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Teamwork, Partnership and Sacrifice: During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lessons From the Pandemic
Teamwork, Partnership and Sacrifice: Keeping Missouri Military Academy Open During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As the first reports of coronavirus cases appeared in China in December 2019, few could have predicted how the entire world would be impacted just a few short months later. When Missouri Military Academy cadets returned to campus for the spring semester in January 2020, they looked forward to completing the year as usual. By February, however, the world health situation began to dictate changes.
In early February, MMA administrative leaders began monitoring coronavirus developments. At the time, there seemed to be little cause for alarm — no cases had been reported in Missouri, and the local area was not yet directly affected. As more information began to emerge about the virus, however, cadets began to see changes on campus. Faculty and staff quickly implemented protocols such as an increased focus on proper handwashing and increased cleaning and disinfecting in order to reduce risk and support the health of the MMA community. MMA increased communications with parents to notify them of MMA’s response to COVID-19, with a first email message sent from MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret), on February 6, 2020, to let families know MMA was monitoring cadet, faculty and staff travel as well as COVID developments around the world.
By the time cadets left for spring furlough on March 7, 2020, cases in Missouri were appearing. Concern was growing close to home and around the world. MMA closely checked spring furlough travel plans to ensure no cadets, faculty or staff traveled to the countries identified at that time by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as under Level 3 Travel Health Notice — China, Italy, Iran and South Korea — where there was widespread, ongoing transmission.
Within the week of furlough, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump followed with a national emergency declaration on March 13, just as MMA families were preparing to return their cadets to campus.
Return from Spring Furlough
“Timing was everything for MMA’s success in completing the spring 2020 semester with in-person classes,” says President Geraci.
MMA’s spring furlough fell a week earlier than most schools, which
meant cadets returned to campus as many states and countries were closing borders and businesses in response to growing coronavirus fears. MMA made the decision, working closely with the Audrain County Health Department, to move forward with education in the spring semester. Cadets safely returned to campus ahead of the closures that led many military and boarding schools and college campuses to close their doors for the semester before their own students returned from spring break.
Still, approximately 20 percent of MMA families opted to keep their cadets home after the furlough due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. For those returning, life on campus resumed with the addition of COVID risk-mitigation protocols including daily temperature checks, increased disinfection and sanitation, and most notably, a contained campus. On March 13, coinciding with the declaration of the national emergency and two days prior to cadets’ return from spring furlough, President Geraci announced a 21-day campus containment period to help slow any potential spread of the virus within the local community and reduce risk to cadets. This containment period included:
• No general leave or off-campus activities for cadets. • No participation in any extracurricular competitions, such as music or athletics (many competitions were already canceled by the sponsoring organizations). • No visits to campus except by those deemed essential to business operations. • The cancellation of Spring
Family Weekend and the
Maroon & Gold Gala (later held virtually, with the
MMA community stepping up to surpass fundraising goals). As MMA staff set up intake stations in Centennial Gymtorium to check cadet temperatures and health of those returning from spring furlough, President Geraci shared a message to parents with MMA’s intention: “We will welcome cadets back on campus, assess their health, get them back in the classroom and in their normal daily routine with structure and supervision, and then limit their contact with anyone outside of our essential MMA faculty and staff through a closely contained campus.”
Once cadets returned to campus, MMA faculty faced dual challenges of educating cadets in the classroom and those who did not return due to COVID concerns. Once the cadets on campus were taken care of, faculty went the extra mile to provide education for those cadets who remained at home. Simultaneously conducting class in-person and online required dedication to learning new technology and a shift in how faculty approached teaching. Evidenced by the parking lot full of vehicles well after the academic days were done, faculty stayed late, collaborated and covered each other’s classes when needed, demonstrating teamwork and commitment to cadet success.
While Missouri public schools and others across the United States closed their doors and transitioned to virtual learning, MMA’s focus on keeping cadets in the classroom and in a normal routine became a driving force for the semester — and one that would continue into the 202021 academic year. The containment policy planned for 21 days was extended indefinitely, and parents and cadets adjusted to no visits or family weekends for the remainder of the spring semester.
“No one knew this was coming, and the pressure was on to create engaging activities,” says Cadet Battalion Commander John Murphy ’20, who held the highest position of cadet leadership during the spring 2020 semester.
“We had to let parents’ fears be a side note. We were here to get an education — that was what we were going to do,” he adds about the semester spent under COVID’s shadow.
For parents, fear of the unknown — what was next in the pandemic — created anxiety and a need to have faith in MMA.
“Being in a pandemic was a new thing for everyone,” says Erin Schreyer, an MMA mom from Dallas, Texas, whose son Evan was a sophomore in spring 2020. I was nervous at first, but as things continued to shut down in Dallas, I was so grateful he got to experience a normal life. We missed him a ton, but it was worth the sacrifice.”
Murphy and other cadet leaders collaborated with Commandant
Throughout the pandemic, MMA has remained dedicated to providing in-person instruction for cadets like Jonathan Rukangira ’21.
R. L. Grabowski, Colonel, USMC
(Ret), and his staff to brainstorm activities to keep cadets occupied and engaged beyond their academic work and military drill. X-Box competitions, outdoor challenges, frequent cookouts and even a new Frisbee golf course were put in place for cadets. MMA launched the Commandant’s Cup to encourage healthy competition between the companies through a variety of fun, active challenges.
“It was very hard, but I think the corps did a good job with the contained campus,” Murphy says. “Leadership started from the top down with President Geraci. It was important that MMA was not going to shut down, was not going to go virtual and was not going to panic. We didn’t see the worst. We saw what we could make of this.”
As a senior, Murphy says the appreciation of continuing in-person education was particularly acute at the end of the semester. “Anyone can get a high school diploma,” he says, adding that MMA is more difficult and challenging.
“Some senior cadets had been waiting for years to do Final Formation, a rite of passage at MMA,” he says, noting the highly valued experience is a celebration for graduating cadets and a marker of what they have accomplished.
With the highlight of graduation came the greatest sacrifice for MMA families, the decision to limit the Class of 2020 graduation to only cadets, faculty and staff. Families watched online as cadets accepted diplomas and conducted their Final Formation. Senior cadets who had completed their semester from home participated in the ceremony via Zoom.
MMA successfully reached the end of the spring 2020 semester with no COVID cases reported on campus. Just as important, MMA successfully strengthened the partnership between parents, MMA leadership, faculty and staff, gaining trust through constant
planning, adjustment and execution, regular communications and an emphasis on transparency throughout the semester.
“What I learned the most from MMA’s response [to the pandemic] and from seeing other schools shut down was that everyone else seemed to panic,” Murphy says. “We had the choice to stand firm, weather it through and get the most out of it — or to panic. We stayed the course to graduation.”
Commencement day, May 15, 2020.
President Geraci interacts with Class of 2020 grads participating via Zoom.
Summer Operations 2020
With the departure of cadets for the summer, campus life shifted. Approximately 20 international cadets remained on campus, unable to return home because of the pandemic in their home countries. For those cadets, MMA faculty and staff created courses and prepared activities to keep them active and engaged. At the same time,
MMA administration continued to monitor the latest developments from the CDC, the World Health
Organization and the local Audrain
County Health Department to determine the best course of action for summer programs.
As some organizations that normally rent MMA facilities for the summer decided to forego planned events,
MMA put measures in place to host campers for the annual Summer
Academy, Leadership Camp and
Confidence Camp. Social distancing, mask wearing and contained, small groups became routine as MMA worked to provide as normal a summer camp experience as possible. The pandemic negatively affected camp enrollment by approximately 40% compared to the previous summer.
In late summer, MMA cadets returned to campus for athletic camps and leadership cadre camp, and MMA prepared to launch the academic year under what had become a new normal.
“MMA’s commitment to keeping cadets safe, maintaining an in-person academic, athletic and boarding school experience was challenged during the pandemic in ways we had not seen before,” says Dr. Victoria Snider Thompson, Board of Trustee member and chair of the Cadet Life Committee. “The commitment of faculty and staff, plus their professionalism and creativity, were key in enabling MMA to successfully remain open.”
As the fall semester start date neared, parents had to trust in MMA as they worked with guidance from local health officials and prepared for cadets’ safe return to campus.
“Our goal was always to maintain the
values of the MMA education in as safe and as normal an in-person environment as possible. We are deeply grateful for the sacrifice and support of the parents,” says Thompson, herself a parent of an MMA alumnus. “Without their support and trust, the cadets would have missed out on the things MMA has provided every day for over 100 years. Time with the Brotherhood and the normalcy of campus life is irreplaceable.”
A Fall Semester Unlike Any Other
After the spring semester, the deficiencies of remote learning compared to cadets’ in-person experience was clear to MMA leadership. The fall semester began with a renewed dedication to do what MMA does best: provide 360° Education in person, grounded in structure, self-discipline and accountability.
“What enables our cadets to thrive and reach their full potential — our military education model — cannot be achieved effectively with remote, online learning,” Geraci says. “Given the option, we will always provide in-person education, the best avenue for teaching our cadets to take command of their lives.”
While many schools across the country remained virtual, MMA faculty and staff intensified their efforts to mitigate risk of COVID transmission, beginning with required COVID testing of all faculty, staff and cadets and move-in procedures that limited contact between faculty, staff and new families.
“We had no hesitation about sending Evan back to MMA in the fall,” Schreyer says. “We had nothing but confidence that MMA knew how to balance it all — to keep cadets healthy mentally and physically.”
Back in March, MMA mom Darcy Swenson chose to keep Adam,
MMA rifle team competes in the state competition hosted by MMA on January 20, 2020.
her seventh-grade cadet, home in Youngstown, New York, after spring furlough to learn remotely. While she says that was the right decision for their family at the time, the distance from MMA in the spring reinforced his need to be back at MMA in the fall in order to thrive.
“He needed the structure and physicality of the routine,” Swenson says. “I could see his deterioration [in the spring], not being able to be with his friends or carry on with normal routine. He missed MMA.”
As the summer progressed with little focus and a lot of video games for Adam, she says the path of least resistance would have been reenrollment in public school, but she didn’t even consider it as an option.
“The choice of MMA is so superior — there was no question,” Swenson says. “Ultimately, it’s where Adam thrives. He will never go back to public education.”
Swenson acknowledges that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy — whether it is the structure and high standards that Adam is held to at MMA or the sacrifice that parents make in sending their sons away to school.
“I am ultimately comforted knowing that he is getting at MMA what I can’t give him at home,” she says. “In the pandemic, he is getting even more, living in a ’bubble’ and getting more out of life than he could at home.”
The sacrifices that parents had to make for fall 2020 started on move-in day. Move-in day normally fills the campus with new families, unpacking cadets, filling out final paperwork and parents watching their sons begin the first steps of transition into the MMA Corps of Cadets. The continued pandemic dictated changes to the traditional move-in processes for fall 2020 semester. Families followed a carefully laid-out plan that minimized contact between families and faculty and staff to reduce the possible introduction of COVID-19 onto campus.
Chief Information Officer David
Wilkins and Director of Enrollment
Management Greg Seibert worked isolation and quarantine. To mitigate together to create contactless risk and facilitate any potential contact registration procedures, enabling tracing needed, cadets operated in parents to complete registration smaller groups than normal, with online before arriving for drive-thru no mixing between the barracks or cadet drop-off behind Stribling Hall in floors during evenings or weekends, August. Cadet leaders helped escort and followed assigned seating in new cadets to unload their belongings classrooms and the dining hall. and settle in their rooms. Every cadet who arrived on campus in the fall, as well as all faculty and Air filters were upgraded to improve ventilation and mitigate COVID risk. staff, were tested to identify and isolate any positive cases. The campus containment policy initiated in March continued, permitting only those activities essential to cadet learning and activities. President Geraci made the decision for MMA to invest in state-ofthe-art video equipment to livestream athletic and other school events. Following the success of the virtual Maroon & Gold Gala in March 2020, livestreaming events were an important lifeline to help parents stay connected to their cadets’ activities, such as the New Cadet Oath in August, athletic competitions and Fall Family Weekend. Led by Wilkins, MMA’s technological capability and proficiency continued to develop across all departments on campus, including faculty and staff’s skill and flexibility for short-term online teaching. Throughout the semester, cadets, faculty and staff wore masks, practiced social distancing, and upheld other COVID protocols to the greatest extent practical and possible. Daily temperature checks, symptom monitoring, contact tracing and quarantining became the norm as MMA worked to limit any potential cases or transmission. Facilities were regularly disinfected and sanitized, and upgraded HVAC filters were installed to improve air quality in MMA buildings. Plexiglas barriers were built to protect cadets and MMA administrative staff. Diligence against any spread of COVID resulted in overall improvement of the corps of cadets’ health with fewer colds and other illnesses reported. “Since the beginning of the pandemic the facilities team has done whatever was necessary to support the health and welfare of the cadets and staff of MMA,” says Director of Maintenance and Facilities Bernard Strunk. “Daily sanitation of high-touch areas has been a priority of the custodial staff. All ventilation systems were checked to ensure they were operating efficiently with upgraded filtration and maximum fresh air.”
In October, MMA suffered a sad blow with the loss of
Vice President for Institutional Advancement Bob
Belknap after a battle with COVID-19 (see Page 48). Following protocols for contact tracing, no subsequent cases of COVID were identified among cadets, staff or faculty.
“The pandemic has tested everyone’s resilience from cadets to faculty to parents,” says Dean Davison ’78, member of the MMA Board of Trustees. “We mourn the losses caused by the cruel virus and share the
Commandant Grabowski and
Director of Human Resources &
Financial Aid Amy Groves frequently communicated with Audrain County health staff regarding testing, contact tracing and the latest guidelines for
Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret), President Mr. Bob Belknap, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Colonel R. L. Grabowski, USMC (Ret), Commandant Mrs. Amy Groves, Director of Human Resources & Financial Aid Mr. Mike Harding, Academic Dean Mrs. Mary Hulsey-Lupp, Director of Business Operations Dr. Ryan E. Nowlin, Athletic Director Ms. Jennifer O’Donley, Director of Marketing LTC Gregory Seibert (MMA), Director of Enrollment Management Mr. Bernard Strunk, Director of Maintenance and Facilities Mr. David Wilkins, Chief Information Officer
Mask-wearing is required on campus to reduce risk of COVID transmission.
heartache, and we know we have learned important lessons about ourselves and about MMA. As a Trustee and an alum, it makes me extraordinarily proud to see how cadets and staff have carried on our traditions and created new ones. We are a stronger school today because of the leadership that the MMA team has shown.”
In keeping with MMA’s focus on maintaining as much normalcy as possible for cadets, Colonels athletic teams participated in interscholastic competitions, following strict guidelines established by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) and the COVID protocols upheld at MMA. Cadets successfully completed their fall sports seasons. Colonels Football advanced to first-round district competition, hosting the game against the Hermann Bearcats on Oct. 30. Following MSHSAA requirement, a limited number of spectators (two per player) were allowed at the game, which ended the Colonels’ season with a loss. Our faculty and staff were on hand to enforce our COVID protocol of maskwearing on campus.
As the semester progressed and a pandemic surge spread across the United States, President Geraci made the difficult decision to ask parents to keep their cadets at MMA for Thanksgiving break instead of opening the campus up to a high risk of COVID-19 transmission through holiday travel and interactions with friends and family. In return, faculty and staff adjusted the semester schedule to prepare for cadets to leave for winter furlough a week early.
With recommendations from top health officials supporting MMA’s decision to forgo cadet travel for Thanksgiving, MMA shifted into holiday mode on campus for cadets’ celebration. In addition to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, cadets enjoyed four days of team and individual competitions, including 8-ball billiards, tug-of-war, gaga ball, foosball, disc golf, paintball, Wiffle ball, Super Smash Bros. gaming, the Cortada Obstacle Course and more.
The competition also included MMA’s first-ever “I Will Hold Challenge,” an individual competition designed to measure one’s functional fitness in a challenging, outdoor, military-style workout environment. The five-stage, timed challenge was conducted in a single lane, approximately 8 yards wide and 100 yards long.
Throughout the fall semester, MMA administered random COVID tests to cadets in order to identify any potential cases as early as possible. When cadets were deemed close contacts or under watch as a possibly positive COVID test, they remained in barracks areas designated for quarantine or went home with family (if within reasonable driving distance). After Thanksgiving, eight positive cases among cadets were confirmed, all with mild or no symptoms. MMA continued to follow its outlined COVID policies to isolate those cadets on campus and mitigate risk to others, while at the same time educating them via online learning.
At fall semester’s end, President Geraci awarded the General Clifton B. Cates Medal to recognize distinguished performance during a time of unprecedented crisis of any full-time members of the corps of cadets, faculty or staff. Those who received recognition were honored for demonstrating sustained superior performance of duty.
“MMA has been extremely fortunate to continue our education of cadets uninterrupted during 2020,” Geraci says. “The performance of our faculty staff and cadets — their exceptional
Cadets play gaga ball during competitions held while they remained on campus for Thanksgiving break.
fortitude and fortitude and dedication to our COVID protocols — has made our collective success possible. I am proud to award the Cates Medal to those who demonstrated unwavering commitment to our military education model and mission during the early months of the pandemic.”
For uninterrupted in-person attendance and performance of assigned duties and service during the spring 2020 semester and COVID-19 pandemic, 154 qualifying cadets, faculty and staff received the General Clifton B. Cates Medal in December 2020.
MMA Board of Trustees Chairman
Strib Koster notes that MMA has faced
adversity many times since its founding in 1889, including fires, floods and wars, but says the COVID pandemic is unmatched in the magnitude of its effect.
“Given the sheer unknowns involved in a global pandemic and the spillover effect on every aspect of our institution, this has been the most challenging period in the school’s history,” Koster says. “The Board of Trustees cannot be any more pleased with the decisive leadership of President Geraci and the unwavering commitment of the entire MMA faculty and staff. We are one of only a handful of institutions of our type that has stayed the course throughout this whole pandemic to
“We are one of only a handful of institutions of our type that has stayed the course throughout this whole pandemic to provide not only in-person learning for our cadets, but more importantly, a safe, well-contained environment to allow us to deliver on those critical elements of our core values — structure, character, leadership and discipline — that one can never replicate in a remote learning setting.” – Strib Koster, MMA Board of Trustees Chairman
provide not only in-person learning for our cadets, but more importantly, a safe, well-contained environment to allow us to deliver on those critical elements of our core values — structure, character, leadership and discipline — that one can never replicate in a remote learning setting.”
About the Cates Medal and “I Will Hold” Challenge
MMA’s Cates Medal and “I Will Hold” Challenge are named in honor of Gen. Clifton B. Cates, a 1910 graduate of Missouri Military Academy. Cates led a distinguished military career and served through several major conflicts, including World War I, World War II and the Korean War. He eventually became the 19th commandant of the Marine Corps and is well known as the man who fought Congress to save the U.S. Marine Corps from possible extinction in 1951, which paved the way for the USMC’s growth and prosperity.
One of Cates’ most honorable moments came early in his career, during World War I. In July 1918, Cates was in France leading a platoon within the 96th Company, when the men were attacked, killing most of the company, including the commander. Cates took over temporary command, and while wounded in the leg and shoulder, he scribbled a note to the battalion commander:
“I have only two men left out of my company and 20 out of other companies. We need support but it is almost suicidal to try to get here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant artillery barrage is upon us. I have no one on my left, and only a few on my right. I will hold.”
Fall 2020 “I Will Hold” Challenge Winners
While remaining on campus for Thanksgiving break, cadets competed in MMA’s first-ever “I Will Hold Challenge,” an individual competition designed to measure one’s functional fitness in a challenging, outdoor, military-style workout environment. The five-stage, timed challenge was conducted in a single lane, approximately 8 yards wide and 100 yards long.
High School Division 1st Place: Sun Kit Tsui ’21 2nd Place: Adam Stemple ’24 3rd Place: Clayton Nelson ’22
Middle School Division 1st Place: Ryan Miles ’25 2nd Place: Zachary Sturgeon ’26 3rd Place: Damian Moore ’26
Cadets engage in tug of war, pugil sticks and frisbee golf during Thanksgiving break on campus, November 2020.
Gen. Clifton B. Cates, MMA Class of 1910.
