News Highlights

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News Highlights

TOP LEFT: Cadet Robert Peck ’25 on the obstacle course

TOP RIGHT: Cadet Ruhan Chowrira ’22 leads his group to the Crucible water event.

RIGHT: Paintball battle

LEFT: Cadets Gabriel Kaiser ’25 and Roy Kioko ’23 during the physical training

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The Crucible

The MMA Corps of Cadets officially welcomed its new recruits on Sept. 26, 2020, following completion of the Crucible.

The Crucible is a series of physical and mental obstacles intended to test endurance and perseverance, emphasize succeeding as a team and build self-confidence. By encouraging cadets to push themselves harder than their perceived limits, they realize a new level of their own potential.

The fall 2020 Crucible included a physical training test, a six-mile hike, a three-mile obstacle trail run, a paintball battle, an obstacle course and a river-crossing exercise conducted in MMA’s Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Hermilo Elizondo ’90

Cadet Jose Elizondo ’23

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Legacy Cadets Honored

The Senior Ring Dinner in October recognized legacy cadets and their alumni family for their continued commitment to MMA’s mission, core values and timehonored traditions. Legacy cadets received a legacy pin, symbolizing the family’s continued history at MMA.

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Formation for the Passing Through Ceremony

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Fall Family Weekend 2020

Though COVID-19 safety protocols made the event a little different than our traditional Fall Family Weekend, cadets enjoyed a celebration of success and brotherhood while MMA families, alumni and friends enjoyed the festivities and traditions via livestream.

Beginning the weekend with senior night, MMA’s football team prevailed over Crystal City High School 64-28 on Oct. 16. Cadet Enrique Padron ’22 broke the MMA record for number of touchdowns (7) and rushing yards (278) in a single game.

On Saturday, cadets gathered for the Passing Through Ceremony, where new cadets were recognized for achieving full cadet status for passing all training requirements and the Crucible. MMA President Brigadier

General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret)

and Commandant R. L. Grabowski, Colonel, USMC (Ret) officially welcomed

RIGHT, TOP: Cadet William Cash ’22 receives his hat brass from Commandant COL Grabowski.

RIGHT, CENTER: Cadet Kevith Sangster ’22, drum major

RIGHT, BOTTOM: Senior rings

the cadets into the corps by presenting their MMA hat brass to them.

Following the Passing Through Ceremony, the entire corps of cadets paraded Colonels Field for a military review. At the review, cadets took formation and staff officers inspected the corps by trooping the line. A proud component of military school life, reviews are a nod to the tradition, structure, self-discipline and self-respect that cadets learn at MMA.

Following the review, the MMA Fusileers Drill Team performed a special armed exhibition drill.

Later that night, senior cadets were honored and given their senior class rings. Legacy cadets were also recognized and received their legacy pins.

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TOP: Jessica Miller’s robotics class. From left, Cadets Trey Rudolph ’25, Ryan Miles ’25, Zane Steichen ’25, Jessica Miller, Ashton Williams ’25, Christopher Dowdy ’26, Christopher Chew ’24.

TOP RIGHT: Cadet Ryan Miles ’25 works on a robotics project to coordinate sound and light.

RIGHT: MMA’s Model UN club meeting during advisory period

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Project Lead the Way Partnership Advances STEAM

To enhance MMA’s offerings in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), MMA has partnered with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a nonprofit organization that provides resources and training in those academic areas.

PLTW challenges MMA cadets with a highly rigorous curriculum. In the course “Automations & Robotics,” cadets use tools such as the engineering design process, a digital engineering notebook and VEX Robotics programming software to invent and innovate. “Computer Science for Innovators and Makers” teaches cadets about programming by blending hardware design and software development. In “App Creators,” cadets learn and apply computational thinking and technical knowledge and skills to create mobile applications. “This is my first year teaching a PLTW course, and I have to say I absolutely love how our cadets show their creative side,” says Jessica Miller, MMA science instructor.

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Model UN Unites Students from Around the World

With cadets from 11 countries and 25 U.S. states, MMA is already a global environment. Now, thanks to a cadet-led initiative, students can more formally share their backgrounds, expand their knowledge of international issues and develop negotiation skills through participating in Model United Nations, a club that explores how the United Nations operates. Senior Bruno Kuzwayezu from Kigali, Rwanda, founded MMA’s Model UN chapter in September. Kuzwayezu was inspired to create a Model UN group at MMA after conversing with fellow international cadets.

Currently, MMA’s Model UN club has 13 members: Bruno Kuzwayezu ’21,

Landry Rudasingwa ’21, Fernando Afane ’21, Elijah Asberry’22, Buyannemekh Buyantogtokh ’21, Steven Clary ’21, William Dunn ’21, Bilguun Erdenedava ’21, Delgermurun Javkhlantugs ’21, Bano Karameyezu ’23, Zachary Malone ’22, Prize Mpabuka ’21, Ganza Rugumire ’21.

Club members spent the fall discussing U.S. presidential debates and the election, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and foreign relations. They also have begun brainstorming ideas for writing position and resolution papers.

FAR LEFT: #22 Christopher Byrant ’21 blocks as #76 Landry Rudasingwa ’21 kicks an extra point.

TOP LEFT: Enrique Padron ’22 runs the ball.

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BELOW: #55 Cadet Phasakorn Cunningham ’21 leads the huddle.

ABOVE: Coach Jimmy Peyton instructs the offense during practice.

RIGHT: #10 Matthew Larson ’21 and #17 Noah Corzine ’22 tackling on defense.

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Winning Attitude, Winning Season — Fall 2020 Colonels Football

The MMA Colonels football team finished the season with a 5-4 record, making it the first Colonels team to achieve a winning season since 1985.

Coach Jimmy Peyton credits the season’s success to the team’s active effort to change its own culture. He believes that by creating a winning mindset and mentality, cadets can overcome any adversity they face — such as adapting to a new coach and learning new systems offensively and defensively — and any negative stigma they might have felt about the football program. “My overall goal was to show our players you can achieve anything through hard work and dedication,” Peyton says. “If you accept losing, that is exactly what will continue to happen to you.” This coaching philosophy directly supports MMA’s strategic goal to maintain strong intramural programs that attract and retain cadets, build esprit de corps and encourage participation in recreational activities.

“Effort, attitude, hard work, structure and discipline are the fundamentals of our program, and we will never deviate from these,” Peyton says. Colonels junior wide receiver Enrique Padron ’22 (Boynton Beach, Florida) was a 3rd team selection on the 2020 Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 2 all-state team. Four Colonels players were named 1st team all-district: Christopher

Bryant ’21, Phasakorn Cunningham

’21, Juan Pedro Garduno ’21 and

Enrique Padron ’22.

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Mexico Alumni Reconnect

Mexico MMA alumni hosted two rallies in October, reconnecting with their local MMA community in the spirit of camaraderie and brotherhood. The Mexico City rally drew 27 alumni; at Molino Viejo in Baja California, 32 alumni attended. MMA alumni gathered for these rallies from across the country, traveling from the cities of Chihuahua, Puebla, Oaxaca, Cuernavaca and others. Those in attendance included Enrique Vargas ’94, mayor of Huixquilucan, Mexico. Another rally scheduled for Dec. 5 was postponed due to COVID-19, but the 62 alumni who have already RSVP’d can expect to reconnect in the spring.

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Coached by SFC John Biddle, MMA Raiders Team A at the state competition included Cadets Alexander Chambers ’21, David Eaton ’23, Francisco Jacquez ’21, Shane Macon ’21, Victor Patino Matos ’21, Patricio Regis ’22, Sun Kit Tsui ’21, Kevin Wang ’22, Isaac Way ’21. Team B included Cadets Gage Blanton ’23, Dmitri Cary ’21, Jacob Javier ’24, Diego Lopez 21, Alejandro Mercado ’22, Clayton Nelson ’22, Conner O’Neal-Carden ’21, Samuel Way ’24, Parker Woodruff ’21.

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Raiders Find Success in State Tournament

MMA hosted the Missouri State Raiders Championship on Oct. 24, 2020, and saw success against 20 other teams from Missouri, Iowa and Kansas. MMA’s Colonels Raiders team A took third place overall in the JROTC competition, finishing behind continual national champion contending teams. The Colonels also took second place in the 5K road march.

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2020-21 Rifle Team Victories

MMA’s 2020-21 rifle team has achieved top-tier team scores in nearly all of its postal matches — with many players scoring in the top 25% of all individual firers — at Orion, New Madrid Seismic Zone and Show Me Shootout postal matches. History has been made and records have fallen, earning two cadets a seat in the MMA Athletic Hall of Fame this year. Cadet Lance Newland ’22 (left, top) set a new tenths-weighted overall quarter match record at MMA, and Cadet Nathan Balvanz ’21 (left, bottom) — a rookie to the rifle team — set a new tenths-weighted kneeling position quarter match record at MMA.

CLOCKWISE: Cadets engaged in academic study at MMA: Alexander Chambers ’21, Jordan Sekele ’22, Diego Lopez ’21, Bradford Wright ’21, Rodrigo Flores ’25, Kevin Wang ’22, Zachary Sturgeon ’26 LEFT: Cadet Richard Yang ’25

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Veterans United Grant Supports STEAM Programs

Veterans United Foundation, the charitable arm of Veterans United Home Loans, awarded a $10,137 grant to MMA to support its science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics programs. The grant will fund three SMART boards and three iPads for classroom use.

“We are grateful to Veterans United Foundation for the support of our mission to enhance MMA’s digital learning environment,” says MMA President Geraci. “Accessibility and daily use of new digital tools are vitally important as our faculty prepare our cadets for success in college and entrance into the increasingly technical 21stcentury workforce.”

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New College and Career Guidance Support Online

MMA has created a College & Career Guidance section on its website that provides advice about post-graduation opportunities. This section includes information regarding college preparation, financial aid, suggested scholarships, college representative visits, college fairs and the ACT — keeping in mind that cadets must conduct college visits virtually this year.

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Cadets Get a Jump-Start on College

Qualifying juniors and seniors taking advantage of MMA’s Triumph Program get a jump-start on their college degree through college-credit courses with William Woods University. An academically enriching program, Triumph enables cadets to experience the rigor of college classes while benefiting from MMA’s structured environment and support network. The program shows prospective colleges cadets are committed and prepared for their academic futures. As a bonus, the credits earned can save cadets time and money toward their college degrees. The Spring 2021 curriculum offerings include English composition II, calculus, college algebra, world religions, introduction to criminal justice and concepts in leadership.

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ABOVE: Cadet Clayton Nelson ’22

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79th Annual Evensong Goes Virtual

Celebrating the holidays through the voices and musical talents of MMA cadets, MMA’s 79th annual Evensong aired on MMA’s YouTube channel on Dec. 12, 2020. The event remains up for viewing at any time.

RIGHT: Cadet Victor Patino Matos ’21 playing safely during COVID-19

BELOW: Cadet Kevith Sangster ’22 working on instrument covers

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MMA Cadets Learn Acting and Stagecraft

Through MMA’s partnership with Presser Performing Arts Center, cadets have the opportunity to learn acting and stagecraft skills through participation in community theater. Their involvement — from lighting and carpentry in stagecraft to auditions and behind-the-scenes lessons in acting — provides real experience in the entertainment industry and encourages cadets to become active contributors to the community’s arts.

LEFT: Choir for Evensong 2020

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RIGHT: MMA faculty member Cody Nelson works with Cadet Alexander Chambers ’21 at Presser Performing Arts Center.

Cadet Zijie Zhou ’24 playing on the piano that the English family donated to MMA.

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English Family Donates Piano

Rob and Katherine English, parents of William English ’20, and William’s grandmother, Barbara English, donated a piano to MMA in honor of Peggy Reynard and Stephen Maziarz for their dedication to cadets. The piano, housed in Memorial Chapel, will be used during weekly Vespers services, assemblies and other programs.

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Band During the Pandemic

Through the use of instrument masks created by the cadets themselves, MMA’s band found a way to play safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rob McGrath, MMA bandmaster, says the cadets are looking forward to sharing their talents with family members and friends via virtual performances throughout the year.