with stress as they work under pressure. We teach them what it means to be a global citizen, to be flexible and adapt, and to negotiate and resolve conflict. We teach them self-reflection, so they evaluate what decisions they are making, and how to overcome mistakes.

Our military school educational model provides lessons and experiences as no other school can.

Through relational teaching, we know your cadet inside and outside the classroom. We care and don’t let cadets quit! From the classroom to athletics to barracks life, we provide a safe, supervised environment for cadets to learn to take responsibility for each other and themselves.

We are experts in balancing adult supervision with cadet leader responsibilities to facilitate all

aspects of cadet growth. The cadets must do the work. Doing so builds their self-confidence, sense of self-discipline and self-reliance. We do not accept excuses. We are highly focused on each cadet, but we never do the work for them. We push them to be leaders, to support each other and to work as a team.

Our academic program provides a well-rounded liberal arts education differentiated from other schools by our upfront academic assessment, individualized attention, cadet success teams, 4x4 block schedule, college and career counseling, and different opportunities to serve varied cadet interests, from university-level classes to fine arts to technical school courses. We constantly monitor cadet progress, communicate among his faculty team and with parents, and provide aggressive advising to motivate him to move forward.

By working with the commandant and his team, cadets learn followership and leadership. We are proud to be recognized as an Army JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction through the

Cadet Bruno Pozzani ’20, commander of Delta Company, was assisted in serving as company guidon bearer by middle-school cadet Lincoln Sladzianowski ’25 during the Valentine Weekend Review.

leadership and citizenship demonstrated by our cadets and supported by the JROTC curriculum.

It would seem paradoxical to many that sending your son to military school requires a high level of involvement between you and the Academy, but it does. Others outside the circle of military schools may not appreciate the sacrifice you make and dedication you must have to support your son’s success. We know the truth, however.

His success stems from our partnership with you — parents, guardians and families.

I attended a military school, as did two of my sons. From my perspective as a parent, educator and military school president, I understand the emotional, social and financial complexity of a family’s decision to send their son to a military school. I also know how simple the decision can be when you see the long-term benefits for your child as I have seen for myself and my sons.

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SCO U T I N G AT M M A

Scouts BSA Troop 1889

MMA Nurtures New Scouting Troop “Be Prepared.”

The famed Scouting motto has helped countless young men navigate their way through life.

“Scouting complements the life of a cadet,” says Richard Dehlinger ’93, Missouri Military Academy deputy commandant of activities and support. “Most of our core values are the same as those taught in the Scouting program.”

The Academy has reinstated Scouts BSA after a long hiatus. Troop 1889 formed last year with 10 cadets. Membership has grown to 35 this year but there is always room for more Scouts in the troop, says Dehlinger, who also serves as scoutmaster. “All a cadet needs to do to join is come to a meeting on any given Thursday night in the Cadet Canteen,” he says. “Or, they can meet with me anytime to

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express interest and I will walk them through the necessary paperwork to sign up.”

Formerly known as Boy Scouts of America, Scouts BSA is the traditional Scouting experience for youth in fifth grade through high school. Training focuses on responsible citizenship, character development and self-reliance through outdoor adventures, educational activities and career-oriented programs.

Scouts BSA is open to young cadets whether experienced or not, all of whom will have the chance to earn Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. For those cadets who have been in Scouts before or currently belong to a unit, MMA can help them get back on track and pick up right where they left off. Troop 1889 is active during the school year when MMA students are on campus. Thursday meetings include older scouts helping new scouts get

qualified in the ranks of Scouting while the older cadets work on the material they need to obtain merit badges, Dehlinger says. “We do encourage the cadets to get involved in activities offered around campus such as weekend outings, including trips to museums, ball games, camping trips — and so much more.”

Scouts are expected to maintain a higher standard in academics and discipline, Dehlinger notes. “With these higher standards will come awards that can be worn on MMA uniforms and rank promotions within the corps of cadets,” he adds.

“Scouting is a prime example of ‘you get out of it what you put into it,’ ” Dehlinger says. “Some of our cadets joined Scouts to be a part of something, and it gives them something to do.

Other cadets joined because they want to earn Eagle Scout.”

PRO AT MI N HG I G AHTL IMGMH AT S CGOR U

Two cadets in Troop 1889 have completed their Eagle Scout projects benefiting the MMA campus, he says. Cadet William English built a Gaga Ball pit last fall and Cadet John Murphy landscaped several areas around the campus.

“As the Senior Patrol Leader or scout in charge of the troop here, I have had the fortune of working with our next generation of scouts,” English says. “I always like seeing the boys and their spirit at our meetings. Many of them are hard at work to achieve their own Eagle badge, and I am honored to provide insight into the work that is needed to complete such a pivotal task.”

Involved with scouting since the first grade, English says he wanted to become an Eagle Scout for several reasons, which include following in the footsteps and encouragement of family and friends.

“I wanted to be an Eagle to make my mother proud,” he says. “She has always been there for me when it came to Scouting. Too often I wouldn’t listen, but in the end, she is right, as always. Now, I look forward to giving back to my brothers in both my home troop and here at the Academy.”

PHOTO, TOP LEFT: Cadets Thinh Nguyen and Damien Brown cook over an open fire while camping at Lake Mismilaca on campus.

PHOTO, TOP RIGHT: Cadet Damian White puts up a tent.

PHOTO, ABOVE LEFT: Cadets Ming Han Liu and Hanlei Xiao assist a Scout during the 2019 NOVA camp hosted at MMA. PHOTOS, ABOVE MIDDLE AND RIGHT: Cadets help Cadet William English with his Eagle Scout project, the construction of a Gaga Pit, a traditionally Jewish game played in a walled-off space, typically a hexagon or octagon.

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PARENT STORIES

Finding Strength, Finding Joy

On Letting Go to Let Him Triumph TWO MOMS SHARE VIEWS OF THEIR SONS’ MMA JOURNEYS.

Dr. Ann Murphy and her son John at the 2019 Senior Ring Ball

Elizabeth Royse and her son Noah at the 2020 Valentine Ball

At MMA for Valentine Weekend 2020, Elizabeth Royse was walking with another MMA mom when she saw a group of prospective parents taking a tour of campus as part of an open house.

“We were full of smiles, but they were not,” she says, commenting on the difference that struck her. “You tour campus with a heavy heart – it's a hard decision to make. I thought – this was me, a little over a year ago.

I would have never dreamed that Noah would end up at military boarding school.”

She says the road getting here – to a place where her son Noah is happy and thriving – wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. “My time as part of the MMA family is one that I will be eternally thankful for,” she says. “I have my son back, and now he’s in an even better place than before.”

“Our MMA journey began with several long phone calls to the Admissions office,” she recalls.

“We had questions about the school, military life and how my son might transition into the environment. A few days before we visited the Academy, a local friend of mine who knew I was considering MMA suggested I speak with another Dallas mom whose son was in 20

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his second year at MMA. I reached out and consequently spent over an hour on the phone, mostly in tears, with someone I had never met before discussing my very personal concerns and fears.

“After a four-hour tour of MMA, my son got in the car and, much to my surprise, without any prompting, he declared, ‘I like this school and this is where I want to go.’

“My life had instantaneously changed, too. The following week was spent un-enrolling him from his former school, turning in textbooks and his band uniform. I placed calls to tutors, youth group leaders and other extracurricular activities that he would no longer be attending so that they would be aware of his absence. It was beyond brutal and gut-wrenching. There was no one within my support system that could even possibly comprehend how I felt. My time volunteering for various school organizations would be no more. After a strong, 11-year presence within his school life, my son was now two states away — where I had no presence. And to make matters worse, my son was on Maroon Phase at the Academy, and I only heard from him on Sunday evenings for a short call.

“By the end of the next week, he was enrolled and moved into MMA. I was so immersed in all the changes he would be adjusting to that I never once stopped to imagine what coming home without him would be like for me. Within minutes of walking through my front door, I found myself in his room lying on his bed, sobbing for hours.

“Initially, he sounded great. I knew he was quite busy but it seemed as though he was fitting right in and was adjusting well. However, shortly after the Valentine Ball a year ago, he fell prey to behavior that led to tours, loss of privileges and a negative attitude. When I was on the phone with him one evening last April, he was very down on MMA, himself and everything in general.

“I felt such compassion, complete understanding and overwhelming empathy during that call and the subsequent talks that followed. We’ve only known each other a little over a year, and that mom is now one of my closest and dearest friends.

PARENT STORIES

“He had lost just about every single thing he found value in — his phone, general leave, the ability to play baseball — and he had been moved to the first floor with no roommate. All were consequences of his own doing, but he sounded crushed. As his mom and biggest cheerleader, I tried my hardest to lift his spirits by telling him that I knew he could earn all of his privileges back, but it was up to him. He didn’t believe me, he didn't believe in himself and he didn’t believe in MMA. I asked him if he would be willing to try something for one week. I asked him to begin and end each day by sending me one thing he was grateful for. Every morning and every night for one week. That was it.

“Noah was hesitant that it would change anything, but he agreed. For the following week, he sent me something he was grateful for every morning and night. His gratitude list began that first morning with #1, ‘supportive leaders.’ That evening, he sent me #2, ‘my education.’

“I encouraged him every single day to be reflective and grateful, focusing on the positives instead of the negatives. His list continued: ‘the possible chance to play baseball again and hopefully next week,’ ‘I’m grateful to begin earning things back at MMA” and ‘for being alive.’

“One morning his entry broke my heart as he wrote me that he was grateful for ‘nothing.’ I cried knowing he was having a rough start to his day. I prayed he would turn his attitude around. Later that day, he changed it to ‘the support and love of the best mom in the world.’

“The entries continued that week: • ‘How fortunate I am’ • ‘Knowing I can make it after I get over some bumps in the road’ • ‘Talking with Colonel Grabowski tonight’ • ‘A school that gives me the opportunity to succeed’ • And his very last entry — ‘Getting myself on the right track’ “I was absolutely blown away. He began to realize that it is very difficult to remain negative when you focus on the positives. It is easier to believe in yourself when you hold onto all that one has to be grateful for. He started to believe in himself and MMA. He earned privileges back, and at the end of the year, he said, ‘I never thought I would say this, but I am going to miss MMA this summer.’

“Today, as a senior, his grades continue to be better than they have ever been since leaving his

former school. He has worked hard, kept himself out of trouble and been promoted several times.

He was invited to participate in the Lunch Buddy program and is paying it forward by mentoring youth.

“He holds a leadership position and is a proud cadet in Band Company. He values his leaders, teachers and mentors. And, as an only child, he now has all the brothers and more that he has always wanted. As he looks forward to options for college, he realizes how much he owes to MMA and he is so very grateful. Noah told me that, ‘MMA has shaped my future causing me to be who I am today — a leader, a mentor, a brother and a friend.’

“For me, I have found a new place to volunteer and friends that have become like family to me.

I can’t imagine life without them or MMA. The hardest decision ended up being the very best decision. I am proud of all the qualities that Noah has discovered about himself — discipline, selfconfidence, character, integrity, accountability, determination, perseverance, resilience, responsibility and love. I am eternally grateful. My only regret is that we didn’t find MMA sooner.”

— Elizabeth Royse Continued

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PARENT STORIES

Dr. Ann Murphy with her sons Cadet John Murphy '20, left, and alumnus Paul Murphy ’18

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John has come 180 degrees from hating the school he was forced to go to, to admitting how much better off he is for attending MMA.

Cadet Paul Murphy'18 escorts his date during the 2018 Valentine Ball.

“I have been extremely happy with choosing MMA for two of my sons,” says MMA mom Dr. Ann Murphy. “My oldest son, Paul, graduated from MMA in the spring of 2018, and my son John is a senior there.

“Neither of my sons chose to go to MMA. In fact, it was quite a fight to get them there. Paul visited MMA in the winter of his eighth-grade year to see if it could get him on track — to see if it would motivate him to do his schoolwork, to see if I might still be able to have a relationship with him that wasn’t based on screaming at him to get his work done.

“John saw his brother go to MMA and wanted nothing to do with it. John likes schoolwork and learning. He started at a private Jesuit all-boys high school in Kansas City and was doing well but wanted to be involved in absolutely everything. He needed to step back, arrange his priorities and concentrate on doing a few things well instead of doing everything average or subpar. But we as his parents were the last people he wanted to take advice from. He felt he knew what was best for himself at 16 years old and that no one else knew better.

“We sent John to MMA during spring break of his sophomore year. He couldn’t have been more unhappy. He vowed he would never talk to me nor come home to live with me again.

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“Despite that, John had a fresh start. He has been able to do well in school, earning all A’s. He participates in and loves choir and theater. MMA didn’t have theater, but faculty worked with us on teaming John up with Presser Arts Center, the Mexico community theater, and John has been in several plays there.

“Presser has been a wonderful experience for John. He now admits that the community theater there is better than his previous high school theater, which is quite good. With Presser, he gets to work with such a wide variety of people from all walks of life and all ages. He has made many new friends and connections that will serve him well in his future. And other cadets at MMA started helping out at Presser with lighting and sound and backstage work. This was a win-win situation for the community; the cadets get involved at Presser, and Presser educates the cadets. Now, people from Presser even come to MMA to teach.

“John had qualified for the state vocal competition at his previous high school. MMA and the Academy Choir Director Rob McGrath worked to make sure John competed and got a gold medal — a 1 — ranking. MMA also allowed John to take private vocal lessons from Presser instructors, and now several other cadets are furthering their musical careers by taking private voice lessons.

– Dr. Ann Murphy, MMA mom

“John was introduced to business with Peggy Reynard, and he joined the Future Business Leaders of America club and did well in their competitions. He plans on pursuing business and music in college.

“But the biggest lessons MMA taught both my sons wasn’t in academics, though they’ve always made academics a priority; MMA taught my sons self-discipline, respect for authority and the chain of command, and leadership skills.

“It is gut-wrenching to send your young sons away to boarding school. Most outsiders who have never stepped foot on a boarding-school campus look at you like you are the worst parent ever to send your son away to a boarding military high school. If only they came to visit, they would send their sons, too.

“John’s previous high school brought in an author, Leonard Sax, to speak on his theory that parenting today is collapsing due to lack of authority and discipline. After attending that presentation, I had the courage to send John away to MMA. Before that, I had been hesitant to send John to MMA even though his older brother was already there because MMA did not have the theater and private vocal lessons that John was very interested in.

PARENT STORIES

As battalion commander, Cadet John Murphy ’20, at left, leads the MMA Corps of Cadets during the Mexico, Missouri, Christmas Parade.

“However, if a teenager has no discipline, selfrespect nor respect for others, what does it matter that he has a perfect ACT score or is the most talented actor or singer? Raw talent and book intelligence are great, but you need the basic skill of discipline first to succeed in life. Public and private schools don’t have the capacity to teach the discipline that our children need.

Although every teen is impulsive and trying to develop independence and discover who they are, there seems to be a complete lack of parental and authoritative respect in our society today.

Teens nowadays cuss out their parents — even in public. I know that my teens will disagree with me, but I don’t feel that they need to cuss me out and do whatever they please despite the rules.

“MMA teaches the discipline and respect that all people need in their lives to succeed both personally or professionally. Both my sons have come home from MMA respectful gentlemen.

They will state when they do not agree with me, but they also show respect for the boundaries.

“Both my sons attained leadership positions in their final years at MMA. MMA cadets are years ahead of their peers in regular high

schools when it comes to maturity, partly due to their opportunities to lead other cadets. Being president of the student council at a regular high school is no comparison to being first sergeant of a company at MMA. I had to laugh when Paul asked me if I understood how stressful it was to be responsible for a whole company of cadets.

Those boys live with one another 24 hours a day, and when one of them causes trouble, it brings the whole company down. The cadets are responsible for monitoring each other and motivating one another. These responsibilities are usually learned when we become parents or bosses. Our boys are getting to learn that at a very young age and are only going to be better for it.

“John applied for high-ranking leadership positions at MMA for his senior year. He didn’t get them. That in and of itself was also a good life lesson. We don’t always get what we want, even if we feel we have worked hard for it and deserve it. John was upset and didn’t feel that MMA valued him. But he came around and decided that all positions matter and that it takes everyone working together to make the school run smoothly. So he applied himself in the position he was in to be the best at it that he could. He

did well, and an opportunity arose for him to be promoted. And then another opportunity arose for him to be promoted again. Now, he is the battalion commander of the corps. He has learned and is still learning valuable leadership skills that he is applying to make the corps better. He motivates everyone to do their part.

He believes that positive change occurs when everyone is involved and everyone realizes that they are each an important piece to the overall puzzle. John has come 180 degrees from hating the school he was forced to go to, to admitting how much better off he is for attending MMA. He knows the discipline and leadership skills he has obtained at the Academy put him years ahead of his peers.

“It took 21/2 years for John to admit that MMA is the right place for him. It took Paul graduating to admit that MMA was the right place for him. My sons liked to complain about MMA every time I talked to them. But I could see their growth.

Teenagers push our buttons to our limits but still don’t know what is best. MMA has been the best for both of my sons!”

— Dr. Ann Murphy Missouri Military Academy

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NEW CADET PROFILE

Sean Prescot Silva '25 Hometown: Effingham, IL Company: Charlie

What leadership position do you aspire to hold at MMA someday?

First sergeant Number of semesters you have attended MMA: Two Why did you enroll in MMA? It would be a new experience, and I thought I would make a lot of friends.

Why do you attend MMA now?

For learning and to gain leadership skills.

What is the best part of your MMA day?

Sports and free time.

What’s the most challenging part?

Being away from home.

What is your goal after you leave MMA? To be a video game tester.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned at MMA so far?

You need to keep going no matter how hard it is.

What do you do on the weekends?

I Skype my family, go to church and hang out with my family by playing games.

What’s your favorite class this year?

Science and robotics.

Favorite food in the mess hall?

Spaghetti and meatballs.

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CADET LEADER PROFILE

John Murphy '20

Hometown: Independence, MO Position: Battalion Commander Why did you enroll in MMA? It wasn’t my choice to enroll. My older brother (Paul Murphy ’18) attended MMA and told me nothing but terrible things. I was unhappy to be enrolling, and I thought I would only be here for a semester.

Why do you attend now?

Because of the unique leadership opportunities. Here, I’m able to positively influence more than 200 cadets across the corps every day. I’ve learned the values of honor, integrity and hard work, and I’ve made friendships that will last for the rest of my life.

Favorite part of the day?

Morning formations. I stand in front of the entire corps and am able to really see the responsibility that I carry as battalion commander. I look out at the corps as a whole and challenge myself to make a difference for them every single morning.

What’s the most challenging part?

I’ve had to make several decisions that are beneficial for the corps but that my friends disagree with, which is never easy.

What’s your goal after you leave MMA? To attend college and study music and business. I wish to enroll in ROTC to keep challenging myself. Eventually, I would like to attend law school to help me achieve my dream of becoming a politician.

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M M A AT H L ET I C S

Team Players

MMA's soccer program builds a winning mindset, on and off the field.

By all accounts, the soccer program at Missouri Military Academy is a great success. In just 37 years, MMA soccer has built an impressive legacy, compiling a record of 414 wins to 176 losses, winning 11 district titles — most recently in 2018 — and placing fourth in Missouri state competition in 1992.

But according to head varsity soccer coach Liam Collins, the primary goal of MMA soccer isn’t winning every game — it’s about imparting the values of sportsmanship, commitment to hard work, and the grit and determination to push onward that cadets learn as members of a team.

“I want my players to have fun, but I also want them to understand that working hard and working together as a team can help you overcome many challenges,” says Collins, a former NCAA Division I soccer player at the University of Memphis. “When players buy in and commit wholeheartedly as a team, the wins will occur naturally — and the same is true in life. If they can apply these lessons from soccer to their overall lives, then I have achieved my objective as an MMA coach.”

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Cadet Bruno Pozzani, captain of the 2019-20 soccer team, attests to Collins’ philosophy of character and team development through the sport. When the team steps onto the field, the senior says, it’s not about individual achievement, but rather about brotherhood and hard work.

“The team is my favorite part about playing soccer because we learn that soccer is not what is on the line,” Pozzani says. “Our brotherhood — the people beside you — are the ones who are going to take care of you, and it’s our responsibility to do the same for them.

This mindset makes the bond between the players unbreakable.”

Looking ahead to life after graduation, Pozzani says he plans to use what he has learned on the soccer field as he works toward an international business career.

“[Soccer helped me grow] as a teammate and a leader,” he says. “The game taught me to work as a team to outperform the other side. As a leader, it taught me that when tough times come, someone needs to step up. This can mean playing harder, communicating better or getting more focused. It taught me about stepping up and doing my part to improve the team.”

As a reflection of MMA’s values, soccer serves as yet another pillar of cadets’ education and experience at the academy. From the field to postgraduate education and careers, teammates learn one of life’s most valuable lessons — how to reach the goal.

Cadet Robert Abbott drives down Colonels Field.

M M A AT H L ET I C S

Cadet Evan Dawson concentrates during competition.

Taking Aim: MMA Rifle Team Coming off a fourth-place finish at the JROTC Service Championship in Camp Perry, Ohio, the MMA rifle team is supporting the Academy’s new strategic plan through growth, personal development and service.

A fixture at the Academy since the beginning, the Missouri Military Academy rifle team boasts a longstanding tradition of excellence, both on the range and off. Mutual respect and service are cornerstones of the program, and though the team still has work to do to reach its goal of bringing a national championship trophy back home to the Academy, they’ve made impressive strides, both in competition and in the classroom.

“I see the academic benefits of being on the rifle team as overwhelming evidence to its benefits outside the range,” says Captain Joseph Balvanz, MMA rifle team coach and military department chair, who brings more than 21 years of tactical rifle firing, rifle hunting, coaching and mentoring to the team. “Our cadets understand that you have to win in your head before you can expect

to win in life. You have to visualize and then make happen those things in life that make you better.

We routinely practice fundamentals that increase concentration, focus and drive, as well as how to achieve results. In short, our cadets stay out of trouble and perform under pressure.”

“We just missed earning the third-place trophy by 25 points,” says Balvanz. “We are left hungrier than ever. Although fourth is not where we want to be, it is the highest team honors achieved by MMA at the Service Championship in the air rifle era.”

High Marks

Cadet Baker, a senior from Flower Mound, Texas, took first place among all 123 sporter competitors, earning an invitation to the 2020 National JROTC Championship March 19–21 at Camp Perry. “In fact,” Balvanz says, “he handily won by eight points going into the finals round, a lead unrivaled by the Air Force sporter class or the Army or Air Force precision classes!” Baker’s finish in Ohio makes him the fifth-ranked Army JROTC shooter in the country.

The 2019-20 Academy’s rifle team consists of the best firers from MMA’s Army JROTC program (including one JROTC cadet from Mexico High School, Madison Jones, who qualified for this year’s team). In February, the team took fourth-place team honors at the JROTC Service Championship in Camp Perry, Ohio. The Colonels competed Feb. 14–16 in the sporter class, finishing ahead of 12 Army teams and all 10 of the Air Force teams. Team members William Baker, Rene Garcia, Landy Nguyen and Lance Newland earned an aggregate score of 4,166 out of 4,800 possible in the competition.

“I’m proud of what our team has accomplished,” Balvanz adds. “With that said, we always feel we could have done better, and that’s what drives us as competitors.”

Continued

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M M A AT H L ET I C S

Coach Balvanz advises Cadet Lance Newland on his shot.

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“How can I reach my potential?” is a common MMA rifle team mantra.

Drive and the Strategic Plan That drive to better themselves is what motivates the team’s cadets to hit the range from 0600 to 0700 five days a week — and again from 1600 to 1730 every week day. With every practice, they’re sharpening skills, as well as their overall discipline, and in doing so they’re also supporting the Academy’s new strategic plan.

“I believe that our goal to ‘develop cadet life programs that blunt attrition and stimulate enrollment’ is enhanced by all successful competitive teams,” Balvanz says. “As teams win, accolades, support and encouragement reinforce their actions as positive on the personal and organizational levels. Our team loves what they 28

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Cadet Jared Douthit adjusts his sights.

do, they are encouraged by our results and love to share in their success.”

Balvanz also highlights the plan’s fifth goal, to “develop and implement strategies to recruit, retain and support a highly qualified workforce.”

“I believe that our rifle team changes the young lives of our cadets, and that’s what draws some of the most qualified teachers, coaches and mentors to our workforce in the first place. Our faculty are talented and driven to lead positive change in our young cadets. The rifle team is one more venue to truly reach our cadets, and therefore, the positive change reflective of the team reminds our faculty why they came here.”

The strategic plan’s sixth goal, to “explore new opportunities for growth and innovation,” is another area where Balvanz says the team has been able to contribute.

“Competing at the Service Championships for the second year in a row is an honor. We are one of only a couple teams in the entire state, and one of only a couple military schools in the country, to earn the same privilege,” Balvanz says. “As a result, Missouri Military Academy is maintaining its status as the premier Midwest military boarding school. This success, coupled with external partnerships, grants and other supporting functions, have continued to grow on the prior success of our team and our shooting facilities.”

M M A AT H L ET I C S

MMA Rifle Team 2019-20, from left to right: Mike Shoemaker (Assistant Coach), Evan Dawson, Landy Nguyen, Cole Miracle, Blake Morais, Jared Douthit, William Baker, Rene Garcia, Madison Jones (JROTC member from Mexico High School), Joseph Balvanz (Head Coach).

Purpose and Achievement Through all the practice, competition and team building, cadets on the MMA rifle team learn just as much about themselves as they do about life on a team. “How can I reach my potential?” is a common mantra and combines with the other skills and attributes that rifle team training has shown to hone, such as increasing courage, confidence, stamina, physical balance and personal responsibility. At MMA, marksmanship is a team sport — and that team camaraderie is arguably one of the cadets’ favorite aspects of the program — but individuals are still responsible for themselves and their own performance.

Ultimately, just as the Academy strives to train young men of honor and purpose, Balvanz encourages his cadets to ask, “Why me?” and “Why now?” and it’s that sense of purpose that

has led to achievement at the range and a boost to campus pride.

“Our rifle team has demonstrated hard work and commitment to training, and their success brings pride to the entire Academy,” says MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret). “Their recent achievements fuel our drive to continue to improve our rifle program and support our cadets as they reach for higher and higher goals.”

MMA’s strategic plan calls for funding to support rifle range renovation and team equipment and transportation to accommodate growth in the corps and enable cadets to travel to more national and regional competitions, such as the Camp Perry JROTC Service Championship.

Visit bit.ly/mma-strat-plan to learn more about the Academy’s strategic plan.

Cadet William Baker ’20 stands victorious atop the “winner’s podium” after taking first place at the Camp Perry competition in February.

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SUM M E R AT M M A

Happy Campers

MMA adds two new summer camps to 2020 lineup.

Young musicians and sports enthusiasts can add Mexico, Missouri, to their list of summer fun hot spots this year. Missouri Military Academy has a packed calendar of summer camps planned for 2020, including new offerings for a band and choir camp and an all-sports camp.

Six camps are scheduled through June and July at the Academy. With both residential and day camp options, MMA summer camps offer opportunities for boys and girls to challenge themselves and explore new horizons on its 288-acre campus. It’s an experience campers never forget.

“Lucas has told stories all the way home,” says Lori Alyea, recounting her son’s return from an MMA camp. “Success!”

Jennifer Ley’s son, Everett, was also full of praise for his camp experience. “Everett couldn’t stop talking about how much he loved MMA!” she says, adding it has helped her son “develop into a leader and a disciplined young man.”

Leadership Camp A residential camp for boys in grades 7 to 12, this two-week experience builds confidence and teaches leadership skills to teens. Activities include daily physical training, paintball, rappelling and rock climbing, rifle marksmanship, pugil sticks, swimming, knot tying, a leadership reaction course, first-aid training with certification, high ropes, a climbing wall and map reading, all aimed at developing personal independence and team building.

July 5-18; boys only, ages 12-17; $2,190

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Confidence Camp This residential program for younger campers helps boys in grades 4 to 6 develop a sense of pride in themselves and their accomplishments.

Activities include daily physical training, paintball, rappelling, rifle marksmanship, pugil sticks, swimming, knot tying, a leadership reaction course, high ropes and map reading. Choose a one-week or two-week camp experience.

July 5-11 & July 12-18; boys only, ages 8-11; $1,110/1 week or $2,110/2 weeks Summer Academy

CAMP CALENDAR June 15-19 Band & Choir Camp June 21-July 17 Summer Academy

This coed program is so much more than summer school! The academic camp features two tracks — one for middle school and one for high school — designed to challenge students academically and physically through a range of experiences.

July 5-18 Leadership Camp

The middle-school program covers key academic skills and knowledge in math, science and reading.

After-class and weekend activities include soccer, horseback riding, swimming, field trips, paintball, basketball, physical fitness, flag football and tennis.

July 5-11 & July 12-18 Confidence Camp

The for-credit high school academic camp is designed for students who wish to make up a course or take an enrichment class, earning up to two credits over the four-week program. After-class and weekend activities include horseback riding, swimming, field trips, paintball, basketball, scuba, physical fitness, weight training and flag football.

June 21-July 17; boys & girls, grades 7-8 & 9-12; $4,150 boys residential or $950 coed day camp

July 6-9 & July 13-16 Equestrian Day Camp July 20-24 All Sports Camp

SUM M E R AT M M A

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“I am thrilled beyond measure to hear the excitement in Noah's

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stories!”

— Ashley Bell-Hacker, camper mom

Band & Choir Camp

Equestrian Day Camp

New this year, MMA’s coed band and choir camp is an intensive one-week experience for 12- to 18-year-olds, offering young singers and musicians the opportunity to hone their skills and polish their confidence. Campers cap off the week with a public concert. Following vigorous daily rehearsals, campers may cut loose and partake of MMA’s recreational facilities and enjoy swimming, paintball, a rappel tower, an assault course, gym activities and a movie theater.

This coed day camp focuses on building confidence and responsibility through morning horseback rides. Campers spend 2½ hours a day on trail rides where they learn different western horsemanship techniques, such as saddling, mounting, walking and galloping, plus the important equine management skills of safety, grooming and handling. The two four-day sessions run consecutively in July.

June 15-19; boys & girls, ages 12-18; $600 boys residential or $350 coed day camp All Sports Camp Athletes, rejoice! MMA has opened its state-ofthe-art athletic facilities to boys 8 to 14 years old.

Whether discovering new endeavors or playing what they already love, campers may learn and practice up to four sports each day. Options in this residential camp include baseball, soccer, golf, horseback riding, basketball, tennis, paintball, football, bowling and wrestling.

July 6-9 & July 13-16; boys & girls, ages 8-14; $250 per session, day camp only Make plans now for your child to create his own summer stories. Application deadline is 10 days prior to the start of the selected camp. Room availability is limited, however, and campers are admitted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Apply early for best chance of admission. For more information, contact the MMA admissions office at 573-581-1776 or email admissions@ missourimilitaryacademy.com.

July 20-24; boys only, ages 8-14; $1,010

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LEGACY CADETS

Tradition & Honor — Legacy Cadets

Legacy cadets are the sons, stepsons, brothers, grandsons, step-grandsons, nephews or cousins of an MMA alum who completed at least one full year as an MMA cadet.

“Since the Academy was founded in 1889, we have had a rich tradition of legacy families who have seen the positive impact that MMA has on their sons,” says MMA President Richard V. Geraci. “Recognizing our legacy cadets is an important way to honor those special families who are committed to MMA’s mission, core values and rich traditions, so much so that they encourage and support their family members’ attendance.”

The 2019-20 legacy cadets and their families were recognized at the Homecoming 2019 Alumni Awards and Donor Recognition Banquet.

Cadet Loyal Smith, legacy of his cousin D’Cherion Nelson ’15 Cadet Kenny Gisa, legacy of his cousin Jean-Luc Shyaka ’17 Cadet Ziad Hossam Sabry, legacy of his cousin Mohamed Ahmed Shiha ’ 02 Cadet Eric Gentry, legacy of his father, Chris Gentry ’88

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Cadet Daniel Chapa, legacy of his brother, Hector Chapa Gonzalez ’16

Cadet Marco Vega-Pinero, legacy of his father, Marco Vega ’94

Cadet Patricio Grunberger Castillejos, legacy of his uncle, Rodolfo Alejandro Grunberger Reynoso ’82

Cadet Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche, legacy of his father, Jorge-Alberto Yarte-Sada ’89

Cadet Diego Perez, legacy of his brother, Jose Perez,’12 Cadet Roberto Rodriguez Jr., legacy of his father, Roberto Rodriguez ’89 Cadet Keveth Sangster, legacy of his grandfather Brian Rockell ’57 Cadet Marco Tavarez, legacy of his father, Marco Tavarez ’89

Cadet John Murphy, legacy of his brother, Paul Murphy ’18 Cadet Derek Nguyen, legacy of his brother, Dion Nguyen ’16 Cadet Diego Lopez, legacy of his cousin Jose Luis Castro ’08

LEGACY CADETS

A Father’s Advice Chris Gentry ’88 and Eric Gentry ’21 Chris Gentry entered MMA at age 15, and at age 14, his son Eric followed in his father's footsteps. Below, Chris talks about the advice he shared with Eric before his son began his own MMA experience.

Eric Gentry ’21 and his father Chris Gentry ’88 during Spring Family Weekend 2019. Below, then-Cadet Chris Gentry in 1988.

“Before Eric arrived at MMA, I told him he would need to listen: do exactly what was told of him from instructors and cadet leaders. I advised him not to give any feedback but rather just follow the instructions given. I warned him, many may not make any sense, but he would get along much better to just do as asked. I drilled this into him every communication his first year as well. We titled it Ears Open Mouth Shut (EOMS), and eventually I just began closing all communications with him EOMS. “I also told him his grades were very important as they would be the heaviest weight when considered for promotions and awards. I told him promotions were everything because life is much easier as a leader. This was key because Eric thrives on the promotion system, which was a big consideration in our choice to enroll Eric at MMA. I explained athletics, activities and discipline records were also very important to his success.

“I also told him, no matter who he was speaking with to address them as sir or ma’am. I told him politeness carries a long way at MMA and the real world. ” On the MMA brotherhood, then and now: “The camaraderie of the brothers at MMA has not changed over the years. The cadets are still close and ‘discipline’ each other in a similar fashion. That love is everything.” — Chris Gentry ’88

Commitment and Pride Jorge-Alberto Yarte-Sada ’89 and Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche ’23 Message shared by Jorge-Alberto Yarte-Sada via Facebook following the legacy cadet recognition during Homecoming 2019: “I feel very proud and honored for this recognition for an old tradition introduced at the Homecoming 2019 Alumni Awards and Donor Recognition Banquet held at MMA. “Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche will proudly wear the legacy pin symbolizing the Yarte family’s continued history at MMA (my younger brother Rodrigo Yarte-Sada attended MMA during his eighth year, graduating then from what was denominated MMA Junior School, nowadays MMA Middle School).

“We will pursue our commitment as proud MMA alumni and ambassadors, sharing MMA’s core values and rich traditions worldwide so that we may inspire and encourage other families and even other fellow MMA alumni to consider MMA as the best school of their choice for their sons as a consequence of its uniqueness.

“Long live MMA!” Continued

Left, then-Cadet Jorge-Alberto Yarte-Sada in 1989. Above, Alberto YarteSada ’89 and his son Gorka-Aitor Yarte-Zertuche ’23 in 2019.

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LEGACY CADETS

Roberto Rodriguez ’20 This May, Roberto Rodriguez will become the seventh young man from his family to graduate from MMA. He has attended MMA for six semesters, and this year he is living in the same barracks room that his father once occupied.

Roberto Rodriguez ’89 and his son Roberto Rodriguez ’20 during Fall Family Weekend 2019. Below, then-Cadet Roberto Rodriguez in 1989.

He says he grew up with his dad always asking him, “Are you ready for military school?” When Roberto first visited MMA, for his cousin’s graduation, he knew he wanted to attend.

“When I came to MMA, I already knew how to shine my shoes and make my bed. When other cadets and cadet leaders asked me, ‘How do you already know how to do everything?’ I told them my story — that I’m not the first in my family. I’m very proud. It’s a tradition in my family to come here because it makes young men into gentlemen.”

— Roberto Rodriguez ’20 Legacy connections: Roberto Rodriguez ’89 (father) Ramon Rodriguez ’86 (cousin) Ricardo Rodriguez ’87 (uncle) Roel Rodriguez Garza ’92 (uncle) Roel Rodriguez Valdez ’14 (cousin) Ramon Rodriguez Valdez ’21 (cousin) Watch a brief video of Cadet Rodriguez sharing his story: bit.ly/MMA-Rodriguez-Interview.

D’Cherion Nelson ’15 and Loyal Smith ’21 A junior from Memphis, Tennessee, Loyal Smith ’21 says his cousin D’Cherion Nelson ’15 shared a lot of information with him about the Academy before he arrived. That insider view has matched up with Smith’s own MMA experience, and he says that he attends MMA today in order to receive the best education possible and to improve his leadership skills.

Today, Nelson is attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he participates in the college’s ROTC program. Smith plans to again follow in his cousin’s footsteps by participating in ROTC after MMA graduation. “My future goal is to commission out of an ROTC program and become an officer in the United States military,” Smith says.

Then-Battalion Commander D’Cherion Nelson in 2015.

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He also feels the same pride as Nelson in being a legacy: “I feel that being a legacy cadet at MMA is an honor, and I want to create my own legacy for future cadets to remember.”

On the next page, read a Q&A with Nelson about the legacy connection …

LEGACY CADETS

Did you offer any advice to Loyal before he arrived at MMA? Nelson: Basically I told him to stay strong, and not to give up if he wanted something. Things will get difficult, and might not be in your favor, but you will have to make do with what you have.

What were you most excited for him to learn, experience or do at MMA? Nelson: I was most excited to see how he would lead in this brand-new environment, with so much healthy competition.

Why did you choose MMA? Nelson: I chose MMA because it was great for a young man like myself at the time. I had no father figure, and I knew this school would instill the discipline in me that I was lacking.

What do you hope your cousin gets out of his time here?

Nelson: I hope that Loyal understands that he will always have to work for what he wants. I also want him to learn that the only way he will be successful is through tackling his obstacles and fears head on.

What is your favorite MMA memory?

Nelson: I can say one of the best feelings was when I was designated to be the battalion commander.

The emotions going through my head at the time were crazy, and I felt extremely accomplished.

What do you think about being part of a legacy connection at MMA? What does that mean to you?

Nelson: Being a part of this legacy is another way that I still feel connected to this fine institution. To me this brings great joy, because I can still influence young minds at an institution that molded me. In a way, it feels like I am giving back.

Loyal Smith ’20

This legacy pin was introduced at Homecoming 2019. It will be presented annually to legacy cadets to symbolize the family’s continued history at MMA.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

From MMA Cadet to Knighthood

For Ricardo Uriegas ’91, MMA was the launchpad to an exciting career on three continents.

Ricardo Uriegas ’91 and his wife, Karla Wynter, on their citrus farm in Montemorelos, Mexico

Ricardo Uriegas has traveled the world but his heart remains in Mexico — both the country that is home to his family and the mid-Missouri home of his alma mater.

have to earn rank, you have to earn privilege. You work your way up the ladder. It’s something I took into adulthood and into my professional life. Thank God my mother was able to send me to MMA!”

Uriegas, a member of the MMA class of 1991, has enjoyed a successful career in international business for the past quarter century, a professional life he says has its foundation in Mexico, Missouri, at Missouri Military Academy.

After graduation in 1991, Uriegas attended Universidad de Monterrey in Mexico and earned a degree in international relations. An internship at the U.S. consulate in Monterrey led to a job in the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control. His background paved the way; born in San Antonio, Texas, to parents of Basque descent — his father emigrated from Spain and his mother was from Yucatan, Mexico — Uriegas grew up in Monterrey near his family’s citrus farm. His parents owned property and businesses on both sides of the border. Fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, he holds citizenship in his native United States, Mexico and Spain. For six years, Uriegas investigated money-laundering schemes and represented U.S. interests in property seizures of sanctioned narcotics traffickers in Latin America.

In Brazil that sixth year, he met a man who would profoundly affect the direction of the rest of his life.

“I was fortunate to attend MMA and make something of myself,” Uriegas says.

Mischief in Monterrey He freely admits he came to MMA because “I was a mischievous. My widowed mother couldn’t handle me by herself. And I had cousins at the academy — they turned out all right.”

Uriegas notes he never felt that leaving his home in Monterrey, Mexico, to attend MMA was a punishment, but there were adjustments. “I grew up in a prosperous home; I had a lot of access to many things,” he says. “As a kid, you sometimes think you can do what you want. But when you become a recruit at the Academy, suddenly your hair is gone and you look like everyone else. You

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“We were playing golf,” he recalls. “He was the president of GNP, a Mexican insurance company, and a good friend of my father.”

Risk & Reward In the 1990s, Grupo Nacional Provincial — one of Mexico’s largest insurers — was carving out a niche in the special risk market. The company formed the brokerage firm Profinamex that partnered with American International Group, or AIG, to develop global insurance policies covering such crises as kidnapping and ransom, extortion, assault, illegal detentions and disappearances.

As a result of this relationship, “I was offered a job at AIG and developed a network of AIG agents and brokers,” Uriegas says. “I was responsible to the brokers. Clients trusted their brokers and brokers trusted us. I’m told I have a trustworthy face,” he adds with a laugh.

Family Ties Retired from AIG since 2017, Uriegas is now a special risk consultant for a variety of global insurers such as London-based Hiscox and worldwide health insurer Global Benefits Group, known as GBG, training brokers and helping individuals prepare for crises and risk. Other business interests have shifted his focus back to Mexico and the family’s 480-acre citrus farm,

ALUMNI PROFILE

From left, Cadets Oscar Uribe ’92, Chris Petersen ’91, Ricardo Uriegas ’91, Ian Wolfe ’91, Michael Federici ’91 and Gregg Center ’91 pose for a photo with faculty member Lt. Col. Henry Matlosz.

Rancho Camarillo, in Montemorelos, which he took over after the death of his mother in 2017.

“You know, citrus growing was my father’s trade.

I never thought I’d follow him into business but I went into the insurance business,” he says. “And I never wanted to have anything to do with the family farm. My mother ran it and she was a very strict woman. Summer vacations from MMA meant lots of chores that kept me busy. I liked being at the Academy better than home with all those chores! Yet here I am, transitioning into less consulting and more farming. We have 60,000 citrus trees — tangerines, grapefruits, oranges and lemons. Montemorelos has become a second home.”

He has also found time to give back to MMA, helping with student recruitment whenever he can. “It’s a brotherhood and we are all connected,” he says of his fellow alumni. “The Academy is still forging young adults into men.”

Knighted by the Pope Uriegas and his wife, Guadalajara native Karla Wynter, split their time between homes in Houston and McAllen, Texas, and Montemorelos.

He proudly notes his wife, whose grandfather came to Mexico as Queen Elizabeth’s special envoy for mining operations, is part of Princess Diana’s Spencer family and is related to Winston Churchill as well. Uriegas can boast his own noble European

lineage as a knight of the centuries-old Order of St. Michael Archangel.

Tracing its roots to the Knights Templar, a medieval order that protected pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, the Order of St. Michael Archangel formed in the 12th century as advisers to the pope to protect and hold in perpetuity the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. “We are soldiers in an army,” Uriegas says. “Our general is the archangel Michael.”

Uriegas was nominated for the selective order in 2013, eligible through his father’s membership that traces his ancestors in Spain and Portugal back to the Knights Templar. The Vatican’s approval Continued

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ALUMNI PROFILE

“

Uriegas and his date at the 1991 Valentine Ball

“

"MMA gave me the foundation I needed. It gave me an identity."

— Ricardo Uriegas ’91

Back, from left: MMA Mexico Admissions Coordinator Paul Petit ’85, Ricardo Uriegas ’91, International Admissions Coordinator Elven Sang.

Front, from left: Juan Manuel Cardenas ’90 and Jose Vega ’91.

process is rigorous. “Your whole life is scrutinized by the church,” he says. “You have to be a good guy.

My dad was a good guy.” The scrutiny included confession with Pope Francis via Skype. In 2016, Uriegas traveled to Rome where he was knighted by the pope.

“It’s funny,” Uriegas recalls. “When I was at MMA, we had to march to church on Sunday — even in the snow. I’m Catholic so, of course, I went to the Catholic church. It was so far from the campus.

When the cold weather arrived that first year, I thought, ‘I need to change churches and find one closer.’ The Methodist church was only half as far, so I forged my mom’s signature for permission to switch and started going to the Methodist church (although she actually knew about it because

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my mom and I never had secrets and she agreed that the church was way too far out and no time for breakfast, so it made sense to her). Then I discovered the Lutheran church served breakfast, so I switched again.”

He laughs at the memory. “In my junior year, the priest at St. Brendan’s saw me one day and asked, ‘Aren’t you Catholic?’ I confessed to him and went back to the Catholic church and took the sacraments. And I’ve stayed in the church — even went to a Jesuit college.”

It was one of many lessons learned at MMA — honor God and your parents — that often surfaced as he negotiated life’s twists and turns around the globe. “MMA gave me the foundation

I needed,” he says. “It gave me an identity. My parents came from Basque Country in Spain. They never lost their identity of where they came from but when they got to America, they embraced the American way of life. When I arrived at MMA, I was already an American, but when I stepped on campus that first day and breathed the air, I truly became an American.”

MMA DONOR AWARDS

With Gratitude: MMA Recognition Societies Each year, the generosity of alumni, parents and friends enables Missouri Military Academy to fulfill its mission of educating young men to reach their potential. Their giving allows MMA to provide an exceptional educational experience with time-honored military traditions that educates and inspires young men to rise up as much-needed leaders of character in today’s world.

See below for tiered gift amounts for MMA recognition societies. Annual gifts are recognized based on the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.

Maroon & Gold Club (Up to $149) Carolyn Andres Dave Arendes ’65 Steven & DeeDee Baker CPT Joseph & Tina Balvanz Barbara Balzer Ron Baran ’60 Connie Barany Gagliano Lorrie Barker Hon. Robert & Janice Barney Donald & Janet Beatty Roger Beckermann ’60 Samuel ’94 & Jamie Blair David & Keiko Blitz Chandler Bolinger ’19 Vicki Briggs Ralph & Martha Bruce T. James ’60 & Donna Bueneman Francisco Bueno Randy & Nicole Burke Daniel Burton Linda Carlson Thomas Charleville ’67 Ruhan Chowrira ’22 Ming Han Choy ’19 Bill Chrismer Daniel Burton Mark & Karen Clark Marilyn Cline Liam Collins John & Marcia Connorton Justin Cook ’98 Charles ’58 & Judith Cunningham

Connie Dale Alvaro De Prat ’60 Rick Dehlinger ’93 Wanda Delaplane Alessandra Desiderio James Diez Jr. ’60 Alejandro Dillon Ortiz ’21 William Dunn ’21 Evelyn Egan Jacob & Madeline Ericson Page Fordham Jerry & Patricia Freseman Valeria Gealth Phoebe Gibbs L. Morris Grabau ’53 Dr. James ’64 & Sheryl Green John ’60 & Jeep Green Andy Hall ’85 Sean & Jill Hannagan Michael ’76 & Claire Harbor David ’60 & Virginia Harmon Griffin Henry ’19 Chad & Trisha Herron Russell II ’60 & Barbara Huether Alan & Allison Hughes Richard & Amy Hughey Marry Ivaliotes Michael & Kristen Janes Petronilo & Jessica Javier Lynn ’57 & Sue Jenkins Jeffrey ’84 & Laura Kays Michael & Michelle Kiefer John Kilpatrick Rev. David King ’63 Michael & Sharon Koontz Dr. Jesse Lopez Tom & Missy Mansfield E. Joseph Martin ’60 Eric Martinson ’96 Jeff ’78 & Sherry Mattingly Helen Maupin Greg & Paige Maximovitch Dr. Judy McConnell Robert McGrath Landon Meyer ’24

Larry Mrazek ’51 Blayne & Kendra Murphy Robert Murphy M. Fredrick ’60 & Mary Nelson Scott Nelson Silas & Erica Newland Gregory & Denise Paley Dr. Catherine Parke & Dr. Tom Quirk Kimberly Passmore Mike & Amy Pemberton Robert & Mary Jo Pemberton Dennis & Amy Pieper Pedro Portilla ’07 Jason & Maggie Quaranto Hallock Reisel ’60 Col. Dana & Peggy Reynard Rex Rodenbaugh Jr. ’95 Jeff & Kira Rogge Lee Rovik ’60 & Adele Sellers Elizabeth Royse Mary Ryan Genevieve Salvato Richard & Danyelle Schuler Frederick ’57 & Sheila Schulman Doug Scott William ’60 & Elaine Seaman Marcus Shipley Michael & Iris Shoemaker John ’48 & Barbara Shoeman Greg & Christine Smith Sheldon Sr. ’60 & Honora Smith Jesus ’82 & Melissa Soriano Justin & Gretchen Stevens Charles & Wannarat Stockdall Brent ’73 & Kim Stone C.M. Stratton Woodrow & Leslie Sullivan Dean & Judith Sweet David ’65 & Denise Telford Carmen Thill Tod Thompson ’88 Lawrence & Lily Ting Mark & Ruth VanDuyne Douglas Varnes ’60 Jacqueline Ventura Continued

Missouri Military Academy

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MMA DONOR AWARDS

Patrick & Donna Verda Cdr. David ’60 & Carol Von Rump Cody & Arica Walker Greg Wolf & Wei Xu Janet Welch David & Hannah Williams Auffenberg Motor Co. Aussie Outback & Down Under Casa del Sol Mexican Restaurant Clipper Coffee Company Council Bluffs Chiropractic Clinic LLC Dagwood Jr. Diner 54 Dos Arcos Mexican Restaurant Graphitti Jim Stubblefield Furniture Meek’s Lumber Mehringer Chiropractic Merle Norman Studio O’Reilly Auto Parts Orscheln Farm and Home Pizza Hut Porky’s Smokehouse Sav-A-Day Sears Silver Dollar City Six Flags Friends Skull Splitter Spirits The Man Cave Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Eagle Club ($150-$499) Jay ’91 & Peggy Allen Larry & Nancy Anthony Leah Averitt Kenneth Baker Jr. ’51 SFC John Biddle Travis & Andrea Bullington Richard Cooper ’82 Todd Creviston ’82 Melody Daly George Jr. ’68 & Patricia Davison Daniel & Judy Downey Robert Farnam ’84 Lawrence Fine ’98

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David Furholmen Gerald Gamble ’48 LTC Paul Sr. ’70 (Ret) & LaWanah Gillette Kevin Gregory ’73 Mike & Amy Groves Jennifer Harrison John ’81 & Tracy Heimos Todd Helm ’80 James & Debbie Hilderman Lt. Col. Harry ’65 & Mary Hoyt Samuel & Nicole Hughes Eric ’70 & Susan Johnson William Keish Rupert Kiefer ’99 Kristen Kinney Phyllis Kirwan Heinz Leigh ’99 David & Janell Lockwood WO2 Freddie Lomas (Ret.) David Luckes Alfredo & Tausha Martinez Jerry & Monkia Masuda Steven ’97 & Jentrie McDavid Nathan & Jennifer McKean Richard ’52 & Helen Meinert Philip ’88 & Deana Middleton Mark & Jill Minsky Michael & Tamara Miracle Barbara Moe Greg & Beverly Morton W. Dee ’60 & Nancy Mott Tim & Lucy Murphy Thomas Naughton Chris & Pearl Newbrough Ryan & Christy Nowlin Jennifer O’Donley Connor & Joella Pearson 1SG Larry ’63 & Sue Pifer Thomas ’61 & KimberLee Reynolds Edwin Ribback ’55 Linda Rice Stephen ’60 & Barbara Richards Thomas & Cyndi Roberts Fran Robley Margie Roland

Javier ’84 & Vanesa Rosado Michele Ryan Jeffrey & Jennifer Schmitz John Jr. ’86 & Sherri Schuchmann Travis & Jaime Schutte Greg & Mary Seibert Paul & Mary Seigfreid Ayanna Shivers William ’60 & Penelope Sims Ken & Sarah Sipe Scott & Kathryn Spangler Larry & Nicole Storie Darryl ’60 & Susan Taylor Edwin Thanhouser ’68 David & Carmen Thibodeaux GSGT Mark “Gunny” & Donna Tompkins Thomas ’68 & Brenda Troll Col. Guy ’40 & Winifred Troy Nick & Portia Varsam Mike & Kelly Waller Paul White ’60 Lt. Col. Thomas ’75 (Ret) & Cindy Wittman Christopher ’77 & Karen Yoest A.P. Green House Bed & Breakfast Acuity Eyecare Holdings LLC Amazon Smile Benevity Causes C. Forbes Inc. Chevron Corporation Class of 2019 E&M Plumbing Co. Inc. Entercom St. Louis Eye To Eye Optometry Fischer Auto Body Inc. Gerding, Korte & Chitwood P.C. Grand Targhee Resort Gun World & Archery Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Jackson Street Drug KC Chiefs Football Organization Parkway Pharmacy PEAK Sport and Spine Physical Therapy Pig Up & Go LLC Porlier Outdoor Advertising Company Pratt’s on Monroe

MMA DONOR AWARDS

Sydenstricker Implement Co. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Wall Street Financial Group Walmart Webber Pharmacy Inc. Saber Club ($500-$1,199) Donna Ahlstrand Thomas & Ann Antoniou Linda Brenizer Vincent & Jackie Burke A. Buford ’71 & Terri Chance Daniel ’71 & Leslie Davis Paul & Susan Dumas Stephen & Laura Erdel Larry & Cheryl Feala Lawrence Garrett ’57 Anthony Giuliani ’88 Joseph Goble ’69 S. Clay Grant ’88 Gen. Frank & Patricia Grass Gregory ’88 & Stephane Holten Tom Lupp & Mary Hulsey-Lupp Russell & Sonja Kreutziger Scott & Heather Lane Jimmy Lasley ’69 Kelly ’79 & Gianina Loyd Randall & Kelly Lueckenotte René H. Malès ’50 Maj. Lawrence & Joanna McClarey Joseph ’55 & Jeanne Meinert Maj. Keith Morgan Kevin & Peggy Quinn Dr. Michael & Melissa Schafer Marco Scherer ’94 Woodward Schisler ’66 Bill Stewart Garrett Stockum ’87 Raymond “Dude” Jr. ’71 & Deborah Stotlar Paul Tilton ’88 John & Mary Wiegand David Wilkins Dr. William Jr. ’50 & Diana Winkler Columbia Printing and Sign

DDI Media Exxon Mobil Foundation KBIA 91.3 Lockton Companies Melody’s Quality Jewelry LLC SAGE Dining Services Tan-Tar-A Resort YouthBridge Community Foundation Colonel’s Club ($1,200-$2,499) Michail & Lisa Benitez Kurt Bilsel ’81 Jeffrey ’71 & Jane Brummet Gregg Center ’91 Ivonne Colin Dean ’78 & Patricia Davison Christopher & Robin Dawson Mitch & Sheila Dunn W. James ’72 & Kristen Edmonston Merrill Eilers ’70 Rob & Katherine English Dan & Cheri Erdel BG Richard & Kathy Geraci Michael Harding Hunter Jenkins ’85 Ronald & Susan Kelly Kenneth Kinsey ’59 Curt ’74 & Julie Kirtley Carlos & Betzy Liriano Jarrod ’97 & Jennifer Magee Dave Masselink & DuAnne Masselink-Talley Dr. Ann Murphy Sherri Nobbe Murry Randall Jr. ’76 Sanders Roth ’04 Edward & Erin Schreyer Fred & Lisa Simila Don Thompson & Dr. Victoria Snider Thompson CatchPhrase Communications, Jennifer O’Donley Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Genesis Church Hanover Uniform Company

Honor Company ($2,500-$4,999) Rhonda Blaue Cassandra Brooks Dr. Bharatt & Pramita Chowrira Jason ’88 & Barbara Falbo-Gwinn Sheryl Feutz-Harter MG Robert & Debra Flanagan Bill Jr. & Lauren Fogarty Charles ’53 & Marilane Foley Laurence ’74 & Christine Harrod Judi Hemphill Terry ’72 & Evelyn Logue Paul ’85 & Veronica Petit Chris ’89 & Jeni Schafer Jorge Soriano ’89 Dr. Greg ’71 & Cindy Temple Ricardo ’91 & Karla Uriegas Glenn & Anne Wodruff President’s Club ($5,000-$9,999) Dr. James & Mary Gehring Bryan Kopp James Lee and Aeron Lee ’16 Tony & Joy McGeorge Miriam Arnold Edmonston Charitable Foundation MMA Alumni Association Thompson Family Foundation General’s Circle ($10,000-$24,999) Barbara English Christopher ’88 & Jeanne Gentry R. Stribling & Janie Koster B. Jeffrey ’66 & Rebecca MacLellan Robert Jr. ’63 & Betty Manche The Commerce Trust Company Allen P. & Josephine B. Green Foundation Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Founders Society ($25,000+) Anonymous Donor Estate of Charles O. Terrill ’48

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ALUMNI HALL OF FAME

Honoring MMA’s Best

Academy will present Alumni Hall of Fame Awards at Homecoming 2020.

MMA alumni celebrate support of the Academy during the 2019 Alumni Recognition & Donor Awards Banquet.

Leaders of industry. Military heroes. Great creative minds. For more than 130 years, Missouri Military Academy has been producing alumni who make their mark on the world. Save the date for Homecoming, Sept. 18-20, 2020, to recognize your MMA Brothers for their outstanding achievements.

During Homecoming 2019, the MMA Alumni Association announced the addition of the Alumni Hall of Fame award series. The credo of Missouri Military Academy is the guiding principle for the selection of inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Each inductee must exemplify a strong commitment to duty, honor and achievement.

These new awards include the following categories:

Awards for the upcoming year are accepted until Jan. 1 via online submissions at MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org.

Typically, nominations may only be made for alumni who have completed one full year at MMA and they must be approved by a majority vote of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, but a criteria waiver can be requested by the Alumni Association Board of Directors under special circumstances and approved by the Academy’s president.

• Business, Entrepreneurship & Leadership

All nominations must submit to a confidential criminal background check and provide all necessary supporting documentation such as Military DD214, professional journal articles or internal company recognition.

• Arts & Sciences

Each category has specific criteria as detailed below.

• Community & Government Service

Business, Entrepreneurship & Leadership

• Distinguished Military Service

Awarded to an alumnus who is viewed by peers in his field as a subject matter expert with a proven track record in his chosen career of business, entrepreneurship or leadership. The honoree is

• Athletics

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recognized for his significant accomplishments, is a visionary, and is also recognized as a coach, mentor and developer for those who follow in his footsteps.

Arts & Sciences Awarded to an alumnus who is viewed by peers in his field as a subject matter expert with a proven track record in his chosen career of arts or sciences.

The honoree is recognized for his significant accomplishments, is a visionary, and is also recognized as a coach, mentor and developer for those who follow in his footsteps.

Athletics Awarded to an alumnus for his excellence in post-high school athletics, athletic performance, competition and sportsmanship, and one who is viewed by peers in his field as having a proven track record in his chosen field of athletic endeavor.

The honoree is recognized for his significant accomplishments, is a visionary, and is also recognized as a coach, mentor and developer for those who follow in his footsteps.

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME

Gregg Center ’91 congratulates Chris Schafer ’89 for receiving the inaugural Chris Schafer Fellowship Cup award at the 2019 Alumni Recognition & Donor Awards Banquet.

Community & Government Service

• Competed on a state championship team.

Awarded to an alumnus with a proven track record in his chosen career of community or government service such as nonprofit, community volunteer work, civilian government and service work.

The honoree is recognized for his significant accomplishments, is a visionary, and is also recognized as a coach, mentor and developer for those who follow in his footsteps.

• Placed in a state championship tournament event multiple times.

Distinguished Military Service

• Been selected as “All-Conference, District, Sectional, or Regional” in multiple years prior to MMA graduation.

Awarded to an alumnus who has achieved the rank of flag / general officer or awarded a Purple Heart or a Bronze Star medal or higher by one of the U.S. armed services (or alum’s home nation’s equivalent) and who has received an honorable discharge.

Athletic Hall of Fame In addition to the Alumni Hall of Fame awards, annual Athletic Hall of Fame awards will be presented at Homecoming. Athletic Hall of Fame awards will honor individuals or teams with one of these achievements:

• Qualified for an individual or team state tournament.

• Received “All-State” honors by either a vote of Missouri sportswriters or by qualifying for the state tournament multiple times.

MMA athletic coaches with similar success will also be considered for Athletic Hall of Fame awards. Nominations are accepted online at MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org.

Join us on campus for Homecoming 2020 — September 18-20 — to honor the inaugural class of MMA Alumni Hall of Fame honorees.

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A LUM N I U P D AT E S

Paul Gillette ’70

Alumni Updates Share your news.

Complete the alumni update form at bit.ly/ MMA-Alumni-Update.

Frank Sierra ’58

J. Ross Fernstrum ’47 lives in Surprise, Arizona. Reach him at jferns5342@aol. com.

Roy Curran ’50 lives in Dallas. He can be reached at roycurran@gmail.com.

René Malés ’50 lives in Hillsboro Beach, Florida. Reach him at strtgcdecn@aol. com.

Robert Rudman ’56 lives in St. Louis.

Reach him at therudmans5654@gmail. com.

Frank Sierra ’58 lives in Woodstock, New York. He recently completed a world inspection tour for the Order of St. John, traveling eight countries that included Korea, Singapore and Turkey.

Reach him at commandercondor@yahoo. com.

Raymond “Ray” W. Zimmerman ’61 is retired and lives in Omaha, Nebraska. He would love to hear from other classmates and can be reached at zray663@aol.com.

Wayne Matthews ’66 lives in Urbana, Illinois. Reach him at wmatt2502@ comcast.net.

William Grahm ’67 lives in Hawk Point, Missouri. He completed three tours in Vietnam and was a sniper during his last two. Later, he worked for the FBI. Jack “Mitch” Wrenn ’69 lives in Marceline, Missouri. He can be reached at mitchwrenn@sbcglobal.net.

Paul Gillette ’70 lives in Mexico, Missouri. He and his wife, LaWanah, have opened a bed-and-breakfast in Mexico. They welcomed their second grandson in July. Reach him at gillettepaul53@gmail.com.

Continued

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A LUM N I U P D AT E S

Joseph Layman ’97

Lazaro Villafranca ’90

Charles “Jerry” Lavery ’75 lives in Davenport, Florida. Reach him at geraldlavery@yahoo.com.

Kenneth Turner Jr. ’75 lives in Dover, Arkansas. He can be reached at k2757turner@gmail.com.

Trent Frohock ’83 lives in Altoona, Iowa. Reach him at twfmail@fastmail. com.

Kyle Kaae ’83 lives in Etna, California.

He and his wife are celebrating their status as empty nesters, as both their children graduated college this past year and found jobs. He is also enjoying retirement. He can be reached at kylekaae@gmail.com.

Anthony “Tony” Giuliani ’88 lives in Jefferson City, Missouri. He can be reached at tgiuliani@centurylink.net.

John Ilges ’88 lives in La Vernia, Texas.

Reach him at jsilges@gmail.com.

Tod Thompson ’88 lives in Joplin, Missouri. Reach him at todroe69@gmail. com.

George Harb ’93 lives in Ramona, California. Reach him at zorrillo1@ sbcglobal.net.

Doug Lower ’93 lives in Cypress, Texas.

Reach him at doug.lower@gmail.com.

Chris Schafer '89 lives in Denver, Colorado. He can be reached at chris. schafer71@gmail.com

William “Bill” Dean ’95 lives in St. Louis. He can be reached at deanus76@ yahoo.com.

Lazaro Villafranca Guerke ’90 lives in Canton, Georgia. Reach him at lazvilla@ gmail.com.

Joseph Layman ’97 lives in Parker, Colorado. He recently returned from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, after 14 months there. He is currently stationed in Baumholder, Germany. Reach him at drillcop@gmail.com.

Brett Hale ’91 was a combat medic and lives in Waxahachie, Texas. Reach him at bretthale91@yahoo.com.

Stephen “Chandler” Moore ’91 lives in Chandler, Arizona. He can be reached at cmoore@azarbys.com.

Brenton Stuehmer ’97 lives in Mexico, Missouri. He can be reached at brenton. stuehmer@hotmail.com.

Bret Zimmerman ’00 lives in Minneapolis. Reach him at bret. zimmerman@gmail.com.

Continued

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Israel Avelar ’07

Andrew Bushnell ’03 lives in Sunnyvale, California. Reach him at andrewbushnell@gmail.com.

Israel Avelar ’07 lives in Mexico City, Mexico. Reach him at avelarisrael@ gmail.com.

Andrew Smith ’11 lives in Arnold, Missouri. He can be reached at Andrewsmith1622@gmail.com.

Patricio Herrera ’13 lives in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Reach him at patohrra7@gmail.com.

Rodrigo Padilla ’15 lives in St. Louis.

He recently graduated from college with a degree in strategic communications and marketing, and he plans to work as a marketing coordinator for Synaptic Inc. Reach him at rodrigo.padilla.sv@gmail. com.

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Adam Schmitz ’15

Adam Schmitz ’15 lives in Chesterfield, Missouri. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and took his first assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Israel. He can be reached at adam.b.schmitz@gmail.com.

Connor Cunningham ’16 lives in St. Louis.

Penelope Cearley lives in Perry, Missouri. She worked at MMA as a housemother from 1977 to 1981 and 1997 to 2005. Reach her at penelopecearley@gmail.com.

Karen Jones lives in Kansas City, Missouri. When she worked at MMA in the Education Department and Learning Resource Center, her last name was Spangler. She can be reached at kjones2030@gmail.com.

Share your news.

Complete the alumni update form at bit.ly/ MMA-Alumni-Update.

A LUM N I U P D AT E S

Are you receiving emails from MMA? Stay connected by updating your contact information online at bit.ly/MMA-Alumni-Update.

Silver Taps

It is with sorrow that we learn of the passing of our fellow MMA brothers.

Through telling their stories, we remember and honor them. We are eternally grateful for the brotherhood.

Daniel Muckler ’69 passed away on July 1, 2019.

James Slutz ’55 passed away on Feb. 24, 2019.

Thomas Childs ’79 passed away on April 30, 2018. He was born on Sept. 25, 1960, in Columbia, Missouri. After graduating from MMA, he enlisted in the Air Force, and he later worked at the U.S. Postal Service.

Robert “Bob” Stewart ’55 passed away on Jan. 15, 2020.

Richard Baran ’56 passed away on Nov. 30, 2019.

Jackson Hunter ’62 passed away on Oct. 21, 2019.

Ronald “Scotty” Moss ’64 passed away on Oct. 13, 2019.

Robert Morris ’66 passed away on May 28, 2019.

William Wilson ’66 passed away on Aug. 22, 2001.

Terry Pullman ’70 passed away on Dec. 3, 2019.

Juan “Jorge” Braun ’86 passed away on Jan. 31, 2020.

Brian Elder ’94 passed away on Feb. 8, 2009.

Hayden Fairbanks ’14 passed away on March 7, 2019.

Joseph “J.C.” Feger passed away on Dec. 6, 2019. He was a member of MMA’s summer programs team since 2015 and activities and recreation specialist since 2019.

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IN MEMORY

In Memory: J.C. Feger, MMA Activities and Recreation Specialist

J.C. Feger passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 6, 2019, at his home. He was a valued member of the Missouri Military Academy summer programs team from 2016 to 2019 and most recently as a member of our commandant’s department as activities and recreation specialist.

J.C. was born April 13, 1980, in Mexico, the son of Joseph Andrew Feger and Debbie Kay (Woods) Feger. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America, earning many honors and awards such as: Eagle Scout, Founder’s Award, Silver Beaver, Vigil Award, Order of the Arrow, former Nampa-Tsi Lodge Chief, and Associate Lodge Adviser. He was trained as an EMT, certified as a lifeguard and in climbing and rappelling. He was active with the Polar Bear Plunge and was a member of the Kiwanis. J.C. enjoyed mapping caves and loved Irish things.

Survivors include his mother, Debbie Feger of Mexico; his father, Joe (Dot) Feger of Mexico; 48

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one brother, Josh (Beth) Feger of Mexico; two nephews, Hunter and Drew Feger, both of Mexico; his special friend, Bethany McCormick; maternal grandmother, Ann Woods of Mexico; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

J.C. was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Wilbert “Woody” Woods; paternal grandparents, Leo and Lucille Feger; two aunts, Kathy Griffith and Brenda Durham; and four uncles, Mark Feger, Don Feger, Galen Feger and Delmar Feger.

Services for J.C. Feger took place in Centennial Gymtorium on MMA’s campus on Thursday, December 12, 2019. The MMA Band was honored to perform during the celebration of life, and members of the Honor Guard were also present. Cadet John Murphy, MMA battalion commander and an Eagle Scout, served as a pallbearer to help honor J.C.’s connection to both the Academy and Boy Scouts.

Membership Has Its Privileges LIFETIME MEMBER — $350 No yearly Alumni Association fees for life MAROON LIFETIME MEMBER — $500 No Alumni Association fees and $25 off a Senior Walk brick GOLD LIFETIME MEMBER — $750 Lifetime Member and Maroon Member benefits, homecoming lunch and alumni company T-shirt fees waived 1889 LIFETIME MEMBER — $1,889 Lifetime Member, Maroon Member and Gold Member benefits and 10 percent off QM purchases during homecoming weekend In addition, alumni referral of cadets corresponds to Alumni Association membership status. If an alumnus refers…

2 CADETS — MAROON LIFETIME MEMBER 3 CADETS — GOLD LIFETIME MEMBER 4 OR MORE CADETS — 1889 LIFETIME MEMBER Any alumnus who makes a cadet referral that results in an enrolled cadet will automatically become a Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association.

BECOME AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LIFETIME MEMBER TODAY! Missouri Military Academy

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Campus Map 204 N. Grand Street Mexico, Missouri 65265

M I S S O U R I M I L I TA RY A C A D E M Y

During business hours Monday though Friday, all visitors should check in at Stribling Hall. After business hours, please check in at Bravo Barracks.

MMA is a tobaccofree campus.

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3-mile obstacle trail and campsite

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Barnard Hall (academic building and commandant’s headquarters, includes Koster Media Center, dining hall, library, barber, and college placement office) 2. Wall of Honor and Veterans Plaza 3. Ekern Cadet Health Center 4. Canteen 5. Charles R. Stribling III ’44 Memorial Statue 6. Grant Cannon 7. Maintenance Building 8. Bravo Barracks (residential hall, includes advancement and alumni office in lower level) 9. Stribling Hall (administrative building, includes president’s office, business office, admissions, cadet store, tailor) 10. Senior Walk 50

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Charlie Barracks (residential hall) Delta Barracks (residential hall) Echo Barracks (residential hall) Carter Memorial Teardrop Lake Commandant’s Quarters (Cates House) Memorial Chapel and Albright Assembly Hall (auditorium, movie theater) Natatorium (swimming pool) Centennial Gymtorium (weight room) Tennis Courts Colonels Field (soccer field, parade ground) Laundry Facility Alain M. Garcia Almada ’06 Field House (JROTC headquarters, rifle range, locker rooms)

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Footbridge to Back Campus Football Field and Track Stables Academic Dean’s Quarters Brad Calvert ’79 Field (baseball field) Cortada Confidence Course Flanagan Field (paintball) Rappelling Tower White Hall (president’s residence, 3 Park Circle)

Faculty housing is located on E. Promenade St.

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Please read to learn about the history behind Missouri Military Academy (MMA) buildings. Use the numbers below and map legend to locate each building on campus. MMA is grateful for the support of alumni, parents and friends, several of whom are honored with naming recognition on our campus.

1. Barnard Hall Dedicated October 3, 2009. Made possible by the generosity of Leslie C. Barnard Jr., Class of 1948, and his wife, Joanne N. Barnard.

2. MMA Wall of Honor and Veterans Plaza Honoring alumni, faculty, family, friends and staff who have served in the Armed Forces. Know a name that should be added? Please contact the Alumni Office.

3. Ekern Cadet Health Center Named for Dr. Peter Ekern, Academy physician for 42 years (retired in 2011).

5. Charles R. Stribling III ’44 Memorial Statue

entered the creek on horseback while at flood stage. This area is designated as a place of respect to honor the memory of a hero.

17. Memorial Chapel Dedicated May 21, 1961. Funded by senior class gifts during the war years and support from other donors, the chapel was built in honor of fallen cadets, faculty and staff who gave their lives to protect the American way of life and our future.

Albright Assembly Hall (lower level of Memorial Chapel) — Named for Robert Albright, Class of 1949, who enjoyed a successful banking career and has given back to MMA in time and treasure. Albright served as board of trustees member, in addition to funding support for faculty and more.

Statue of former Academy President Col. Charles R. Stribling ’44, who spent more than 75 years in dedicated service to MMA. Dedicated in 2019, the statue was made possible by Phil Baum ’63, whose generous gift funded materials for the project, and artist Javier Campuzano ’82, who donated his time and talent.

18 & 19. Natatorium and Centennial Gymtorium

6. Grant Cannon

23. Alain M. Garcia Almada ’06 Fieldhouse

A Civil War cannon used by General Ulysses S. Grant, this cannon was dedicated during MMA’s 125th annual homecoming in 2014.

Dedicated in 2018 to honor Cadet Alain M. Garcia Almada ’06.

9. Stribling Hall

Named in memory of Cadet Bradley Calvert, who attended MMA, 1971-72.

Constructed in 1900, originally known as the Administration Building. In 1981, the Board of Trustees renamed the building Stribling Hall as a tribute to Col. C.R. Stribling . Col. Stribling served as faculty and commandant (1920 to 1933), president (1933 to 1968), and Board of Trustees chairman (1968 to 1983).

Bill Ewton ’41 Terrace (Stribling Hall Veranda) — Dedicated in memory of Bill Ewton ’41 (1922-2000) for his generosity to the Academy. After graduating from MMA, he served in the U.S. Army, graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University and founded Pioneer Insurance Agency. An MMA time capsule was placed in the terrace in 2012, to be opened in 2062.

10. Senior Walk Reserved for seniors in recognition of their attainment as upperclassmen. New seniors are allowed on Senior Walk after they have passed the Cadet Handbook test. Underclassmen are not allowed there without permission of the senior class, with the exception of those who must perform service as assigned by the Academy.

14. Carter Memorial (landing area by Teardrop Lake) Dedicated to Capt. Elijah Carter, MMA quartermaster who in April 1941 drowned while attempting to save cadets who disobeyed school regulations when they

The natatorium was dedicated in 1981 and gymtorium in 1989, the centennial year of the Academy. A time capsule was placed in Centennial Gymtorium by cadets in 1988, to be opened in 2038.

28. Brad Calvert ’79 Baseball Field 29. Cortada Confidence Course Completed in 2017, the Cortada Confidence Course was the first phase of a project to enhance the team-building facilities on MMA’s back campus. The project was made possible by a generous donation from 2016 graduate Oscar Cortada of Barcelona, Spain, and his father, Javier Cortada, also of Barcelona.

30. Flanagan Field (Paintball) Dedicated to Maj. Gen. Robert M. Flanagan, Missouri Military Academy’s ninth president, Flanagan Paintball Field was made possible by a generous donation from the Belton family — Tracy, Freddie and Vasily ’12 — in 2009.

32. White Hall (president’s residence) Dedicated in 2016, White Hall honors Robert M. White II, Class of 1933. White was former publisher and president of the Mexico Ledger (1945 to 1986), an MMA alumni association lifetime member, and significant MMA donor. During World Ward II, White served in the South Pacific on the staff of Gen. Robert Eichelberger and Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He was a graduate of Washington and Lee University.

Missouri Military Academy

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M I S S O U R I M I L I TA RY A C A D E M Y 204 North Grand Street Mexico, MO 65265 www.MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org

“I picked my son up from camp. His first words were, ‘When can I go back to MMA?’” —— Emily Flanagan Kaylor Summer camp opportunities include Summer Academy for academic support and enrichment and Confidence and Leadership Camps, plus music, sports and equestrian camps.

Mexico, Missouri • Est. 1889 MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org/summer

NEW HEIGHTS REACH

THIS SUMMER!

MMA

M I S S O U R I M I L I TA RY A C A D E M Y