Now accepting applications for summer programs and the 2020-21 school year. RMA.EDU | 540-636-5484
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Warm regards,
David C. Wesley Brigadier General, USAF, Retired President The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
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From the President’s Desk
By the time you read these words, the inaugural R-MA J-Term will be complete. It is humbling for me to try to convey to you just how much we have learned. I am impressed with the quality of our students. I am reminded of how hard our teachers work every day to prepare and deliver world-class instruction for 36 weeks each year. I am encouraged to see the potential in our graduates, who will move out into the challenging world that awaits them, armed for the battle ahead! Designed by Dean Tess Hegedus as an oasis between the semesters, J-Term is a carefully-scripted learning experience, allowing students to choose the disciplines they’d like to dig deeper into without the time pressure of a regular semester and without the strictures of traditional R-MA coursework. Goals are self-defined and progress is self-measured I can hear some who will say, “So, it’s three weeks off, right!?” Not in my class and not in any I saw since students returned from Christmas break. That’s the beauty of J-Term: students pick something THEY want to know more about and pursue the PATH they think most effective to gaining that knowledge. Designed to mature into both classroom and internship work in the years ahead, J-Term is yet another way R-MA provides a distinctive advantage to her graduates. These are deeply practical, intensely individualized courses that enable each student to choose an objective suited to their own life goals and pursue it relentlessly for three weeks. From a teacher’s perspective, I found it challenging to keep up with the hunger our students had to master debate, argumentation, and negotiation…all key skills in the modern economy and foundational aspects of any good leader’s arsenal of talent in any age. (For more information on the J-Term, see page 18.) For all who see these words: this is where we are going as an Academy. The 21st Century student does not learn the way you and I did. He or she does not face the kind of challenges we had, nor will he or she use the tools we employed. The college landscape and the job market beyond are changing while I type these words. To be effective for our students, to be competitive within the marketplace, we must continually challenge ourselves to innovate, adapt, and master new disciplines while they are being created. This photograph on the right tells the story well. Shot by one of our newest drones, enhanced by our media team, the timeless beauty of R-MA is captured in a new way. That’s what we’re delivering for students: a new way to solve long-standing problems…including problems that didn’t even exist when you and I were still memorizing the Periodic Table and long lists of words designed to improve our vocabularies. The foregoing passages were written weeks ago, long before we understood the scope of the growing COVID-19 crisis, though one of our students offered a compelling preview in the form of a short video conceived and delivered during the closing Symposium of our J-Term. Now we have seen how prescient that student was and, thanks again to the limitless energy and spirit of our students and teachers, R-MA has closed its campus and, in the space of about a week, commenced real-time world-wide virtual classrooms to allow our mission to continue. On March 23rd, the Governor of Virginia announced that schools in the Commonwealth will not be required to resume operations before the fall. R-MA will complete this Academic Year virtually and we’re currently developing plans to celebrate the Graduation of the Class of 2020 as soon as conditions permit. I call on all who love the Academy to support her in this effort…truly worthy of the best traditions of our forebears. GO JACKETS!
In This Issue...
The Sabre
M a g a z i n e Winter-Spring 2020 | Volume 99 | Number 1
Rise Inside
Inside This Issue
Campus Happenings...................................................................3-4
The Power of Leadership Virginia Waddell ’20 Achieves Possible AFJROTC First........................ 5 Citlaly Sosa ’20 Named Horatio Alger National Scholar...................... 6 Meet the Newest Members of the Board of Trustees........................... 6 Tang Earns Second Gold at iGem...................................................... 7 Babineau Crosses the World to Attend Model UN.............................. 7 Cadets Attend West Point Leadership Conference............................. 8 R-MA Earns Top Private School Honors............................................ 9
Feature Articles
R-MA Middle School Team Takes First in Robotics............................10 Homecoming 2019 Re-Cap.............................................................12 Homecoming 2020 Information.....................................................14 Presenting the Betty and David Moore ’53 Enterprise and Leadership Lab ...........................................................................................16 The Inaugural J-Term....................................................................18 The Age of Drones......................................................................... 20 J-Term Class Produces Hydroponics Lab......................................... 22
Published by the Office of Communications Editor: Celeste M. Brooks P’12,’21 Photography: Misti Walters Copy Editors: Clare M. Dame and Amy M. Harriman The Sabre is published twice a year for alumni/ae, parents, students, and friends of: Randolph-Macon Academy 200 Academy Drive | Front Royal, VA 22630 Phone: 540-636-5200 | Fax: 540-636-5419 www.RMA.edu | sabre@rma.edu On Facebook: Facebook.com/Randolph.Macon.Academy.VA On Twitter: @RandolphMaconA On YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/RandolphMaconAcademy On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/randolph-macon-academy On Pinterest: pinterest.com/randolphmacon/ On Instagram: instagram.com/randolphmaconacademy/
The Power of Giving
The Annual Fund: Building Strong Academic Programs................... 23
The Power of Service
R-MA Students Take on 50 Yard Challenge...................................... 24
The Power of Grit
Varsity Girls’ Basketball Defies the Odds......................................... 25
Rise Beyond Class Notes................................................................................... 26 The Final Roll Call........................................................................ 28
Affiliated with the United Methodist Church
Board of Trustees RADM John D. Stufflebeem '70, Chairman Mr. John Simar ’68, Vice Chairman Mr. Harry G. Austin III ’75, Secretary Mr. Brian Bogart P’03, ‘07, Treasurer Dr. Bill Bersing ‘85 Mr. Joe Hadeed '84 Mr. Stuart Hester P'16 Ms. Lucy Williams Hooper Mr. Doug Huthwaite ’69 Ms. Patty Keenan Mr. George Mathias ’54 Ms. Pamela McInnis Ms. Lawrencia Pierce Ms. Katie Tewell ‘97, P’22 Ex-Officio Members Dr. Susan Gawalt P'14, '16, '20 Mr. Robert “Bo” Snitchler ’06 Dr. Rev. Steven Sumners
Randolph-Macon Academy admits persons of any race, gender, color, religion, nationality, and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. R-MA does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
President Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired
R i se
INSIDE Angelina Vincent ‘24 Takes Second in MathCounts
While voters were headed to the polls in November, R-MA’s Sardor Danier ’21 of Gainesville joined other hopeful singers and headed to Warren County High School to compete in the District XIV Choral Competition. Singing Bass 1, Sardor earned a coveted place in the District Chorus. Sardor has performed at R-MA in various venues, including being cast as the lead in R-MA’s November 2019 performance of the musical Loserville. With such a strong track record on his home campus, no one at the Academy was surprised by Sardor’s success at the district competition, least of all R-MA Chorus Director Michael DeMato. “Sardor has a wonderful voice and a great work ethic,” said Mr. DeMato. “I am extremely proud of him.” Sardor went on to be selected as second alternate to the All-State Chorus.
On February 1, 2020, four R-MA students competed in the Blue Ridge Chapter Competition of MathCounts, held at Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School in Winchester, VA. Sixth grader Angelina Vincent of Winchester placed second overall in the individual competition that included both public and private schools in the area. Angelina Vincent ‘24 and her MathCounts coach, Kyle Mackey, “I really wasn’t celebrate her second place finish in the surprised that she regional competition. Photo provided by received second place Aileen Vincent P’24. in the individual competition,” said her R-MA math teacher, Kyle Mackey. “From her first day on campus, she has shown herself to be advanced in mathematics. She has a natural talent and a passion for it.”
Cadets’ Hike Memorializes WWII Event Sardor Danier ‘21, on left in foreground, played the lead in the fall play, Loserville. Sardor earned a place in the District XIV Chorus and was selected as the second alternate to the State Chorus. Photo by Lawrence Carvana ‘20.
To the Skies Congratulations to Drew Schwentker ‘22 for completing his solo flight on December 12, 2019. Tyler Stanford ‘20 also completed his first solo in an R-MA plane on Wednesday, February 12th, though he had previously soloed in nearby Winchester. Finally, congratulations to Connor Gamma ‘20 for earning his private pilot certification on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more flight department accomplishments this spring!
On Saturday, November 9, 2019, a group of RandolphMacon Academy cadets completed the Bataan Death March Memorial Hike. This is a tradition established by Air Force Junior ROTC to commemorate the 60,000-80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war who were forced to walk more than 60 miles across the Philippines over 75 years ago, during World War II. Thousands perished during the three-day march. Air Force Junior ROTC cadets are invited and challenged to honor the brave soldiers by completing a 14-mile hike in their memory. A total of twelve R-MA cadets, under the supervision of Lt Col Joel Jones, USAF, Retired, completed the hike on the nearby Appalachian Trail. Each cadet earned the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Bataan Death March ribbon for their participation, meaning they will honor those soldiers every time they put on their Air Force uniform.
The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
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Campus Happenings
Sardor Danier Selected to District Chorus
Campus Happenings
R-MA Makes Move to Online Classes Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
R-MA Air Force Junior ROTC cadets honor the lives lost during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in a Patriot Day Ceremony.
American Legion Post 53 Donates Classroom Flags Last spring, RandolphMacon Academy teacher Commander Julianne Cochran, USN, Retired, P’12, approached Front Royal Giles B. Cook American Mr. Rick Kinsey, Commander of American Legion Post 53 Legion Post 53, presents a flag to R-MA Group representatives Commander Taylor Wreath ‘20. about putting American flags in each classroom. The Post members were glad to support their local Air Force Junior ROTC school. Over the summer, they purchased 51 brackets and American flags to be installed throughout the Academy. Sergeant-at-Arms Lalit ¨Pip¨ Piplani, the Post Adjutant John Kokernak, and Commander Cochran completed the installation in August. All of this was done quietly, without the students’ knowledge. On September 11th, the cadets learned how all of the flags had suddenly appeared in their classrooms, as Mr. Piplani and Mr. Kokernak, along with the Post Commander, Mr. Rick Kinsey, visited R-MA to complete a formal presentation of the flags to the cadets. “We are truly grateful for the generosity and patriotism of the members of Post 53, and we thank them for their continuing service to the United States of America,” Commander Cochran said during the ceremony.
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The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
After witnessing the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus in other countries, R-MA’s administration began monitoring it closely when it was first reported in the U.S., and immediately began discussing how to handle various scenarios and how to best keep the students, faculty, and staff safe. Even so, the rapid progression of restrictions in the DC area and the declaration of the virus’s status as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11th caused a rapid shift in the Academy’s response. Having consulted with other schools, organizations such as the National Association of Independent Schools, and local health officials, the administration made the decision to suspend on-campus classes at the end of the day on Friday, March 13th. Students were asked to depart campus beginning that afternoon, and were given until the end of the day on Tuesday, March 17th to do so. There were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the immediate area or associated with the school. Rather, President Brig Gen David Wesley explained in a letter, “We are guided by several goals: protecting the health of our students, faculty, and staff, and to help slow the spread of the virus.” Classes were cancelled on March 16th and 17th, to allow the teachers time to adapt their lesson plans as needed for online learning. A full-time schedule of online classes and activities is running each class day. The hope was that oncampus classes could resume after spring break, on April 20th. However, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced on March 23rd that all Virginia school campus, both public and private, were to remain closed throughout the rest of this academic year. In response to the governor’s decision, Wesley said, “We stood up on-line instruction around the globe in less than a week, and those lessons will continue until the end of the current semester. Our seniors will graduate on time with substantially the same subject matter knowledge originally scheduled for this academic year. Our underclassmen will complete their studies on the originally set schedule.... Our commitment to our students and their parents will be kept to the furthest extent possible, consistent with the safety of our teachers and staff. We’ve done that for 128 years and, in spite of the current health crisis, we intend to deliver on that promise again this year.” Video tours of the campus will be sent to prospective families until the campus reopens to students and visitors. Families interested in learning more about the Academy may visit RMA.edu and/or contact the Admission Office at admission@rma.edu or 540-636-5484.
T h e Po w e r o f
LEADERSHIP
Virginia Waddell ‘20 Achieves Possible AFJROTC First by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications lot of people,” Virginia said. “Going up there, for the most part, it’s rather quiet. I don’t want to say it’s a feeling of freedom, because that’s such a cliché...it’s just really cool. It’s different.” Virginia also sees it as her responsibility to learn the craft and pass it on to others. “It’s kind of a dying thing, which is a shame,” she said. “I don’t want it to die off.” It might be surprising that ballooning is a dying form of flight, but it comes with challenges. It is completely weather-dependent, making flights possible only on the best days. A balloon is subject to the whimsy of the wind, and slower than a glider or powered aircraft. In addition, ballooning is a form of flying that takes a collaborative effort. The pilot in the balloon has a radio to communicate with a one- to- two-person crew in a ground vehicle that is “chasing” the balloon. When it is time to land, it is the ground crew’s responsibility to find a field and obtain the owner’s permission to land there. The balloonists do their best to avoid livestock and crops, but some owners are protective of their open fields. If permission is denied, the crew heads off to the next location and the balloon pilot has to gain altitude again. In spite of those challenges however, ballooning can be a money-earning business--once you get past the expense of taking lessons and purchasing a balloon, of course. Virginia’s parents used the supplemental income from their company to invest in a private school education for their daughter. Virginia even has a potential job offer from a real estate company to work as a pilot, once she obtains her commercial pilot certification (an achievement she hopes will come to pass in the summer of 2020). And there is nothing like the peace of floating quietly over the ground, or the challenge of adjusting the flame to control your altitude. It’s the oldest type of flying in the history of mankind, and this special young lady is now a key part of its future. The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
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The Power of Leadership
In August 2019, Virginia Waddell ’20 of Front Royal flew her first solo flight in a balloon, placing her on track to earn her pilot certification and become one of only 5,000 balloon pilots in the US. As if that weren’t enough to make her stand out among her high school peers, the Randolph-Macon Academy senior also made a bit of history, as she became what just might be the first Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) student to solo in a balloon. While AFJROTC Headquarters couldn’t confirm that, they also couldn’t find a record of an AFJROTC student accomplishing a balloon solo before Virginia. R-MA has a flight program that focuses on powered flight and drones, and having students solo in a schoolowned Cessna 172 is something that typically happens several times each school year. Those students are then given a “wing” pin to wear on their AFJROTC uniform, informing their peers of their accomplishment. When Virginia accomplished her first balloon solo on August 25th, her father, Paul Waddell, obtained a wing pin that had a balloon in the center--all the way back from World War II. Virginia held onto that pin with pride, though it was not something she could wear on her AFJROTC uniform. However, with work by both Paul and R-MA’s Senior Aerospace Science Instructor, Lt Col Joel Jones, USAF, Retired, AFJROTC Headquarters eventually approved Virginia to wear a different pin of recognition: the Civil Air Patrol Balloon Pilot Badge. “It’s nice to be recognized for doing something unusual, that some people consider scary,” said Virginia. “When I’m wearing it, people ask questions. It’s a good conversation starter.” Virginia’s parents got into ballooning when her mother, Mary Kim, bought a balloon ride for their first wedding anniversary. Although Paul initially resisted the idea, once he was up in the air, he was hooked, and he has passed that love of ballooning on to his daughter. “I like that it’s different. It just makes you unique from a
Leaders Who Make a Difference
Citlaly Sosa ‘20 Named Horatio Alger National Scholar
Meet the Newest Members of the Board of Trustees
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
When Citlaly Sosa ‘20 received an email in January that said the 2020 Horatio Alger Scholarship National Scholars had been announced, she was heartbroken--she had not been selected. She hadn’t even gotten the State Scholar honor, something her older sister had achieved. Citaly’s disappointment was short-lived, however, as she received a call the next week from her Horatio Alger sponsor, who apologized for the error and informed her that she had indeed been selected as a National Scholar. “When I found out, I cried, and then my parents asked me, ‘Why are you crying? You never cry,’” Citlaly recalled. “This is so amazing. To be one of the 106 people selected this year out of the 32,000 people who applied...I am very honored.” The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc, awards each National Scholar a $25,000 scholarship to be used in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, as well as an allexpenses-paid trip to the 2020 Horatio Alger National Scholars Conference in Washington, DC, April 1-5, 2020. As stated on their website, scholars.horatioalger.org, members and friends of the Horatio Alger Association fund college scholarships for disadvantaged youth. Since its inception in 1984, the Association has awarded more than $159 million to approximately 20,000 students. The “Scholar Services” go beyond the initial scholarship award, including financial aid and scholarship counseling, assistance with housing needs, internships, and even support for emotional, personal, legal, and financial obstacles. “I’m so proud of her,” said R-MA College Counselor Mary Gamache. “She has done everything she possibly could to earn everything she possibly can.” “Everything” has been achieving a place on the R-MA honor rolls every quarter, rising to one of the top positions in Air Force Junior ROTC, being active in community service, assisting the R-MA Admission Office with events, participating on R-MA’s championship drill team, serving on the R-MA Honor Council, playing varsity sports, and even being elected to the Homecoming Court. It has all kept Citlaly very busy, but as Chief Gamache had believed, her hard work is paying off.
At the June 2019 meeting, the Randolph-Macon Academy Board of Trustees welcomed two new members: Katie McIntyre Tewell of Front Royal and Brian Bogart of Vienna. Katie McIntyre Tewell is a 1997 graduate of RandolphMacon Academy and holds a B.S. degree in hospitality and tourism management from James Madison University. She is the COO of The Apple House Restaurant & Gift Shop LLC, including the popular “Fork’d” food truck and the Bushel Pub, as well as IC Cream, LLC. Katie serves on the executive board of the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce (past chair), Front Royal Rotary Club, Blue Ridge Arts Council, and the Tourism Committee for Front Royal-Warren County. She has been honored in the past as the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and co-named the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Shining Star with her father, George McIntyre ‘69. Brian Bogart is the Principal of Bogart Wealth, an investment management firm that seeks to preserve and maximize wealth for clients. A popular speaker, Brian has appeared as a guest on “CBS Morning News — Mind Over Money,” as the host of “The Prudent Investor” on WPGC business radio and presents a popular series of seminars for top executives at Fortune 500 companies around the country. Brian holds a B.S. in accounting from the University of Virginia McIntyre School of Commerce/Accounting, and an MBA in financial management from National University. He continues to participate in the ongoing education programs of the Financial Planning Association. He is also the stepfather of two R-MA graduates,David Johnston ’03 and Dustin Johnston ’07.
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Tang Earns Second Gold at iGem by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications When Katy Babineau ‘20 decides to do something, she goes all in. So when she decided that Model UN sounded like something she would enjoy, she didn’t worry about finding a team to join; she jumped in as an individual attendee. The fact that this particular Model UN took place at Seoul National University in Korea at the end of November didn’t deter her; if anything, it simply made it an even more enticing challenge. The experience was everything she had hoped. “I got put into the best [committee] for me, the World Health Organization,” said Katy. “I got to talk about these topics that I genuinely do care about. Our topics were clean water access and air pollution.” Assigned as the Afghanistan representative, Katy had to research the issue from that country’s point of view and write position papers for both topics. It was a challenge she relished, and took to heart. Like the other attendees, she found herself saying, “In my country…” and she was speaking about Afghanistan, not the U.S. For Katy, the adventure wasn’t just the Model UN itself or that it was in Korea, but it also included the fact that she was traveling abroad on her own for the first time. She described the experience as “terrifying,” but the growth that she experienced was phenomenal. “I do find that now that I’ve been overseas by myself on this huge event, I’m much less scared to do other things,” she said. “I really came back feeling ‘I can do anything now.’” Still, she recommended that for most students, starting with the Model UN that takes place in New York City might be the better avenue. It wasn’t all work for Katy; she did get to be a tourist for a day as well, with Myeong Seon Ban, the mother of Amy Go ‘17, acting as her tour guide. The students participating in the Model UN also had a couple of hours of downtime each day where they could explore the city a little.
The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
Global Leaders
Cassie Tang ‘20 returned to the iGEM Giant Jamboree in Boston for the second year, this time as a team leader. The annual iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) Giant Jamboree is the synthetic biology industry’s largest innovation event and the culminating event of iGEM’s annual, worldwide, synthetic biology competition for students to use genetic engineering to solve local problems all around the world. Beyond the technology, participants are evaluated on teamwork, responsibility, entrepreneurship, sharing, safety and more. This year, Cassie and her team, “ASTWS_China 2019,” worked on a method to decrease pollution caused by livestock excrement. Cassie explained, “Livestock is deliberately overfed and overmilked for if it’s not done this way, the bacteria hiding deep inside the animals will not be eliminated completely. Those bacteria will come back sooner and stronger, which is why we call them super bacteria or superbugs. So, the purpose of overfeeding is actually good, to protect animals from super bacteria.” However, to keep the livestock healthy, she explained, they are pumped full of antibiotics, but a great many pass through their system without being absorbed, resulting in environmental pollution. The presence of those antibiotics in the environment contributes to the development of “super bacteria” that are resistant to antibiotics. Cassie and her team worked on a solution to this issue. “We genetically engineered E.coli to secrete a kind of protein called CMY-10 to biodegrade antibiotics,” she said. “The antibiotics we are focusing on is the family of B-lactamase, which includes penicillin, and all those medical use antibiotics.” They chose to focus on the b-lactamase family in part because it has such a high excretion rate (80%). The project earned Cassie a second consecutive Gold Medal at iGem, amidst even more competitors at iGEM than last year. Her two gold medal teams at consecutive iGEM jamborees have caught the attention of others, and next year she’ll return as an advisor to a younger team.
Babineau Crosses the World to Attend Model UN
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Ben Kopjanski ‘20 Earns AMCSUS Leadership Award
Leadership on Display
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications Benjamin Kopjanski ‘20 has been named one of the top cadets in the nation by the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS). The AMCSUS Leadership Award recognizes two high school cadets and two college cadets annually, providing a $1,000 scholarship for each cadet. The award recipients are acknowledged as wellrounded cadets who excel in the areas of leadership, character, service, academics, and athletics. Ben has been at Randolph-Macon Academy since the eighth grade, and as the award would indicate, he has built up an impressive resumé for himself. His considerable leadership skills have been put to use in the Air Force Junior ROTC Unit VA-091, where he is the Deputy Group Commander (i.e., the second in command of all Upper School students). “He has operationalized the Deputy Commander role for considerable value and leadership dimension,” R-MA Commandant LtCol Michael C. Starling ‘88, USMC, Retired, wrote on Ben’s nomination form. In addition, Ben has also served as captain of the cross country team, treasurer of the National Spanish Honor Society, and sergeant-at-arms for the Honor Council. Ben’s focus on academic success has been proven with a weighted GPA over 4.0, numerous academic awards, and membership in three different national honor societies. He has performed over 154 hours of community service, serving as a camp counselor and a National Honor Society tutor, and serving an internship with Virginia Delegate Nick Freitas. His high school sports have included golf, wrestling, cross country, and swimming. He has earned varsity letters in all four, and has been the recipient of the Coaches’ Award in every sport except for wrestling. He also has received the “Most Improved” Award for golf and the “Most Outstanding Contributor” Award in cross-country. It may have been LtCol Starling’s write-up of Ben’s character that set this young man apart from the other nominees for the AMCSUS Leadership Award. He described Ben as “peerless,” and went on to write, “He enjoys standing
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for truth and right…. His maturity...and his self-discipline, teamwork, humility and respect for others combine for an effective and endearing leadership style. He has earned the trust and respect of his peers and the adult staff and faculty alike.” In conclusion, LtCol Starling wrote, “Ben Kopjanski represents the most complete military school leader: impeccable integrity and character, courageous leader of his peers, deep respect and capacity for education, open-hearted to serve others, and a specimen of fitness who hungers for physical challenge.” The award was announced at the annual AMCSUS Conference on February 24, 2020. Each award recipient submitted a video of thanks to the Association. “During my time here on ‘The Hill,’ I have been inspired by the best mentors a cadet could ever have,” Ben stated in his video. “The teachers, faculty, and staff of R-MA have supported me through my journey here, and opened my eyes to opportunities I would never otherwise have seen.” He went on to recognize his family as the greatest influence on his life. “My mother and siblings are the pillars of my life, instilling in me the core values that I live by,” he said.
Cadets Attend West Point Leadership Conference
On March 11th, seven of R-MA cadets had the opportunity to attend the West Point Leadership and Ethics Conference at the George Mason University campus in Arlington, VA. The conference included approximately 200 high school juniors from 47 different schools. All seven students said this was one of the best events they have attended. R-MA’s Francesca Schaefer '21 was one of only 24 of the students selected to compete for one of six available scholarships, with the highest scholarship award being $3,000.
R-MA Earns Top Private School Honors
Randolph-Macon Academy has racked up the honors during this school year. It started out with the Academy being named Best Private School in Warren County by the readers of The Northern Virginia Daily, and continued with the Academy’s selection to Virginia Living Magazine’s list of Top High Schools & Colleges 2019. In addition to voting for R-MA as the top private school in the county, The Northern Virginia Daily’s readers also recognized R-MA teacher and soccer coach Chris Peter as the top Athletic Coach in the area. The Daily’s “Best of” contest is held annually, and allows readers to vote for their favorites of everything local, from restaurants and hair salons to schools and volunteers. Virginia Living Magazine’s Top High Schools & Colleges 2019 is a list of nearly 150 programs in public and private high schools and four-and-two-year colleges leading the way in innovation across the state. It also recognizes schools for excellence and innovation in five categories: Arts & Humanities, Science, Math & Technology, Performing Arts, Health & Medicine and Capital Improvements. After thorough review of each school’s programs and accomplishments, Virginia Living’s editors selected schools that had instituted programs or recently begun capital improvements aimed at strengthening students’ experiences in and beyond the classroom. R-MA was recognized for the opening of the Hadeed Innovation Wing in the fall of 2018. The wing provides an active learning space and promotes cross-curricular projects. This wing includes a simulation lab that takes the flight program to a new level, adding a drone program as well as a wind tunnel and an FAA-certified flight simulator. This fall saw another leap forward with the opening of the Moore Enterprise and Leadership Lab. These innovations allow R-MA students the latest in technology and learning spaces for growth and college preparation.
Accolades Continue in 2020 In 2020, Virginia Living Magazine shifted its list of Top Schools to its March/April issue, and once again named R-MA to the list. The Academy was recognized for its recent renovation of the former library into the Betty and Dave ‘53 Moore Enterprise and Leadership Lab. The renovated space includes a conference room with retractable glass walls, low bookshelves that allow natural light to flood the entire lab, and flexible furnishings that promote creativity and collaborative work. The annual Virginia Living Top Schools & Colleges list is a resource for anyone curious about why Virginia’s schools are consistently ranked among the nation’s best. “We are excited about receiving this honor once again,” said R-MA President Brigadier General David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired. “Virginia Living has recognized Randolph-Macon Academy as a top private school in every State of Education issue they have produced. That fact is a testament to the continuous hard work of our faculty and staff and the support of our alumni and friends.” Also in March, Randolph-Macon Academy’s Summer Programs were recognized as a “Best Summer Camp” by Northern Virginia Magazine. This is the third time and second consecutive year the Academy has earned this honor.
The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
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R-MA Leads the Way
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
Leading the Way
R- M A M i d d l e S c h ool Team
TAKES FIRST IN ROBOTICS
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
When Randolph-Macon Academy’s three teams headed to the FIRST LEGO League competition in Falls Church on November 9, 2019, it was with the realistic expectation that the more experienced team would have the best chance of bringing home an award, while the two younger teams would be going mainly to learn about the competition and how it works. However, “The Royal Front” team surprised everyone, including themselves. As stated on firstlegoleague.com: “Every year, FIRST LEGO League releases a Challenge, which is based on a realworld scientific topic. Each Challenge has three parts: the Robot Game, the Innovation Project, and the Core Values. Teams of up to ten children, with at least two adult coaches,
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participate in the Challenge by programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field (Robot Game), developing a solution to a problem they have identified (Project), all guided by the FIRST Core Values. Teams may then attend an official tournament, hosted by our FIRST LEGO League Partners.” This year’s theme was “City Shaper,” focusing on urban development and making improvements to your community, including concepts such as building construction, maximizing space upgrades for buildings such as rooftop gardens and solar panels, and accessibility compliance. R-MA Middle School had two robotics classes; one had the “just right” number of six students, while the other had ten. The class instructor, Ms. K, decided to split the larger of the classes and enter three teams into the competition, to ensure that everyone on each team would get the full experience and play a vital role. Ms. K had one student on the six-person team who had taken robotics last year, and there were a few other students in that class who had been exposed to coding and robotics. The other robotics class, however, was full of students who had no exposure to robotics.
“Going into the competition, I sort of thought that the six-person class was going to be our stronger team, because of their experience and age,” said Ms. K. “But as the nature of robotics is, they had the most struggles during the competition--codes that were running perfectly in class weren’t running at all or weren’t close to perfect in the competition. And that happens. It’s the nature of the beast, and it’s how you rise from the ashes and tackle the challenges as they arise. That’s where the points are given to you or taken away, how your team functions during that stressful time. They’re being judged the whole day.” For this year, the R-MA team that rose to the top was “The Royal Front,” a rookie team made up of Layla Danier ‘24, Baruc Romero Hanson ‘24, Cameron Kie ‘26, Wyeth Gedney ‘26, and Kamila Yusupova ‘24. Early on in the preparation, with no plan and no code, things had not looked promising. “Agreeing to something we all wanted to do was a difficult challenge,” said Layla. However,
Ham Radio Finishes Sixth in Fall Roundup During the nationwide School Club Roundup Week held this past October, the Randolph-Macon Academy “Ham” Radio Club, WA4RMA, made contact with radio operators and clubs in 33 states, as well as Canada, Germany, Italy, and France. The goal of the School Club Roundup is for the students to contact as many other stations as they can within the week. The scoring for the event is scaled; for example, contacting other school amateur radio clubs is worth more than contacting an individual radio operator. Contacting a country outside of the U.S. and Canada is worth additional points.
R-MA’s contacts for the fall of 2019 included: • 248 station contacts • 33 U.S. States • 2 Canadian Provinces • 3 Countries (Germany, Italy, France) • 1 Club • 14 School Clubs The Academy’s final score was 27,280, which put them in sixth place out of 14 schools throughout the country. Scores ranged from a low of 76 to a high of 154,275.
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Middle School Champs
R-MA students, in the tie-dyed green shirts, work the robotics table intently during the competition. Photo by Ms. K.
once they did so, The Royal Front took things to a new level, shining particularly brightly not only through the Robot Design, but the Innovation Project as well. The prompt this year was to solve an issue within the community, which they opted to define as R-MA. They identified the issue as a lack of space to build additional dorms, and their solution was to build “glorified treehouses,” according to Ms. K. Rather than the standard two-dimensional trifold board that teams usually bring in, The Royal Front built a diorama with 3D models of the trees--using Legos, of course. Even with two of them working the majority of the code at the last minute, their robot outshone the others, winning them first place in the robot design portion of the competition. With a strong performance in the other areas of the competition, they also earned third place overall and the honor of being first alternate to the state competition. Layla, who designed the 3D models, and Cameron both admitted that they were surprised when they learned of the results. “A lot of our teammates jumped up and down,” said Cameron, who was one of the two students handling the lastminute coding. “I thought we were going to get last.” He went on to explain, “It was hard at first because everyone looked like they knew what they were doing. But then, as we got further into the competition, we realized, ‘Wait a minute. We know a little bit more about this competition than other teams, so we might have a chance.’ And then we did.” While their joy at their strong performance was mutual, Cameron and Layla enjoyed very different aspects of the competition. For Cameron, it was the challenge “getting to make up a solution for the design and build.” For Layla, it was “getting to know them [my teammates] more by working with them, and building the tree houses.” With a solid performance at a challenging competition, the five students who made up “The Royal Front” clearly demonstrated The Power of Rise.
Homecoming 2019
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications The 2019 Homecoming Weekend at Randolph-Macon Academy featured a mix of familiar gatherings and new events, much to the delight of those in attendance. The weekend kicked off with the Alumni Celebration Dinner at Bowling Green Country Club, where the alumni gathered and enjoyed a performance by R-MA’s female acapella group, The Stingers, and a brief update of the Academy by President Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired. The 50th reunion class of 1969 also presented their reunion gift to the Academy, a check for $54,524. During the evening, the Byron C. Gayle ’50 Dedicated Service Award, established to honor one of the hardestworking directors of the Alumni Association (Mr. Gayle subsequently passed away in December 2019), was awarded to
The members of the Class of 1969 presented a check during the Friday night dinner and again during the Alumni Luncheon, as some of the class members were unable to attend Friday evening.
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Mr. Chip Humphrey, Class of 1966. Mr. Humphrey has served on the Annual Fund Council, as a class ambassador, and most recently as an R-MA Giving Day Advocate. After the Class of 1969 enjoyed their 50th Reunion Breakfast on Saturday, October 19th, the alumni, staff, faculty, cadets, and other guests gathered for the Homecoming Memorial Parade. This year’s flag was presented to Mrs. Kathy Marquardt, the daughter of Mr. Joe Mast, class of 1949, who passed away earlier this year. She was joined by her sister, Mrs. Debbie Laycock. Public Affairs NCOIC Kisyl Housden ‘21 read the following during the presentation: “Mr. Mast, a longtime and often anonymous benefactor of R-MA, provided the funding for the middle school and many other campus projects. His lifetime support, which totaled nearly $6 million, ensured the future vitality of our campus. Mr. Mast remains a hero to all at R-MA and, through his family, will always occupy a place of honor in our hearts. Thank you, Mr. Mast: you truly made a difference here, and through the students you have helped, you made a difference around the world.”
The Homecoming flag was presented to the family members of the late Joe Mast ‘49.
After being buzzed by drones during the Alumni Luncheon, some of the alumni visited the Hadeed Innovation Lab to try out some of the other innovative technology that is available to the students.
Much less, be a leader! I am the type of girl that is EXTREMELY SHY (the girl you see sitting in the back of the classroom. The one you would never imagine having a voice). I was always pushed down and basically told that my ideas did not count. TSgt [Tina] Laing and the past commander, Rana Diallo [‘19], saw that I had potential. Without them telling me to spread my wings and fly, I would not be who I am today.” (Editor’s note: Citlaly was named a Horatio Alger National Scholar; see related story on page 6.) After hearing Citlaly’s inspiring tale, many alumni attended the Betty and Dave ‘53 Moore Enterprise and Leadership Lab Dedication (see related story, page 16.) From there, some went on to visit the Hadeed Innovation Wing to play on the flight simulators, while others journeyed down the hill to Riddick Field to watch the Yellow Jackets varsity soccer team take on St. John’s Front Royal. Those who arrived early to the soccer game saw a last-minute flyover provided by Mike Shankle ‘74 just as the National Anthem ended. If any of the R-MA alumni thought a soccer game would not provide much entertainment for the afternoon, they were in for a surprise. In spite of it being the Yellow Jackets’ third game in three days, the excitement of being the featured sporting event at Homecoming energized the young athletes. The Jackets quickly leveled an early goal from St. John’s to tie up the game 1-1 after only five minutes, with Alpha Diallo ‘20 scoring the goal. Then Tire Bayo-Adeyemo ‘20 went up for a corner, bringing the Jackets up to 2. JJ Banek-Gabelle ‘21 was moved out of goalkeeping and scored two goals in the second half as the score moved on to 4-2. Isaac Yi ‘21 scored a fifth goal to bring the score to 5-2. After a fight-back from St. John’s to bring the score to 5-4, Joseph Afotey-Agbo ‘20 scored a sixth for the Jackets to give R-MA an exciting 6-4 win.
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Welcome Home 2019
At the Alumni Luncheon, additional awards were given out, with the Staff Recognition Award going to the late Mr. Bob Johnson. Alumni Association President Bo Snitchler ‘06 noted, “Bob served R-MA in many ways, including as a teacher and coach, before he took on the role of security officer – a position he held for the last 17 years.” The Young Alumni Award went to Ms. Whitney Lee, Class of 2010. Ms. Lee earned a B.A. in government from Harvard University, a Master of Laws in International Criminal Law at the University of Amsterdam, and a Doctor of Law from Columbia Law School. She is now with the firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP, working as an associate in their Global Risk and National Security practice. The final award was the Class Ambassador of the Year Award, which went to Mr. Doug Huthwaite, Class of 1969. He led the effort to coordinate his 50th reunion and create a Class of 1969 endowed scholarship so future students can receive financial assistance when they attend R-MA. The Homecoming Luncheon also includes the Alumni Association’s annual meeting, where the slate of officers and board members are proposed and voted upon. Joining the board this year are David Parrish ’02 and Shelly (Barr) Kats ’93. Alexandria (Xereas-Gonzales) Middleton ‘05 was elected to a new term. The officers approved for 2019-20 are President, Robert “Bo” Snitchler ’06; Vice President, Bryan Moore ’84; Secretary/Treasurer, Andrew Pfister ’08; Sergeant-At-Arms, Jay Moore ’74; Immediate Past President, H. Scarlett (Praml) Kibler ’89. The alumni gathered enjoyed a drone demonstration and heard a tale of “The Power of Rise” from Citlaly Sosa ‘20. “I come from a Mexican family,” Citlaly said, whose family now lives in Baltimore City, MD. “My parents immigrated from Mexico to the United States to have a better future. As a child, I was surrounded by crime and discrimination. My principal, at the time, told my parents and me that I would never succeed in life because ‘No Hispanic from the City does.’ We have been through many struggles. At one point, I was homeless. My parents do not know how to speak English well. Most of the time my sister and I had to translate, from Burger King orders to important medical papers. We did not have enough money to buy a bag of Cheetos.” Citlaly recounted how on a school trip to the U.S. Naval Academy, she was captivated by the passion and pride of the cadets. Inspired to join the military, she began doing research and discovered R-MA. “All this time I have been at Randolph-Macon, my hunger for becoming an officer grew more and more,” she said. “I am currently a commander for the drill team. In my seven years here, I would have NEVER imagined commanding a team.
WELCOME HOME. HOMECOMING 2020 OCTOBER 16-17
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 9:00am - 4:00pm Registration & Map Room Open Sonner-Payne Cross Hall Collect your registration packet, enjoy light refreshments, and vote on your favorite flight banner.
9:30 - 10:30am Class of 1970 50th Reunion Breakfast Mast Hall Brigadier General David Wesley, USAF, Retired, hosts the Class of 1970 and their spouses/guests with a breakfast in honor of their 50th reunion.
10:45 - 11:45am Homecoming Memorial Parade
Homecoming 2020 is special - it's the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Mast Hall at R-MA Middle School!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 12:00 - 4:00pm Registration & Map Room Open Sonner-Payne Cross Hall Check in and collect your registration packet, then enjoy light refreshments and R-MA memorabilia.
Riddick Field Please feel free to visit the Memorial Wreath in the lobby of Melton Gymnasium at any time during your visit.
12:00 - 1:30pm Homecoming Luncheon Mast Hall All alumni and guests are welcome to attend this lunch it's free for those who pre-register, or $10 at the door.
1:30 - 2:00pm Alumni Association Meeting Mast Hall Learn about the Alumni Association's activities and vote in the 2020-2021 officers and members.
2:00 - 3:00pm Upper School Campus Tour
1:30 - 2:30pm Middle School Open House
Sonner-Payne Cross Hall Stops will include the new Moore Lab, the Hadeed Lab, Melton Gym, and Boggs Chapel.
Mast Hall Learn about all the great things happening at the Middle School as it celebrates 25 years in Mast Hall!
6:00 - 9:00pm Homecoming Dinner & Dance Bowling Green Country Club, North Clubhouse Brought to you by the Alumni Association, this event will feature a buffet dinner, silent auction, and cash bar. Proceeds will support the Association's programs and scholarship efforts. Dress for the evening is business casual. Tickets $50/person.
2:00pm Homecoming Game Riddick Field Cheer on the Yellow Jackets in the Homecoming game!
After the Game Show your lanyard at select area restaurants for special R-MA discounts in celebration of Homecoming! More information will be available at rma.edu/homecoming soon.
ACCOMMODATIONS
REGISTRATION
Book early! October is peak tourism season in the Shenandoah Valley, and space at area hotels is limited.
Visit www.rma.edu/homecoming to register or for more information.
Holiday Inn & Suites: 540-631-3050 For a discounted rate, call before September 16, ask for in-house reservations, and mention that you are with the R-MA Alumni group. Hampton Inn: 540-635-1882 For a discounted rate, call before September 16 and mention that you are with the R-MA Homecoming group. TownePlaceSuites: 540-749-0033 For a discounted rate, call before September 16 and mention that you are with the R-MA Homecoming group. Baymont by Wyndham (formerly the Quality Inn): 540-635-3161
QUESTIONS? Contact the Office of Advancement at 540-636-5343 or at advancement@rma.edu.
For a printed registration form, please contact us at 540-636-5343 or at advancement@rma.edu.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 2020 UPDATES AND CHANGES Homecoming Luncheon This year's Homecoming Luncheon will be separate from the Alumni Association meeting and will be free for those who pre-register or $10 at the door.
PARKING Friday Limited parking will be available in the lot between Sonner-Payne and Melton Gym. Overflow parking will be on the practice field adjacent to Riddick Field. Saturday Parking will be on the practice field adjacent to Riddick Field. Only handicapped parking will be available on the "The Hill." If you need handicapped parking, please contact us at 540-6365343 or at advancement@rma.edu, or display your state-issued permit.
SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION On-Campus Shuttle The on-campus shuttle will run continuously on Saturday.
Presenting
The Betty and David Moore ’53 Enterprise and Leadership Lab by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
On October 19, 2019, in the midst of the Homecoming Weekend activities, alumni, faculty and staff alike paused to honor two long-standing supporters of R-MA and dedicate a newly renovated space on campus to them. Replacing what was once a typical school library is a new collaborative space with dynamic seating, low bookshelves that allow natural light to flood the room, and a conference room with retractable glass walls. It is an inspirational place that has already drawn in students to study, host meetings, and collaborate on projects. This transformed area is now known as
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On left, R-MA President Brigadier General David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired, and R-MA Dean of Instructional Leadership and Innovation Tess Hegedus unveil the MELL dedication sign, to the delight of Betty and Dave ‘53 Moore, for whom the Leadership Lab is named.
the Betty and Dave ‘53 Moore Enterprise and Leadership Lab (MELL). In greeting the crowd at the start of the dedication ceremony, R-MA President Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired, noted that the majority of the funding for the MELL came from alumni. “It will benefit our students for decades to come, and it moves us along in the path that Dean Hegedus and I are trying to get us to: to provide absolutely the very best in independent private education to our students,” he said.
print copies, and was still re-stocking shelves the week of Homecoming. Dean Hegedus and Ms. Rogers are now making additional selections for the library to be aligned with R-MA’s pre-professional pathways. “This is going to be a hub for not only print copies of literature for students to read, but also electronic databases for students to engage in research. So we are thrilled to have the space. We want our students to be here. They’re coming, and they love it,” Dean Hegedus said. Earlier in the day, Mr. Moore had shared with R-MA Chaplain Josh Orndorff that when he was a student at R-MA, the devotionals were held in the area where the MELL now exists, and so Chaplain Orndorff found it very fitting that a prayer was to be offered during the dedication ceremony. “I can’t think of anyone better to have this Enterprise and Leadership Lab named after them than the Moores,” he commented. “I’m appreciative for the faithfulness they have for this school and to their Lord as disciples.” Mr. Moore said he and Betty were honored to have the facility named for them. “I’m a Christian, and I believe that when conception occurs, that God puts a soul in each human being, and that soul has gifts and talents that no other human being has, anywhere,” he said. “So ‘The Power of Rise’ then, for R-MA, is to find those gifts and talents that are in each student and build on those exceptional talents that each student has. That’s how I interpret The Power of Rise. So I hope this laboratory will contribute to that.”
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Inspiring Students
Corps Commander Taylor Wreath ‘20 addressed what the MELL meant to the student body. “As a student of R-MA, I am very, very excited about this space you’re in right now,” she said. “My four years here on ‘The Hill’ have been some of the most innovative ones in R-MA’s history. From issuing students new laptops, to completing the Hadeed Innovation Lab, which I now have a class in, and now to completing the Moore Enterprise and Leadership Lab/Library, the school is coming into the 21st century in big ways. I say ‘library,’ but this space is so much more than that. It’s a collaborative learning space where students come together to ‘get after’ their interests and academic goals. With new resources for research, new technology, and a fresh new look, students more than ever can ‘get after’ what they want. There is so much possibility and potential for what can be done here, which is the most exciting thing about it. It is not just about the space but the wonderful minds that will occupy it. “So I thank all that contributed to the building of the lab,” Taylor concluded. “I thank the Moore family for their contributions to the school that led to the dedication of this space to them and on behalf of the students, we are grateful for this space that has been given to us.” Dean for Instructional Leadership and Innovation Dr. Tess Hegedus commented that the reason for building a space that encourages an entrepreneurial spirit is for students like Taylor, who over the summer began her own business. “It’s for our students, it’s for faculty...it is a fluid and dynamic and open space for learning. We want people to come here. What we had found here was that the space was underutilized. It was a space where students weren’t coming anymore, and they weren’t checking out books; they weren’t utilizing a library the way that we wanted students to utilize the library.” A look around the room shows modern bookshelves that are, in some areas, sparsely populated. Media Specialist Elizabeth Rogers P’05 has pared down the collection from 14,000
The Inaugural J-Term by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
A J-Term Photography student takes a photo of the Tools to DIY class in action.
The inaugural January Term (J-Term) held at Randolph-Macon Academy was even more successful than anticipated, according to both teachers and students. Campus energy was high across all grade levels, and as Director of Student Life Todd Davis noted, the typical winter blues were nowhere in sight. Driving onto campus on a typical day during the J-Term, you might have found the Middle School “Primitive Survival” students building shelters, the “Classroom to 10K” class logging a four-mile run, or the “Aviation and Space Exploration” students shooting off rockets. If you had gone into Mast Hall, you would have found the Crafting for a Cause class creating cat toys by using a Japanese braiding technique called Kumihomo and hot-gluing decorations on capes for the child heroes battling cancer, or the R-MA Beautification artists creating gorgeous murals on the plain bathroom walls.
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At the Upper School, the unmanned aerial vehicles from “Drone Applications” were zooming around in the air while the “Tools to DIY” class’s circular saws buzzed on the ground, and iPads clicked away on camera mode for the Photography students. The students of “Unlocking Your Creative Potential” were creating hand-drawn mind maps as the “Art & Technology” students used Fusion software to design moulds and then hand-painted their creations. The “How to Find the Job You Want” class was never found on campus as they visited organizations across the region, the “Hydroponics and the Food We Eat” class hurried to build an entire hydroponics lab in less than three weeks, and the “Life Hacks” class enjoyed some relaxing crocheting and home cooking. All of that might sound exhausting, but in fact it covers less than half of the activity happening on campus throughout the J-Term. During the final symposium, in which the classes got to show off what they had done throughout the semester, R-MA Dean of Instructional Leadership and Innovation Dr. Tess Hegedus said, “The reason why we decided to do J-Term was because we wanted our students to take a deep dive and have an experiential, wonderful, adventurous experience where growth is possible. We wanted them to be able to build
Innovation and Creativity
mastery skills and get them ready for the future [through] career and life skills training, [and] ways to be successful holistically, beyond what we learn every day in the classroom.” That goal was certainly accomplished. As demonstrated at the Upper School morning symposium and the Middle School afternoon displays, the students developed new skills and delved deeper into passions that sparked their creativity. It helped them see themselves in a new light. Several teachers noted that students who weren’t typically leaders in the classroom were stepping up and that the free style of learning enabled students to play to their strengths. “I think that’s the neat thing, that there are different areas in which kids are going to flourish,” said Assistant Athletic Director Brandy Hudson, who co-taught the hydroponics class. She described how one student loved to use the power tools, while two others liked to figure out how to initially set something up, another liked to move forward with those plans, and yet another enjoyed coming in and problem-solving when the set-up didn’t work quite right. All of them were able to learn from each other while feeling valued for their contributions to the project. The students appreciated both the overall change of pace and immersing themselves into something new. In addition to J-Term classes being strictly project-based, there was no homework unless projects were incomplete. “I feel like it was a nice ease back into the school year after the nice long winter break,” said Camryn Camarata FS’20. She described J-Term as the opportunity to “learn something that you wouldn’t normally learn in the school year and learn something that you’re passionate about.” “I personally loved J-Term. I think it was a great experience,” said Talin Goodden ‘22. “The classes I chose were for the sole purpose of preparing for my future. I think all kids our age deserve and should learn the life skills needed to survive successfully.” While the inaugural J-Term at R-MA was an obvious success, it was just the beginning. Dean Hegedus hopes it will become a time when students delve into subject areas even more deeply, take international excursions, and obtain internships to explore possible careers. J-Term 2020 has laid the groundwork for that vision, with the help of sponsors Harry ‘75 and Mary Ellen Austin, the R-MA Alumni Association, the R-MA Parents’ Association, and Blauch Brothers Incorporated. It will only get more exciting from here.
The Middle School Primitive Survival class learned about building fires, shelters, basic first aid, and other survival skills.
Mr. D’s School of Rock developed three bands that performed during the final few days of J-Term.
The students in the Middle School International Exposure class frequently enjoyed new cultural experiences--including a lot of food!
For a list of all 10 Middle School J-Term courses, visit RMA.edu/j-term-middle-school. View the 17 Upper School J-Term courses of 2020 at RMA.edu/j-term-upper-school.
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THE AGE OF
DRONES
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
Home to a flight program that has taught teenagers to fly since 1985, Randolph-Macon Academy added drones to the curriculum with an “Unmanned Flight Operations” class in 2017. Now, with the hiring of Brian J. Kelly in November, the Academy will be taking the drone program to a level no other high school in the country can claim. A pioneer in the field of drones, Mr. Kelly is the founder and CEO of National Drone Services. He is also an awardwinning television executive producer, writer, and director. Having been on board at R-MA for only a few weeks, he has already laid the groundwork for a drone program that will impact not just the Academy and the students, but the local
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community as well. The purpose of the developing drone program is to train students on the skills, platforms, and technologies needed for them to be successful in a variety of career paths that involve the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The drone industry is growing rapidly, with nearly 100,000 jobs expected to be added within the next five years. Through experiential and classroom learning and real-world projects, R-MA graduates will be uniquely poised to take advantage of this rapidly emerging market. The overall program will focus on five career pathways: Engineering and Construction, Agriculture, Aerial Cinematography (for television and film), Energy and Infrastructure Management, and Emergency Response Management. Students will accomplish the FAA certification (a.k.a. Part 107) while gaining hands-on experience flying drones. “The FAA drone certification process is currently only a knowledge test and does not require students to have any experience actually flying drones,” said Mr. Kelly. “As a result,
Alex Tendler ‘21 prepares a drone to conduct a survey of a local bird population at the nearby Smithsonian Biology Conservation Institute.
Brian Kelly explains to the students what the drone camera is showing (see the photo at the top of page for an example).
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The Power of Intellect
there is a tremendous need for drone pilots who have operational experience.” The R-MA program includes drone aircraft that are capable of capturing thermal imagery, rendering point cloud 3D models and conducting multispectral scanning of plant health life. They can be used to search and rescue, manage construction projects, conduct biological research and even manage crops. Mr. Kelly has already reached out to a number of organizations in the region to discuss forming community partnerships where students will have the opportunity to work on actual projects while gaining valuable hands-on experience. Interest in the R-MA program has been immediate. On The R-MA students enrolled in the Drone Applications J-Term class conducted a roof inspection of a facility owned by the local Economic Development Authority. December 11th, as part of an agreement with the Warren County Economic Development Authority, property could mean hundreds of jobs for the local Mr. Kelly and new EDA Executive Director, Doug Parsons, community. brought a team of students to a local commercial property “This program represents a unique opportunity for that the EDA is hoping to sell. The R-MA team was tasked R-MA students,” said Mr. Kelly. “They are gaining experience with conducting an aerial roof inspection and survey of the working with ‘clients,’ planning missions, flying missions, property. EDA is currently courting several firms considering collecting imagery, and providing actionable data that clients relocating to Front Royal. The sale of the multi-use commercial can and will use. With this type of experience, students can obtain summer jobs, enhance college prospects, or head directly into the (post high school) workforce. I am not aware of any other high school in the U.S. that is operating a drone program at this level.” Mr. Kelly ran a successful three-week course during the Academy’s J-Term. He will continue to develop curriculum and community partnerships over the next few months. A summer drone course will be offered, and a full range of drone classes will be available for the 2020-21 academic year.
The Power of Innovation
J-Term Class Produces Hydroponics Lab
Students from “Hydroponics and the Food We Eat” explain the different systems to R-MA President Brig Gen David Wesley, USAF, Retired. The system on the left is a Dutch Bucket System used to grow strawberries.
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications
On Thursday, January 23, 2020, R-MA introduced its new hydroponics lab to the community. The lab features five different kinds of hydroponic systems, all of which have been built by students taking the “Hydroponics and the Food We Eat” J-Term (January Term) class. Each system was built with materials purchased at Lowes or on Amazon--such as gutters, plastic containers, hoses, boards and lights--developing systems the students can later recreate for themselves at home. “We’ve been kind of hands-off,” commented Lynette Lane, the R-MA science teacher who led the project. “Sometimes I have to show them very specific steps or techniques, but then they have to figure out how to get it done. It’s been really great. Students have stepped up to do things that have really surprised me.” The lab includes various systems, such as a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), which will allow the students to harvest lettuce weekly. A deep water culture (DWC) is a non-circulating
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water system in which the students grow basil, chard, and other greens. The students grow microgreens in a bottom watered, coco coir system. The R-MA lab’s Dutch buckets contain strawberries and peppers. The final system that the students built is a flood and drain one, used for seedling propagation. An earthworm composting process has also been created; this will make use of any leftover organic matter from the lab systems. In early May, earthworm castings will be removed from this system to be used as nutrient-dense fertilizer for spring plantings. “I think it’s so important for kids to see where food comes from, because most of them just don’t know,” said Ms. Lane. “And a lot of these students come to R-MA from countries where growing food is problematic, because they don’t have land, they don’t have water. They can take this back. It uses 95% less water than conventional methods of agriculture.” The hydroponics intramural and the Environmental Science and Biology classes continued to grow the plants during the spring semester, until the COVID-19 pandemic moved the school to an online learning environment. The lab will start again in the fall, and run through the school year, providing leafy greens and microgreens for the community. In fact, in late January, Ms. Lane obtained permission to build two more NFT systems so that the Hydroponics Lab can supply the R-MA dining hall with fresh lettuce every week.
Th e Po w e r o f
GIVING
The Annual Fund: Building Strong Academic Programs by Christine Meyer, Director of Advancement Moving to the Forefront
New programs and fresh spaces greeted R-MA cadets in the fall as the Betty and David Moore ’53 Enterprise and Leadership Lab, a resource center for collaborative learning, opened its doors in October. The first semester of 2020 also saw the inaugural run of an innovative program called January-Term, or J-Term. This three-week intensive program gave R-MA students the opportunity to dive deep into subjects of their choice outside of standard curriculum, with classes like Drone Applications, Building Winning Arguments in School and Life, Multimedia Content Creation, and more. (See related story, page 18.) Even the move to virtual classes in March (page 4) was made possible by the community’s move to a 1:1 computing nearly two years ago. What do these initiatives have in common? They were made possible by our donors – alumni, parents and community partners. “By giving to the Annual Fund, you are building the strongest academic programs possible,” said Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired. “You are helping us lift R-MA’s exciting academic endeavors to even greater heights.” “As we face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, your support is critically important to maintaining our academic programs,” he added. “The community can help by participating in Giving Day 2020, set for April 21, using the enclosed envelope to support a program at R-MA, or giving online at www.rma.edu/gift.” “The value-centered education that the young men and women receive at Randolph-Macon Academy makes a lasting difference in their lives,” Wesley continued. “It is not possible without your support.”
After studying hard, students need some downtime! Thanks to Mary Ellen and Harry Austin ’75, the girls’ dorm lounge received a makeover this past fall. The girls were excited, as demonstrated by the fact that they immediately posted photos to their social media accounts with exclamations and heart emojis!
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The Po w e r o f
SERVICE
R-MA Students Take on 50 Yard Challenge
R-MA Students Serving Others
by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications On Tuesday, January 21st, Rodney Smith, Jr. of Raising Men Lawn Care Service arrived at Randolph-Macon Academy after traveling up the East Coast from Huntsville, AL. Mr. Smith was invited and hosted by R-MA parent Cheryl Williams, who had been inspired by his story. “After doing some research, I too was inspired by his commitment to give back to others,” said R-MA Middle School Principal Tony Ballard, who introduced Mr. Smith to the students. “Community service and giving back are a big part of what we value here at R-MA, so I hope that hearing his story will motivate you to do more in your community.” Mr. Smith gave a brief bio of his life to start. He was originally from Bermuda, and later attended a boarding school in upstate New York. He started ITT Tech, but disliked Mr. Rodney Smith shares his touching story with the R-MA students. being in Florida by himself. He returned home and considered becoming a police officer. Finally, his father told him to go to Huntsville, AL, to be with family. He was there for 10 years, completing his associate’s degree and working on his bachelor’s degree. “In my senior year, I came across this elderly man outside mowing his lawn. It looked like he was struggling, so I pulled over to help him,” he said. “At that moment, I decided I would start mowing lawns for free for the elderly, disabled, single parents and veterans in Huntsville, AL. That one small act of kindness would change my life forever.” On July 25, 2015, Mr. Smith posted what he had done and what he wanted to do onto his Facebook account and offered up his services. He had a goal of mowing 40 lawns by the end of winter; a month and a half later, he had already hit his goal. He upped his goal to 100, which he hit two months later. People were quick to get involved. When he went to purchase a lawn mower for $100, he shared his story, and the man gave him the lawn mower for free. Mr. Smith then came up with the idea for Raising Men Lawn Care Service, through which he hoped to inspire kids ages 7-17 to mow lawns and give back to their communities. The organization was officially founded in January 2016.
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Two dozen R-MA students accepted the 50 Yard Challenge issued at the end of Rodney Smith’s speech.
As his story spread, Mr. Smith was contacted by teenagers who wanted to participate, and the idea for the 50 Yard Challenge was born. “The 50 Yard Challenge is a challenge that we have issued to kids nationwide and even worldwide to mow 50 yards [for] free in their community for the elderly, disabled, single parents and veterans.” When children sign up, they receive a white “Raising Men” or “Raising Women” shirt, shades, and ear protection. For every ten yards they mow, rake, or even snow shovel, they receive another T-shirt, each a different color. Getting children and teens to complete the 50 Yard Challenge is still rare enough that when a student completes it, Mr. Smith drives to them and presents them with their black T-shirt as well as a brand-new lawn mower, weedeater, and blower. More than 600 kids have completed the 50 Yard Challenge. Mr. Smith has completed five tours of all 50 states and hopes to take an international tour soon. His tours have each had a different focus: he took one with Spider-Man, visiting hospitals to bring cheer to terminally ill children; for another he dressed as Santa and brought blankets and goods to those in need. His fifth tour honored veterans. His sixth was the “cop tour,” which encouraged police officers to mow lawns in their communities and build relationships. Mr. Smith has even dressed in pink, painted his mower pink, and mowed lawns to help raise funds for the fight against breast cancer. After his presentation, 24 R-MA students stood up and accepted the 50 Yard Challenge, a number which brought a big smile to Mr. Smith’s face. To top it off, he met a child from the local community who had already accepted his challenge and came to the presentation just to meet him. It was indeed an inspiring afternoon for all--even for the presenter.
T h e Po w er o f
GRIT
Your Yellow Jacket Sports Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team Defies the Odds
The Power of Perseverance
Congratulations to the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team for finishing their season as the runners-up in the Delaney Athletic Conference! This was especially impressive as the girls played the entire season without their star player, Margaret Acquaah ‘20 (holding basketball in photo) and also lost another top player, Kaitlyn Morgan (#40), at the start of the DAC Tournament, due to an ankle injury. The Yellow Jackets pulled together, persevered, and made it all the way to the championship game. GO JACKETS!
DAC & All-State Honors The following students earned honors in the Delaney Athletic Conference:
Girls’ Varsity Volleyball 2nd Team: Caitlin Broderick ’20
Boys’ Varsity Soccer 1st Team: J.J. Banek-Gabelle ’21 2nd Team: Ethan Corlett ’21
Girls’ Varsity Cross Country 1st Team: Samantha Bai ’23
Boys’ Varsity Basketball Honorable Mention: Jaylen McLeod ‘21
Girls’ Varsity Basketball
Varsity Wrestling
1st Team: Kaitlyn Morgan ’23 1st Team: Taylor Wreath ’20 2nd Team: Quinlin Bruhn ’21 Honorable Mention: Virginia Waddell ’20
Varsity Swimming 1st Team: Jacob Gehly ’20 1st Team: Tyler Stanford ’20 2nd Team: Ethan Park ’22 2nd Team: Tire Bayo-Adeyemo ’20 2nd Team: Reilly Schweigert-Opas ’20 2nd Team: Josiah Herring ’20
While wrestling does not participate in a conference, several wrestlers achieved All-State honors, including: J.J. Banek-Gabelle ’21, 182 lbs. James Ross ’20, 170 lbs. AJ Sullivan ’20, 138 lbs.
Go Jackets! The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
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R i se
Beyond
Class Notes
Alumni News & Class Notes Have news to share with your classmates and the Academy? Email it to alumni@ rma.edu for inclusion in the monthly enewsletter, The Dome Dispatch, and the next issue of The Sabre.
1980s
Thank you to Elizabeth and Cary Savage ‘72, hosts of the annual Hampton Roads Summer Picnic, and thanks to Betty and Dave Moore ‘53 for organizing this annual event. Alumni and spouses in attendance were: Angelica and Henry Light ‘58; Lew Jones ‘59; Iris and Jay Selden ‘60; Rose and Nick Ryder ‘65; David Lawrence ‘70; Glynn Williams ‘75; Bryan Moore ‘84; John Sellers ‘87; and R-MA Commandant Lt. Col. Mike Starling ‘88, USMC, Retired.
Leroy Weeks ‘88 has been promoted to
1950s Henry Erck ‘52 attended a gathering following the tragic crash of the B-17 Flying Fortress “Nine-O-Nine” on Wednesday, October 2. Henry volunteers as an area coordinator with the Collings Foundation, which sponsored the flight as part of their Wings of Freedom tour.
1960s James Holzier ‘65 has retired from his career in the high technology industry after creating Fibro Plus in 2014. (Fibro Plus is a product designed to help those suffering from fibromyalgia.) He has been married for over 50 years and has three children and five grandchildren.
Charles Collins ‘66 has returned from his travels through China and shared that he had made some friends atop the Great Wall. (Photo at right.)
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The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
After 33 years of federal service, Anthony Hill ‘82 has retired from Customs and Border Protection. He looks forward to spending his free time fishing.
Director of the Baltimore National Case Assistance Center for the Social Security Administration.
1990s Col. Dave Novy, USAF ‘92 shared that
1970s D. Alan Christopher ‘75 received his doctorate in business with a concentration in marketing from Northcentral University in July 2019. (Pictured above.)
after more than a year in the Middle East commanding the 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group, he returned to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Honolulu, HI, where he serves as Chief of the Civil Engineer Division.
Tamara Parker ‘93 led the effort to
Vince Thibodeau ‘09 has joined the
install an ISS-Above (a device that tracks the orbit of the International Space Station around the Earth, provides information about where in the sky to look for it, and streams live video of space walks) at St. Barnabas Episcopal School in Deland, FL, where she works as a computer teacher.
coaching staff of the men’s basketball University of Maryland football team as a team at Southwest Mississippi linebacker. Community College as an assistant coach. Parker Overstreet ‘17 shared that after earning his commercial pilot’s license earlier this year, he has earned his Colin Byrd ‘10 was elected Mayor of certification as a flight instructor. Greenbelt, MD. At 27, he is the youngest person ever to hold that position.
Tanyi Makia ‘17 made the 2019
2010s
CAMPUS VISITORS
Seung Su Lee ‘10 graduated with an MD It is always good to welcome alumni back
Larissa (Woloshyn) ‘00 and Mike Hansen celebrated the birth of their son, Nicholas George Hansen, on October 31.
from Medical College of Georgia and has begun a neurology residency at Augusta University Hospital.
to “The Hill.” Recently, several Yellow Jackets visited and checked in with the Advancement Office:
Kyle Lewis ‘05 and his wife Kristen
Ryan Ochoa ‘12 shared that he has
Allan Delaney ‘53 visited the new Betty
welcomed their daughter, Charlotte Rose Lewis, on July 3, 2019.
completed US Navy flight school and is headed to San Diego, CA, to fly MH-60s.
and David Moore ‘53 Enterprise and Leadership Lab with his wife, Alice.
Lt Daniel Blue, USN, ‘06 shared that
Ben Pederson ‘13 married Campbell
Ron Bargatze ‘69 visited as part of his
he has earned his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is now living in Hawaii.
McCord on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at the Farm Retreat at Willow Creek.
49th wedding anniversary road trip.
Ashley (Machado) Fullmer ‘06 and her husband Justin welcomed their daughter, Madison Jane Kuilima Fullmer, on September 27, 2019.
Carl Bevis ‘72 came by with his two Malik Cochran ‘15 is now serving
brothers during a visit to family in town.
as a police officer with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.
Doug Glass ‘70 enjoyed a walk around campus.
Ben Hester ‘16 reports that he will be
commissioning as a US Army Armor officer in the spring of 2020, following Yuliya Orlova ‘06 reported that she will his graduation from The Citadel: The marry Stephen Severo on July 4, 2020. Military College of South Carolina.
Geoff Ashton ‘88, his wife, Miriam, and sons, Horatio and Noah, stopped by campus during a trip to the Washington DC area.
Alice Barlow ‘09 and her team at Team Barlow Performance Horses, LLC recently won 11 World Grand Champion and 11 Reserve Grand Champion ribbons at the Gypsy & Drum World Championship show in Perry, GA.
Christopher Keshishian ‘09 married Jennifer Saag at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, AL, on June 29, 2019.
Members of the Class of 1953 visit with Kaitlyn Morgan ‘23 during the Homecoming Alumni Luncheon.
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Class Notes
2000s
Robert Johnson ’96 checked in and
Tony Hayes ‘04 visited with his wife,
Allen Arriola ‘18 checked in and
took a tour of campus for the first time since Homecoming 2016.
Jessica, and their two children.
shared that he is studying political science and flight technology and operations at Bowling Green University.
Capt. Joseph Mitchell, USAF ‘04 SFC Tony Drake, USA, ‘01 visited
Class Notes
campus to speak to this year’s Cadre and share his experiences and perspective from R-MA and beyond, focusing on the meaning and importance of leadership. Tony has served 15 years in the Army with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
returned in the midst of a road trip with family.
Victoria Voellm ‘18 and Krys Phung ‘18 stopped by during winter break; both are attending UC San Diego.
Emma Faust ‘19, Nathan Sylvia ‘19, Rana Diallo ‘19, Nate Stewart ‘19, and Grayson Galeone ‘18 visited the Hill to speak to current R-MA students about their experiences at Virginia Military Institute.
The Final Roll Call Since the last issue of The Sabre, we have received notification that the following members of the R-MA family have passed away. They are greatly missed, but they will remain in our hearts forever. (Note: Notifications received after February 5, 2020 are not included in this list.)
Alumni
John R. Wertz ‘55
Michael H. Dubin ‘03
September 3, 2019
September 28, 2019
January 12, 2019
William G. Thomas ‘57
Mason J. Bandy ‘11
Jarvis S. Springstead ‘41
Former R-MA Trustee January 23, 2020
September 28, 2019
Charles R. Amory ‘59
October 4, 2019
William H. Sager ‘37
August 6, 2018
James C. Marshall ‘45 August 5, 1997
Mark Perrier ‘46 January 23, 2019
Crawford “Pete” Easterling ‘47 October 19, 2019
John W. Kellam ‘48 September 11, 2019
Joseph M. Carson ‘49 September 9, 2019
Webb R. Davis ‘50 Former R-MA Trustee September 21, 2019
Stephen H. Detwiler ‘61
Friends of R-MA
September 30, 2017
Suzanne M. Broyhill
Richard W. Dodd ‘61
Former R-MA Trustee January 2, 2020
December 12, 2019
Douglas L. Jones ‘64 September 16, 2019
George R. Brander ‘65 November 2016
H. Wise Kelly ‘66 June 12, 2019
Bruce B. Blum ‘70
Scott Powell Cooper Former R-MA Employee July 7, 2019
Robert L. Johnson R-MA Employee August 12, 2019
Eunice Knight
Alumni Board Trustee Emeritus December 19, 2019
Douglas L. Lancaster ‘70 December 29, 2016
Former R-MA Employee and author of Randolph-Macon Academy, A Proud Heritage: A Promising Future December 7, 2019
Clyde W. Matthews ‘54
E.W. Schafer ‘70
Fran Sneath
July 15, 2019
October 11, 2019
Battle M. Robertson ‘54
James F. Adams ‘86
Former R-MA Employee September 8, 2018
Byron C. Gayle, Jr. ‘50
February 23, 2019
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August 2, 2019
Vito A. Valenzuela ‘15
The Sabre Magazine | Winter-Spring 2020
October 16, 2018
September 25, 2019
Support The Power of Rise at RMA.edu/gift.
The Sabre
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