Official Publication of Riverside Military Academy SUMMER 2022
Raiders Celebrate
1
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
Strip of pics to go here
T
here is a reason the Raiders continue to win – camaraderie. Raiders work together all week long in grueling practices. As we sharpen our skills and increase our strength, we also create a bond with each other. When it’s time to compete, we share a take-no-prisoners mindset.
A Cadet's Perspective Our last event of the competition was the Physical Team Test, where competitors sprint with water jugs and ammo cans. One of our teammates forgot a water jug, which could have resulted in a penalty and a loss. Because our coach, SgtMaj Sosa, has always trained us to improvise, adapt, and overcome, cadet Christian Dawson, who executed for the team, ran back, grabbed the water jug, and carried it out to the end securing the win for the Raiders!
This year, our team’s chemistry was like none other. Everyone knew each other well, what pressed each other’s buttons, and our strengths. When we arrived in Molena, Georgia, to compete in the National Competition, we hit the ground running, scouting │o│u│t│e│v│e│n│t│s│a│n│d│s│t│r│a│t│e│g│i│z│i│n│g│t│h│r│o│u│g│h│d│iœ│e│r│e│n│t │ behalf of the team, I want to thank the parents On obstacles. The A-Team watched and learned from and coaches, MSG Croft and SgtMaj Sosa, for the B-Team during their competitions. We learned supporting us and leading us to the title again. from their experiences and made decisions as to C/CSM Andrew Presten, pictured right w│ h │ a │ t │ w│ e│ w│ o │ u │ l │ d │ d │ o │ d │ i │ œ│er │ e│ n │ t │ l │ y│ .│
SUMMER 2022
2
WE STA N D
Focused Commited Engaged DEAR RMA FAMILY, │I│n│p│a│r│t│n│e│r│s│h│i│p│w│i│t│h│c│a│d│e│t│s│,p│a│r│e│n│t│s│,a│l│u│m│n│i│,f│a│c│u│l│t│y│,a│n│d│s│t│aœ│,│ this year has been about regaining momentum following two years of a global pandemic, with an intentional focus on enhancing both the cadet experience and the value of the │R│i│v│e│r│s│i│d│e│e│d│u│c│a│t│i│o│n│.
Progress IN A TRA N S ITIO N Y E A R SPORTS are back! After two years without many of our sports │p│r│o│g│r│a│m│s│,ß│v│e│c│a│d│e│t│a│t│h│l│e│t│e│s│w│e│r│e│r│e│c│o│g│n│i│z│e│d│a│s│A│l│l│-R│e│g│i│o│n│ │o│r│A│l│l│t -S │a│t│e│i│n│f│o│o│t│b│a│l│l│T. │h│e│C│r│o│s│s│C│o│u│n│t│r│y│t│e│a│m│q│u│a│l│iß│e│d│f│o│r│ │s│t│a│t│e│w│i│t│h│o│n│e│r│u│n│n│e│r│ß│n│i│s│h│i│n│g│i│n│t│h│e│t│o│p│20.F│o│u│r│g│e│n│e│r│o│u│s│ alumni stepped in to fully fund the wrestling season in which │t│h│r│e│e│w│r│e│s│t│l│e│r│s│q│u│a│l│iß│e│d│f│o│r│s│e│c│t│i│o│n│a│l│s│;│t│h│e│t│e│n│n│i│s│t│e│a│m│w│o│n│ │t│h│e│r│e│g│i│o│n│a│n│d│a│d│v│a│n│c│e│d│t│o│t│h│e│t│h│i│r│d│r│o│u│n│d│o│f│s│t│a│t│e│p│l│a│y│oœ│s│;│ │t│h│e│s│o│c│c│e│r│t│e│a│m│q│u│a│l│iß│e│d│f│o│r│s│t│a│t│e│;│a│n│d│t│h│e│t│r│a│c│k│s│e│a│s│o│n│ culminated with one cadet as region champion in discus as │t│h│e│t│e│a│m│a│d│v│a│n│c│e│d│t│o│s│t│a│t│e│s│e│c│t│i│o│n│a│l│s│i│n│f│o│u│r│e│v│e│n│t│s│. │ JROTC experienced success with the Raiders winning their sixth national championship and the Drill team competing in t │ h │ e│ s │ t │ a │ t │ e│ q │ u │ a │ l │ i │ ß│er │ ;│ w│ h │ i │ l │ e│ h │ i │ g │ h │ l │ i │ g │ h │ t │ FINE s │ o │ f│ t │ ARTS h │ e│ │ program were showcased as the Band played in Washington, D.C., on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and ENN again received n │ a │ t │ i │ o │ n │ a │ l │ r │ e│ c │ o │ g │ n │ i │ t │ i │ o │ n │ a │ n │ d │ a │ c │ c │ o │ l │ a │ d │ e│ s │ .│
BOARD OF TRUSTEES BG(R) Daniel J. Kaufman, Chairman Mr. Anthony M. Herdener, Vice Chairman & Treasurer Mr. John W. Jacobs III, Secretary Mr. Foster W. Bachschmidt, ’06 Dr. Brian T. Baldwin, ’96 Ruben A. Barahona, Esq., ’89 Mrs. Jerry B. Blackstock Maj Gen(R) Mark Brown Mr. J. Jette Campbell, ’65
4 3
REVEILLE A| Publication Riverside Military of Riverside Academy Military Academy
Members of the Board of Trustees are volunteers who serve without compensation or reimbursement of any expenses.
The ACADEMIC accomplishments of the graduating class
TABLE OF CONTENTS
resulted in more than $1.4 million in academic scholarships, $351,000 in ROTC scholarships, and two service academy
Raiders Celebrate Sweet Victory............................................1
appointments – not bad for a transition year.
President’s Letter.................................................................................... 3
Every division of the Academy is focused on the cadet
Inspections.................................................................................................... 5
experience per the Five-Year Strategic Plan. To this end,
Cyber Security...........................................................................................6
I│ p │ e│ r │ s │ o │ n │ a │ l │ l │ y│ m │ e│ t │ w│ i │ t │ h │ t │ h │ e│ B│ a │ t │ t │ a │ l │ i │ o │ n │ C│ o │ m │ m │ a │ n │ d │ e│ r │ a │ n │ d │ h │ i │ s │ s │ t │ a │ œ│ on a regular basis, and a Student Senate was established to
Commencement 2022...................................................................... 7
│r│e│p│r│e│s│e│n│t│t│h│e│v│o│i│c│e│o│f│t│h│e│C│o│r│p│s│o│n│q│u│a│l│i│t│y│o│f│l│i│f│e│i│s│s│u│e│s│.
Middle School Experiences Growth...................................9
From the experience in the barracks to the classroom, on and
Success on the Track and in Life.......................................... 11
│oœ││t│h│e│ß│e│l│d│,R│M│A│oœ│e│r│s│e│x│c│i│t│i│n│g│o│p│p│o│r│t│u│n│i│t│i│e│s│f│o│r│e│v│e│r│y│c│a│d│e│t│.
Riverside Athletics Return to GISA......................................13
My commitment is to provide an engaging cadet experience that provides the best possible Riverside education while
Athletics Strategic Plan Finalized........................................14
Alumni Inspired Wrestling Season.......................15 │a│t│t│r│a│c│t│i│n│g│a│n│d│r│e│t│a│i│n│i│n│g│t│h│e│ß│n│e│s│t│s│t│u│d│e│n│t│s│d│o│m│e│s│t│i│c│a│l│l│y│a│n│d2021 │ │a│b│r│o│a│d│. │ │
Cadet Ambassador Program................................................... 16
Our Board of Trustees shares this commitment and is
Youth for Youth Rwanda................................................................17
│m│a│k│i│n│g│a│s│i│g│n│iß│c│a│n│t│i│n│v│e│s│t│m│e│n│t│i│n│a│d│d│i│t│i│o│n│a│l│r│e│s│o│u│r│c│e│s│f│o│r│ SBELA.............................................................................................................. 19 the upcoming academic year. These additions come directly from your feedback. We are working very hard and making
Passing the Gavel.................................................................................21
positive strides, but we are not yet done. I invite you to stay
A Choice Well Made......................................................................... 23
the course and become engaged in our continued journey.│
Homecoming 2021.............................................................................25
W│ i │ t │ h │ r │ e│ s │ p │ e│ c │ t │ a │ n │ d │ g │ r │ a │ t │ i │ t │ u │ d │ e│ f│ o │ r │ y│ o │ u │ r │ t │ r │ u │ s │ t │ i │ n │ o │ u │ r │ t │ i │ r │ e│ l │ e│ s │ s │ e│ œ│or │ t │ s │ ,│ Class Notes................................................................................................ 27 I remain -
Cadets Experience Joy Serving Others........................29 Final Taps.....................................................................................................30 Civil Air Patrol Coming This Fall..............................................31
│C│o│l│o│n│e│l│(R│t )S │a│n│l│e│y│C│.‚││t S │aI„││P│r│e│c│z│e│w│s│k│i│,U│.SA│.,P│h│.D│. │P│r│e│s│i│d│e│n│t│ │s│c│p│@│r│i│v│e│r│s│i│d│e│m│i│l│i│t│a│r│y│.c│o│m│ │ │c 4872(6- │e│l│l│)
EMERITI Mr. Felix A. Gonzalez Canto, ’86
Miss Lucile E. Beaver †
Mr. William B. Carr, Jr.
Mr. Paul A. Gross, ’56
Mr. Counte L. Cooley
Mr. Frederick J. Kennedy, ’64
Mr. C. Brian Daniel
Mr. O. Jon McRae, Jr.
Mr. Bernard M. Freeman, ’58
Mr. Richard M. Nichols
Mr. Drew W. Horner, ’78 Mr. Ernest T. Lopez III, ’84 D│ r │ L│. J│ . e│ œ│re│ y│ P│ a │ y│ n │ e│ Jonathan A. Pope, Esq. Dr. William E. Russell, Sr. Mr. James R. Van Arsdale, ’79
Save the Date!
October 14-15, 2022
RIVERSIDE MILITARY HOMECOMING
HONORARY MEMBERS │M│r│J. │e│r│r│y│B│.B│l│a│c│k│s│t│o│c│k¶││, 6│2,
‘22
(Posthumous) Mr. P. Alexander Fraser Mr. Howard A. Kalmenson, ’49 Ira J. Middleberg, Esq., ’66
Come
Home!
│A│b│r│a│h│a│m│A│.M│i│t│c│h│e│l│l│,E│s│q¶││., 5│2 †: Deceased
SUMMER 2022
4
I
nspections are a critical part of cadet life conducted routinely to ensure beds are made correctly, shoes are │p│o│s│i│t│i│o│n│e│d│p│r│e│c│i│s│e│l│y│,o│o│r│s│a│r│e│c│l│e│a│n│e│d│t│h│o│r│o│u│g│h│l│y│,
and laundry is folded neatly – to name a few standards. Weekly, points are calculated, winners are announced, and companies cheer with great excitement. Each semester, the company with the most points overall wins the coveted title of Honor Company. This school year, Headquarters Company gained the Honor Company title during fall semester, while Delta Company, consisting mostly of new cadets, secured it for the spring semester following a strong showing in the President’s Inspection.
IN SPECTION S The President’s Inspection is a traditional Saturday
event held in the spring when the President personally inspects rooms, uniforms, and compliance with │g│r│o│o│m│i│n│g│s│t│a│n│d│a│r│d│s│.D│e│l│t│a│C│o│m│p│a│n│y¶│s│2L│T│A│r│m│a│n│d│ La Douceur explains, “The only way to win is to expand our strengths and improve upon our weaknesses.” While the inspection is intense, the relief is apparent once the President completes his review. The winners are announced soon thereafter, and this year, for the ß│r│s│t│t│i│m│e│i│n│h│i│s│t│o│r│y│,Sc│o│u│t│C│o│m│p│a│n│y│,c│o│n│s│i│s│t│i│n│g│o│f│s│i│x│t│h│ │t│h│r│o│u│g│h│e│i│g│h│t│h│g│r│a│d│e│r│s│,t│o│o│k│ß│r│s│t│p│l│a│c│e│.
5
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
CYBE R│ S │ E│ C │ U │ R │ I │ T │ Y
T
A NEW PROGRAM FOR THE TECH-SAVVY
he Academy was pleased to enhance the
│i│s│a│l│s│o│o│n│e│o│f│250s│t│u│d│e│n│t│s│n│a│t│i│o│n│w│i│d│e│w│h│o│w│a│s│a│w│a│r│d│e│d│
cadet experience last year through the addition
│t│h│e│A 20 │m│a│z│o│n│F│u│t│u│r│e│E│n│g│i│n│e│e│r│Sc│h│o│l│a│r│s│h│i│p│a│n│d│a│p│a│i│d│
of a Cyber Security program. Like the existing
summer internship at Amazon after his freshman year,
Aerospace Engineering and Service Academy Prep
where he will gain hands-on, practical work experience
programs, the Cyber Security program will help attract
with mentorship from Amazon leaders.
and retain top cadet talent. Riverside’s newest signature program is already producing
“I hadn’t received any communication from Amazon regarding my submission, so I was surprised to see
│i│m│p│r│e│s│s│i│v│e│r│e│s│u│l│t│s│f│o│r│c│a│d│e│t│s│a│s│t│w│o│o│f│i│t│s│ß│r│s│t│g│r│a C│o│d│n│u│g│a│r│t│a│e│t s│u│, │l│a│t│i│o│n│s│!¶││w│h│e│n│I│o│p│e│n│e│d│a│p│a│c│k│a│g│e„││, │s│a│i│d│ Joshua Yoon, ’22 and Tomis Hamilton, ’22, are destined
Hamilton. He believes this opportunity to intern at one
│f│o│r│t│h│e│U│n│i│t│e│d│t S │a│t│e│s│C│o│a│s│t│G│u│a│r│d│A│c│a│d│e│m│y│a│n│d│t│h│e│
of the most innovative companies on the planet
│U│n│i│t│e│d│t S │a│t│e│s│A│i│r│F│o│r│c│e│A│c│a│d│e│m│y│,r│e│s│p│e│c│t│i│v│e│l│y│.H│a│m│i│l│t│o│n│ positions him far ahead of his peers.
“ We are one of the few, if not the only, Cyber Security certificate-granting high schools in the state of Georgia. Through partnerships with EC-Council, an international council of e-commerce consultants, and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), we offer Department of Defense-approved certifications in Security+, CEH, CySa+, and PenTest+.” Nathan Booker, Cyber Security instructor SUMMER 2022
6
C O M M E N C E M E N T
O
│n│Sa│t│u│r│d│a│y│,M│a│y│14t│h│,t│h│e│C│l│a│s│s│o│f│20t│o│o│k│t│h│e│i│r│l│a│s│t│ steps on the Riverside campus as cadets. Crossing the │s│t│a│g│e│,d│i│p│l│o│m│a│s│i│n│h│a│n│d│,t│h│e│y│s│t│e│p│p│e│d│oœ││t│h│e│o│t│h│e│r│ side joining the long blue line of Riverside alumni – a line that stretches through the decades and around the globe. │P│r│i│o│r│t│o│t│h│o│s│e│ß│n│a│l│s│t│e│p│s│,t│h│e│s│e│n│i│o│r│s│h│e│a│r│d│f│r│o│m│t│w│o│m│e│n│. Mr. John D. Bassett III, ’55, spoke of “self-discipline, teamwork, l │ e│ a │ d │ e│ r │ s │ h │ i │ p │ a │, n │ d │ a │ p │ o │ s │ i │ t │ i │ v │ e│ a │ t │ t │ i │ t │ u │ d │ e│ „│a │ s │ c │ r │ i │ t │ i │ c │ a │ l │ e│ l │ e│ m │ e│ n │ t │ s │ t │ o │ s │ u │ c │ c │ e│ s │ s │ ,│ while Mr. Ruben Barahona, ’21│i │, m │ p │ l │ o │ r │ e│ d │ t │ h │ e│ g │ r │ a │ d │ u │ a │ t │ e│ s │ t │ o │ ‚││ be│ t │ h │ a │ t │ g │ u │ y│ „│ who meets his responsibilities even when those around him fall short. The battalion commander, Cadet LTC Tomis Hamilton, ’22, received the Douglas MacArthur Award at a sunset parade, and, at Silver Taps, s │ e│ n │ i │ o │ r │ s │ l │ i │ s │ t │ e│ n │ e│ d │ i │ n │ t │ e│ n │ t │ l │ y│ t │ o │ t │ h │ e│ p │ l │ a │ y│ i │ n │ g │ o │ f│ ‚││ Ta │ p │ s │ „│a │ n │ d │ ‚││ Am │ a │ z│ i │ n │ g │ G│ r │ a │ c │ e│ „.│
Mr. Bassett captured the essence of a Riverside graduation in his commencement address saying, “Today is not the end of a cycle, nor t │ h │ e│ b │ e│ g │ i │ n │ n │ i │ n │ g │ o │ f│ a │ n │ e│ w│ o │ n │ e│ [│ .│ ] │ Y │o │ u │ s │ e│ n │ i │ o │ r │ s │ d │ o │ n │ o │ t │ l │ e│ a │ v │ e│ R│ i │ v │ e│ r │ s │ i │ d │ e│ t │ o │ d │ a │ y│ .│ Y │ o │ u │ o │ n │ l │ y│ c │ h │ a │ n │ g │ e│ y│ o │ u │ r │ r │ e│ l │ a │ t │ i │ o │ n │ s │ h │ i │ p │ t │ o │ i │ t │ R│. i │ v │ e│ r │ s │ i │ d │ e│ i │ s │ n │ o │ w│ p │ a │ r │ t │ o │ f│ y│ o │ u │ │, a │ n │ d │ a │, s │ t │ h │ e│ y│ e│ a │ r │ s │ m │ a │ r │ c │ h │ o │ n │ y│ ,│ o │ u │ w│ i │ l │ l │ r │ e│ a │ l │ i │ z│ e│ w│ h │ a │ t │ a │ n │ i │ m │ p │ o │ r │ t │ a │ n │ t │ p │ a │ r │ t │ i │ t │ i │ s │ „.│
8 7
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
SUMMER SUMMER2022 2022 8 9
T
he addition of sixth graders in the fall of
According to Academic Dean Dr. Cathy Moore,
│w201 │a│s│u│n│d│e│r│t│a│k│e│n│w│i│t│h│t│h│e│i│n│t│e│n│t│i│o│n│o│f│
Project Based Learning will be enhanced next year
│oœ│e│r│i│n│g│a│c│o│m│p│l│e│t│e│a│n│d│u│n│iß│e│d│m│i│d│d│l│e│
through the addition of upgraded “smart” projectors
│s│c│h│o│o│l│e│x│p│e│r│i│e│n│c│e│.F│o│r│t│h│e│ß│r│s│t│t│i│m│e│i│n│
in middle school classrooms. Dr. Moore also looks
m │ a │ n │ y│ y│ e│ a │ r │ s │ a │, q │ u │ a │ l │ i │ ß│ed │ s │ t │ u │ d │ e│ n │ t │ w│ h │ o │ h │ a │ d │ s │ u │ c │ c │ e│ s │ s │ f│ u │ l │ l │ y│ │
forward to the introduction of Projects Across
c │ o │ m │ p │ l │ e│ t │ e│ d │ t │ h │ e│ ß││ ft │ h │ g │ r │ a │ d │ e│ c │ o │ u │ l │ d │ l │ e│ a │ v │ e│ h │ i │ s │ e│ l │ e│ m │ e│ n │ t │ a │ r │ y│ │
the Curriculum in which students will bring
school and immediately enroll at the Academy as a
multiple academic disciplines to bear on a problem.
sixth grader. Previously, these students would have
For example, students might rely on Math, Science,
had to begin middle school elsewhere and then
English, Spanish, and Art as they consider how they
transfer to the Academy as a seventh grader, making
would design a world-class aquarium, stock it with
Riverside their third school in three years.
compatible specimens, and market it to a bilingual
The recent expansion of the middle grades has allowed f│ a │ c │ u │ l │ t │ y│ a │ n │ d │ s │ t │ a │ œ│t │ o │ c │ r │ e│ a │ t │ carefully e│ a │ │ tailored environment
│c│o│m│m│u│n│i│t│y│.A│ß│e│l│d│t│r│i│p│t│o│t│h│e│G│e│o│r│g│i│a│A│q│u│a│r│i│u│m│ i│n│ Atlanta would no doubt aid in this investigation.
to better meet the developmental needs of these
As excited as they are by these enhancements to
younger cadets. Following the construction of new
the academic program, our middle school cadets
c │ l │ a │ s │ s │ r │ o │ o │ m │ s │ o │ n │ t │ h │ e│ t │ h │ i │ r │ d │ o │ o │ r │ o │ f│ T│ h │ e│ a │S n │ d │ y│ B│ e│ a │ v │ e│ r │ C│ e│ n │ t │ e│ r │ │
may be more excited by a change to the uniform,
for Teaching and Learning, our middle school cadets have
│t│r│a│d│i│n│g│t│h│e│i│r│k│h│a│k│i│s│f│o│r│t│h│e│m│o│r│e│t│r│a│d│i│t│i│o│n│a│l│‚│C│l│a│s│s
their own space to grow and a curriculum that leverages
trousers worn by high school cadets. Contrasting
Project Based Learning as they investigate
shirt colors will allow middle school
and respond to authentic, engaging, and
cadets to continue to stand out
complex questions. For example, Mrs. Heather
within the Corps even as the more
Melchior’s eighth grade Physical Science
cadet-like uniform gives them a
classes recently completed an investigation
greater sense of belonging and of
of various states of matter using a hands-on
their place in the long blue line.
experiment relative to crystal formation.
Middle School Experiences... When asked about the project on states of matter, cadets were excited to share their thoughts. Cadet Lloyd Perryman shared...
I learned that supersaturated solutions are very unstable. They contain more solute, i.e., sugar, than can stay in solution, so, as the water evaporates, the crystals form.
9
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
12 11 10 9 8 7
High School
Middle School
6
RMA middle school now includes 6th grade
SUMMER 2022
10
INNOVATION
G
raduating senior Hamdy Ismail’s life before attending Riverside was what he considers normal. A straight “A” student in middle school, Ismail competed in track and basketball and earned a red-black belt in Taekwondo, but his life really blossomed when he started attending Riverside.
The son of a single Ethiopian immigrant mother, Ismail, credits the discipline and support he has received at Riverside with not only his academic success but also his triumphs on the track, where he continued competing his freshman year, specializing in the 800 meter 20th out of 206 runners in the cross-country state championship. Ismail credits the self-discipline he learned to the Academy and his many achievements to his teachers and coaches – notably and once I heard she had been a Division I athlete, I knew this was the opportunity of my high school career to be coached by someone with her background, and, thankfully, she agreed,” Ismail said.
on the Track...
“He wanted so badly to have someone believe in him and guide him to success, so I stepped up,” said Melchior. “He became more than a student; he became like a son.” Ismail was focused on both academics and
17:53.02
athletics. His favorite subject is Biology, and he wants to be a pre-med major in college with hopes of becoming a general internist.
...Ismail ran a time of 17 minutes, 5 3 seconds in the 5K, a 14 second lead, to claim first place in the Class A-4A
11
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
division of the Atlanta Classic.
INNOVATION
Ismail has some advice for students enrolling at Riverside: “Make the best that you can from this school
and be di erent from others
...and in Life
Ismail is glad he attended Riverside I“ accomplished so much here, and that would not have happened at a public school,” he said Ibrahim
agreed
is mother
Raneia
Sending him to
RMA is the best investment I have ever made
“ Sending Hamdy to RMA is the best investment I have ever made.” Raneia Ibrahim, Ismail's mother
The future is bright for this young alumnus SUMMER 2022
12
he beginning of 2022 was an exciting time for RMA Athletics as the school announced a return to the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) at t │ h │ e│ e│ n │ d │ o │ f│ t │ h │ e│ a │ 2 - 1│2 0 c │ a │ d │ e│ m │ i │ c │ y│ e│ a │ r │ G│ . I│ A │ A │ i │ s │ a │ n │ a │ n │ c │ i │ l │ l │ a │ r │ y│ │ division of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) that provides opportunities for athletic competitions encouraging the overall academic, spiritual, social, and physical development of each student-athlete. The Academy’s move to GIAA was precipitated by changes to the Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) bylaws that widened a competitive disadvantage for independent schools by implementing a multiplier of 3.0 for every student enrolled in independent schools. This multiplier │u│n│f│a│i│r│l│y│i│n│a│t│e│d│e│n│r│o│l│l│m│e│n│t│n│u│m│b│e│r│s│ causing many independent schools │t│o│ p│l│a│y│ i│n│c│l│a│s│s│iß│c│a│t│i│o│n│s│ t│w│o│ t│o│ three times higher than they would have based on actual enrollment numbers. In addition, │G│H│A S ¶│s│r│e│c│l│a│s│s│iß│c│a│t│i│o│n│o│f│a│l│l│ member schools created
14 13
RiversideMilitary MilitaryAcademy Academy REVEILLE | Riverside
logistical concerns for travel as region opponents became more distant. Lastly, GIAA’s rules for international students are more favorable in that they allow for immediate athletic eligibility. Many will recall that RMA enjoyed several successful years, i │ n │ c │ l │ u │ d │ i │ n │ g │ m │ u │ l │ t │ i │ p │ l │ e│ c │ h │ a │ m │ p │ i │ o │ n │ s │ h │ i │ p │ s │ i │, n │ G│ I│ A │S u │ n │ t │ i │ l │ w│ 80 │2 h │ e│ n │ │ travel became a concern as our teams began to commute longer distances for games. The new region alignment in GIAA includes nearby opponents and natural rivalries with Lakeview Academy, George Walton Academy, Loganville Christian Academy, and Bethlehem Christian Academy. "We are very excited about the transition back to GISA/GIAA and look forward to opportunities for growth in all our sports programs from the middle school to the varsity level, allowing competition against peer schools while upholding the mission, vision, and core values of the Academy," said Athletic Director Mark DeFoor.
iverside Military Academy, in partnership with Collegiate Sports Associates (CSA), recently finalized a 5-year strategic plan for athletics. From the beginning, the process was grounded in the Academy’s current strategic plan, mission, vision, and core values. Ultimately, the Athletics Strategic Plan will serve as a roadmap for performance expectations and assessment, student-athlete development, competitiveness, improved retention, graduation rates, and leadership development. The process began with a context analysis to fully understand the circumstances in which our sports teams compete. Included in the analysis was a stakeholder survey distributed to 680 students, student-athletes, coaches, faculty, Academy leadership, alumni, donors, parents, and fans. In addition, personal interviews and focus groups were facilitated with more than 55 individuals. Finally, Riverside and CSA partnered with the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS) to compare the Academy with peer schools with regard to relevant variables such as staffing, budgets, sport offerings, sports participation, and enrollment.
support the Academy’s mission in areas such as the cadet experience, enrollment, retention, and community engagement. Dr. Brad Bates, of CSA, along with Riverside’s Steering Committee, coordinated and facilitated working groups throughout the process to develop an athletics mission and vision statement, define core values, and identify priority areas vital to the future of the Academy’s athletic programs. Three priority areas were identified: 1. Student-athlete experience
2. Leveraged enrollment management 3. Athletics resources and facilities Once the Steering Committee approved the priority areas, another key work group identified objectives that best serve the priority areas. The group also devised strategies to support the objectives and created action items necessary to implement the strategies. A strategic plan matrix was created to organize the plan as well as document quantitative metrics that will ensure action items are completed on time, strategies are fully implemented, and all objectives are met. The matrix is the blueprint that will drive the plan for the next five years, helping to ensure the strength of the athletic program for the cadets it serves.
One major aspect of the charge for CSA was to ensure there was sufficient data analysis to inform the identification of a varsity sports model that will best
SUMMER 2022
15 14
alumni inspired 2021
WRESTLING SEASON
A
fter a year away from competition due to the COVID pandemic, Head Wrestling Coach Brian Baize, ’07, and the wrestling team made their return to the mat in
January. Rebuilding is never an easy feat, yet even with a young team and some who had never wrestled previously, three individual wrestlers advanced to state sectionals this year.
“We are very grateful to Art Canales, ’81, Christian Eiroa, ’89, Andy Zager, ’88, and an anonymous alumnus donor for their generous contributions to make this season possible.” Mark DeFoor, Athletic Director Coach Baize, ’07 said, “I would like to extend a deep and heartfelt thank you to those alumni responsible for funding this year’s wrestling program. One of my earliest and fondest memories while at RMA was joining the wrestling team under Coach Bisso’s tutelage. He created an environment that fostered dedication, accountability, and excellence. Donors have made it possible for a similar environment to │b│e│c│r│e│a│t│e│d│f│o│r│o│u│r│c│u│r│r│e│n│t│c│a│d│e│t│s„│.
The RMA Brotherhood is strong! In addition to being there for each other, thank you for your ongoing support of THE Academy’s mission and current Cadets, tomorrow’s Brothers in Blue. 15
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
Cadet Ambassador Program Fosters
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
T
he best way to tell the RMA story
enjoyed giving tours to families and
panels during recruitment events,and
is through our cadets, and the best
s │ h │ a │ r │ i │ n │ g │ w│ h │ a │ t │ R│ M│ A │ h │ a │ s │ d │ o │ n │ e│ f│ o │ r │ m │ e│ „.│
serve in various capacities at RMA-
way to develop leaders is through
e│ x│ p │ e│ r │ i │ e│ n │ c │ e│ T│ .│ h │ e│ A │ d │ m │ i │ s │ s │ i │ o │ n │ s │ O│ c │ e│ l │ , e│ d │ b │ y│ Vice President of Enrollment Management
Cadet Ambassadors lead guided tours, participate in question-and-answer
hosted community events, all of which fosters leadership, communication, and personal development.
Tee Mitchell, designed the Cadet Ambassador Program to accomplish these goals. Through this new program, selected cadets communicate the mission and culture of RMA, promote RMA pride, and encourage lifelong engagement with the Academy. T│ h │ i │ s │ s │ p │ r │ i │ n │ g │ c │ 2 3 ,│ a │ d │ e│ t │ s │ w│ e│ r │ e│ c │ h │ o │ s │ e│ n │ a │ s │ │ inaugural cadet ambassadors, including recent graduate Christian Jones, who said, “As an ambassador, I have expanded my speaking abilities by sharing what │R│M│A│h│a│s│t│o│oœ│e│r│s│t│u│d│e│n│t│s│.I│h│a│v│e│
SUMMER 2022
16
eeing great potential in their son, Loic Rwagasana’s parents decided to invest in his future by sending him from Kigali, Rwanda, to Riverside Military Academy R│( M│ A │ i │) n │ A │ . 9 1│0 2 l │ t │ h │ o │ u │ g │ h │ t │ h │ e│ i │ r │ p │ r │ i │ m │ a │ r │ y│ g │ o │ a │ l │ │ was for their son to develop independence, they have no doubt been pleased to see him develop in other ways as well. Rising through the ranks to command Delta Company in his senior year, Rwagasana gained invaluable experience leading his peers even as he built lasting relationships and an unmatched camaraderie with his classmates.
YO U T H
FOR
YO U T H
Growing up in Rwanda, Rwagasana
As Rwagasana and his friend delivered masks to the schools,
witnessed economic inequalities, which
they saw additional needs. Many parents lost jobs during the
sparked in him a strong desire to help
│p│a│n│d│e│m│i│c│m│a│k│i│n│g│t│u│i│t│i│o│n│p│a│y│m│e│n│t│s│d│i│c│u│l│t│,i│f│n│o│t│i│m│p│o│s│s│i│b│l│e│.
others. When he returned to his home
They also found that many students did not have access to
country during the winter furlough of
online learning during that time. So began their second
│20,h│e│a│n│d│a│f│r│i│e│n│d│b│e│g│a│n│a│n│o│n│p│r│oß│t│ called Youth for Youth Rwanda││(Y│Y│R│).
│n│o│n│p│r│oß│t│i│n│i│t│i│a│t│i│v│e│w, │h│i│c│h│t│h│e│yYouth │c│a│l│l│efor │d│ Education. The
Through this new charitable venture, they reached out to
nonprofit’s first initiative was to provide
donors and raised an impressive 1.3 million Rwandan francs
masks to school-aged children, because
(around 1,300 US dollars), which covered school costs for
they noticed that many students either did
20 students. After they presented the gifts, Rwagasana said,
│n│o│t│h│a│v│e│m│a│s│k│s│o│r│w│o│r│e│d│i│r│t│y│m│a│s│k│s│.U│s│i│n│g│ an online system, they quickly raised the funds necessary to address this need.
“ This evening was heartwarming, especially after calling the school director and the students to tell them the good news. It was one of the most impactful moments of our lives.” │W│h│e│n│a│s│k│e│d│a│b│o│u│t│t│h│e│d│i│c│u│l│t│i│e│s│o│f│l│e│a│d│i│n│g│a│n│eœ│e│c│t│i│v│e│ │n│o│n│-p│r│oß│t│o│r│g│a│n│i│z│a│t│i│o│n│i│n│R│w│a│n│d│a│w│h│i│l│e│s│t│u│d│y│i│n│g│i│n│t│h│e│U│n│i│t│e│d│ States, Rwagasana said, “While I am at school, the distance is not │a│n│i│s│s│u│e│w│i│t│h│m│e│b│e│i│n│g│p│a│r│t│o│f│t│h│e│Y│Y│R│m│i│s│s│i│o│n│.I│e│n│j│o│y│b│e│i│n│g│t│h│e│ │i│d│e│a│g│u│y│,a│n│d│I│d│o│n│o│t│n│e│e│d│t│h│e│l│i│m│e│l│i│g│h│t│t│o│k│n│o│w│t│h│e│i│m│p│a│c│t„││.
17
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
Rwagasana and his friend continue to dream of a future that includes helping others. Their ultimate goals are to represent their country’s youth, support those in less fortunate situations, and develop a community of young people who care for each other. As for the future, Rwagasana indicated that he and his friend are committed to passing the responsibility for this nonprofit on to others saying, “I am proud to see that so many young people in Rwanda are willing to be a part of the change, become the change, and inspire the change.”
SUMMER 2022
18
SBEL A A
Sandy Beaver Entrepreneurial Leadership Award fter an 18-month hiatus from social gatherings during the global
pandemic, the local community turned out in droves to honor
Carol H. Burrell at the re-scheduled
7th Annual Sandy Beaver Entrepreneurial Leadership Award Dinner in February.
Burrell, who grew up just outside of Winder, Georgia, moved back to northeast Georgia from J│ a │ c │ k │ s │ o │ n │ v │ i │ l │ l │ e│ F │, l │ o │ r │ i │ d │ a │ y│ 32│, e│ a │ r │ s │ a │ g │ o │ t │ o │ a │ s │ s │ i │ s │ t │ │ Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) with its primary care network. She was quickly promoted t │ o │ v │ i │ c │ e│ p │ r │ e│ s │ i │ d │ e│ n │ t │ a │ n │ d │ c │ h │ i │ e│ f│ o │ p │ e│ r │ a │ t │ i │ n │ g │ o │ c │ e│ r │ i │ n │ │ a │ , 4 0 2│ n │ d │ t │ h │ e│ n │ p │ r │ e│ s │ i │ d │ e│ n │ t │ a │ n │ d │ C│ E│ O│ i │ n │ h │S .1 0│2 e│ │ has been driven by NGHS’ mission to improve the health of the community in northeast Georgia and by her own mantra to be better tomorrow than t │ o │ d │ a │ y│ U│. n │ d │ e│ r │ h │ e│ r │ l │ e│ a │ d │ e│ r │ s │ h │ i │ p │ N│, G│ H│ h │S a │ s │ e│ n │ j │ o │ y│ e│ d │ │ unparalleled success with both state and national recognition as well as growth from an organization w│ i │ t │ h │ o │ n │ e│ h │ o │ s │ p │ i │ t │ a │ l │ t │ o │ n │ o │ w│ f│ o │ u │ r │ ;│ e│0 ,3│ m │ p │ l │ o │ y│ e│ e│ s │ t │ o │ │ m │ o │ r │ e│ t │ h │ a │ n │ ;│0 ,9│ a │ n │ d │ m │ 0 4 3 $│ i │ l │ l │ i │ o │ n │ i │ n │ g │ r │ o │ s │ s │ │ revenues to $3.4 billion.
“The impact of her entrepreneurial leadership and vision for northeast Georgia cannot be overstated. Leading an organization during a pandemic is hard enough for any CEO. Leading a hospital system during an unprecedented world-wide and seemingly unending pandemic is exponentially more difficult – some say even impossible. Carol has made the impossible possible.” 19
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
COL(R) Staś Preczewski
Jere
│U│n│d│e│r│B│u│r│r│e│l│l¶│s│l│e│a│d│e│r│s│h│i│p│a│t│N│G│H│S,t│h│e│a│g│s│h│i│p│ hospital Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville, has been recognized as
Georgia’s #1 Heart Hospital││f│o│r│12c│o│n│s│e│c│u│t│i│v│e│ emiah Riley, ‘26 years, Georgia’s #1 Hospital, and a Top 10 Hospital in the Nation, according to CareChex. Accomplishments include NGMC’s trauma care d │ e│ s │ i │ g │ n │ a │ t │ i │ o │ n │ i │ n │ t │ , 4 1 0│2 h │ e│ c │ o │ n │ s │ t │ r │ u │ c │ t │ i │ o │ n │ a │ n │ d │ o │ p │ e│ n │ i │ n │ g │ │ │o│f│N│G│M│C│B│r│a│s│e│l│t│o│n│i│n│2015,t│h│e│a│c│q│u│i│s│i│t│i│o│n│o│f│ │N│G│M│C│B│a│r│r│o│w│i│n│,t 7201 │h│e│o│p│e│n│i│n│g│o│f│N│G│M│C│
Proceeds and donations from the annual event help provide tuition assistance to families with demonstrated financial need. Last year, these generous funds made it possible for 53 deserving young men to attend RMA.
│L│u│m│p│k│i│n│i│n│2019,a│n│d│n│o│w│,a│$54m│i│l│l│i│o│n│p│a│t│i│e│n│t│ tower expansion on the NGMC Gainesville campus.
“As much as I appreciate and value this honor, it’s not about me; it’s about this entire medical community. So, I accept this on behalf of those that are making such a difference and have demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and strength, especially over the past two years.” Carol Burrell. The event also included a memorial tribute to previous honorees Frank Norton, Sr., James A. Walters, Jack E. Frost, and special committee advisor Jackie Allred Cooley, all who │m│a│d│e│s│u│b│s│t│a│n│t│i│a│l│c│o│n│t│r│i│b│u│t│i│o│n│s│t│o│t│h│e│l│o│c│a│l│c│o│m│m│u│n│i│t│y│a│n│d│s│a│d│l│y│p│a│s│s│e│d│a│w│a│y│i│n│201.
Opposite top: Carol Burrell pictured with her family (L to R: Alie Chesrown and Lee Burrell, Steve Burrell, Bradee and Drew Aderholt) Opposite center: Carol Burrell congratulated by RMA President Staś Preczewski and Battalion Commander Tomis Hamilton
SUMMER 2022
20
Passing The Gavel A LU M N I C O U N C I L C H A I R M A N
E N G A G E
t
he tradition of passing the gavel to a new Alumni Council Chairman was observed at the Council’s meeting on │A│p│r│i│l│A 2. │f│t│e│r│t│h│r│e│e│a│n│d│a│h│a│l│f│y│e│a│r│s│
of leading the Alumni Council, representing the RMA Alumni Association, and serving on RMA’s Board of Trustees, John B. McKernan II, ’88, welcomed Bryan Baldwin, ’96, to the role.
“ Good leaders strive to leave things even better than they found them. There is no doubt that John used the opportunity to build on the platform established by his predecessors and increased alumni engagement during his tenure.” RMA President Staś Preczewski
Accomplishments under McKernan’s leadership a │ s │ A │ l │ u │ m │ n │ i │ C│ o │ u │ n │ c │ i │ l │ C│ h │ a │ i │ r │ m │ a │ n │ f│ r │ o │ m │ O│ c │ t │ o │ b │ e│ r │ t │ 8 1 0 2│ o │ │
A │ p │ r │ i │ l │i │2 0 │ n │ c │ l │ u │ d │ e│ a │ l │ u │ m │ n │ i │ i │- n │ s │ p │ i │ r │ e│ d │ i │ n │ i │ t │ i │ a │ t │ i │ v │ e│ s │ s │, u │ c │ h │ as signature academic programs in Aerospace Engineering and Cyber Security and fundraising for a │ t │ r │ i │ b │ u │ t │ e│ d │ i │ s │ p │ l │ a │ y│ h │ o │ n │ o │ r │ i │ n │ g │ ‚││ Ma │ m │ a │ „│a │ n │ d │ C│ o │ a │ c │ h │ E│ r │ r │ o │ l │ │ Bisso for over 55 years of service to RMA. McKernan
ALUMNI 21
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
E N T
also furthered alumni engagement through the formation of an A │ l │ u │ m │ n │ i │ ‚││ PT│ „│G│ r │ o │ u │ p │ ,│ support for the new Athletic Club,
participation in the Summer Leadership Academy, the implementation of a Distinguished Alumni Pinning Ceremony, permanent recognition of former Alumni Council chairmen through a display
i │ n │ t │ h │ e│ O│ c │ e│ f│ o │ r │ A │ d │ v │ a │ n │ c │ e│ m │ e│ n │ t │ s │, t │ r │ a │ t │ e│ g │ i │ c │ a │ d │ d │ i │ t │ i │ o │ n │ s │ │ to the Alumni Council, and bylaws revisions to align with RMA’s Five-Year Strategic Plan.
When asked about his RMA experience and why he chose to reconnect with the Academy
he drafted the following letter...
Dear Dad ,
16 February 0 2 2
This might just be the Sunday night letter that you always hoped you would get. When you sent me to Riverside, was it a decision that you knew was right? Or, was it born out of desperation? Perhaps it was the best that you could do with the options available to you at the time. Either way, I doubt that you saw it as the long-term investment in my success that the look-back now clearly shows it to be for me and so many of my fellow River Rats whose parents made the same unknowing investment. Collectively, as parents, you should all be very, very proud of the you made in trusting an institution with your sons’ educations and character development that gave all of us who marched those grounds so much more than just a diploma. You gave us a chance to carry forward the tools required in a successful life. In so doing, you also gifted us the opportunity to begin the journey that forged each of us into an Alumni Brotherhood that remains as tight today as ever. M/Sgts Larry Beauchamp and Max Bennett not to mention the value of keeping my big mouth shut (which, as you know, I still struggle with). Truth is, they gave me the two keys that have opened every door I’ve walked through since. Beauchamp always thank those around me because nothing in this world is achieved alone. I wish I’d been able to meaningfully thank them before they passed, but the look-back took me a while to appreciate. Dad, my time as Chairman is coming to an end and I’m grateful to have stepped into the breach. It was clear that my term would coincide with Coach & Mama Bisso leaving Riverside after a lifetime of dedicated service, but unintentionally, I stumbled into the one way that I could say thank you to them and to Larry and Max. I could stand next to everyone doing their level best to preserve the ongoing sustainability of Riverside and help strengthen the Alumni Brotherhood. Realizing this, I poured my heart and soul into honoring their legacies and the institution that they, too, loved. As with all things, time will tell if we’ve been successful or not, but the work has been done. It never ceases to amaze me how many of the guys you still ask about. What should shock you is how often we still see, talk and hang out with each other 30+ years later. We’ve collectively seen each other through the inevitable ups and downs of life. The bonds we forged at Riverside are truly lasting and are more important today than I could have ever imagined. n U knowingly, you gave me that. Thank you barely scratches the surface, but it is a start. Other than investing my time in the current cadets, the thing I am most proud of, if not in complete awe of, is seeing how many within the Brotherhood are actively seeking opportunities to meaningfully say thank you to Riverside and being there so stalwartly for their Brothers In Blue. It’s been a blast cheering them on as they found their niches in giving back their time, talents and fortunes impacts of their successes. I know that I have honored the dedication and commitment of the Council Chairmen that preceded me. Like me, they too, must be proud of what the Council has accomplished during my term and I hope they recognize how their legacies are entwined with our continued success . Like my predecessors, I steadfastly believe it takes a strong Riverside and strong Brotherhood to not just sustain the two, but to have both thrive. My only regret is wishing we had created further opportunities to help just one more alumnus grab hold of this belief and act on it. Consequently, as the new team takes the helm of the Alumni Council, I’ve left them with the very important job of bringing more alumni back home . This task is one that they are ready and willing to undertake. Dad, you believed in Riverside’s promise for me when I didn’t know or care to believe in myself, let alone rely on the strength of so many others around me. Because of you, I am a Riverside Man. THIS is an honor that grows in importance every day. I will never be able to repay this debt to you, but it is one I promise that I can and will continue to pay forward. With immense gratitude , John
SUMMER 2022
22
A C H O I C E ... AT THE AGE OF 14, JASON B. AVERY, ’94, MADE A DECISION THAT WOULD CHANGE HIS LIFE FOREVER... Sports had much to do with his decision as he hoped to play at the collegiate level one day, and he understood the importance of good grades in making that dream a reality. A neighbor told him about RMA. He asked his parents to tour the campus, and the rest, as they say, is history. “I wasn’t the best student, and being away from m │ y│ f│ a │ m │ i │ l │ y│ i │ n │ a │ n │ e│ w│ a │ n │ d │ c │ o │ m │ p │ l │ e│ t │ e│ l │ y│ d │ i │ œ│er │ e│ n │ t │ │ environment that included responsibilities and accountability to a degree which I had never k │ n │ o │ w│ n │ w│ a │ s │ h │ a │ r │ d │ a │, n │ d │ I│ q │ u │ e│ s │ t │ i │ o │ n │ e│ d │ b │ e│ i │ n │ g │ t │ h │ e│ r │ e│ „│,│ Avery recalled. RMA is a 24/7 immersion program. Waking and going to bed to the sounds of "Reveille" and "Taps," learning to march for pass in review and parades, and mandatory study hours are just a few components of the RMA educational experience that make it unique and challenging. “It took some time to get acclimated, but once I did, the personal growth I experienced was amazing,” said Avery. “I wanted to return every year because of my coaches and friends. Colonel Maginnis, Coach Bisso, and Coach J│ e│ œ│er │ s │ o │ n │ e│ a │ c │ h │ h │ a │ d │ a │ k │ n │ a │ c │ k │ o │ f│ c │ a │ t │ c │ h │ i │ n │ g │ y│ o │ u │ i │ n │ │ the hall and sharing stories that were motivational and inspiring you to keep working hard. My best friends from RMA became friends for life. ‘Brothers in Blue’ became a life-long bond, 23
│n│o│t│j│u│s│t│a│n│e│x│p│r│e│s│s│i│o│n„│. REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
...
Following graduation in 1994, Avery went to West Georgia College to play football but │u│l│t│i│m│a│t│e│l│y│t│r│a│n│s│f│e│r│r│e│d│t│o│t│h│e│U│n│i│v│e│r│s│i│t│y│o│f│ North Georgia and joined the Corps of Cadets. Leadership and structure of the military was something he had come to love and chose to │p│u│r│s│u│e│i│n│t│h│e│U│n│i│t│e│d│t S │a│t│e│s│A│r│m│y│. Lieutenant Colonel Avery has lived all over the world and spent most of his military career in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, or directly supporting it. He served as Battalion Commander in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where he was responsible for organizational preparations for Wartime Readiness, Peacekeeping Missions, a │ n │ d │ N│ a │ t │ i │ o │ n │ a │ l │ L│ e│ v │ e│ l │ E│ m │ e│ r │ g │ e│ n │ c │ y│ R│ e│ s │ p │ o │ n │ s │ e│ A │ .│ f│ t │ e│ r │ 0│ 2 │ years, he retired and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to begin his professional, civilian career with Bank of America (BOA) in global technology as a human resources consultant supporting executives with daily operations. “I don’t believe that I would be where I am today if I hadn’t enrolled at RMA at age 14 and walked into Delta Company. The motivation to learn, the self-discipline, and the leadership lessons are things I’ve taken with me throughout my personal and professional life. I’ll never forget │m│y│ß│r│s│t│t│i│m│e│a│s│a│l│e│a│d│e│r│,r│e│a│l│i│z│i│n│g│t│h│a│t│I│w│a│s│ responsible for taking care of others – there is no better feeling. At RMA, I learned how to suceed."
WELL MADE SUMMER 2022
24
1 Barbara & Errol Bisso, ’61, crowned by alumni as our 2021 Mardi Gras Queen & King
2
Sue & Mac McLendon, ’58 (right), posed for a photo with Tracy Cocquyt-McKernan & Jeff Dombroff, ’62.
3
│C │a│d│e│t│ß│r│s│t│s│e│r│g│e│a│n│t│s│c│a│r│e│f│u│l│l│y│i│n│s│p│e│c│t│e│d│ alumni as they participated in a knockout drill.
4
RMA │P│r│e│s│i│d│e│n│t│St│aI││P│r│e│c│z│e│w│s│k│i│ recognized ET Lopez, ’84, as our │20 1 D│i│s│t│i│n│g│u│i│s│h│e│d│A│l│u│m│n│u│s│.
1
HOMECOM 5 2
3
25
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
4
Time Marches On
MING 2021 5
C urrent members of the RMA Sports H│ a │ l │ l │ o │ f│ F │ a │ m │ e│ a │ n │ d │ s │ t │ a │ œ│g │ a │ t │ h │ e│ r │ e│ d │ t │ o │ │ w│ e│ l │ c │ o │ m │ e│ t │ h │ e│ a │0 2 │ n │ d │ i │ 1 2│0 │ n │ d │ u │ c │ t │ e│ e│ s │ :│ Cole Cramer, ’05, Ralph R. White, Jr., ’58 (posthumous inductee), Robert Noa, ’78, Diego Weiner, '09.
6
D irectly following the parade, alumni joined forces with a portion of the corps to form the "R."
7
8
7
A dozen members from the Class of 1956 celebrated their 65th reunion on campus. Among them, four, previously recognized as Distinguished Alumni, posed for a photo in Mitchell Quarters. Pictured from L-R: Seth Wagner, Greg Werd, E.J. Salcines, and John Mandt.
8
RMA Distinguished Alumni gathered at Mitchell Quarters for the inaugural Distinguished Alumnus Pinning Ceremony.
6 SUMMER 2022
26
Class Notes 1
Fernando Weiner, ’11
Following his graduation from West Point, Fernando is now attending law school at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He retired from the Army as a captain after earning his Ranger tab and receiving a Bronze Star for his
3
service in Afghanistan.
1
3 Diego Weiner, ’09 Diego is a practicing criminal defense attorney based in Miami, Florida. He p │ r │ a │ c │ t │ i │ c │ e│ s │ w│ i │ t │ h │ h │ i │ s │ f│ a │ t │ h │ e│ r │ J│ , e│ œ│W│ e│ i │ n │ e│ r │ ,│
5
│R│M│A│C│l│a│s│s│o│f│196a│n│d│208 Distinguished Alumnus. Diego was recently voted onto the Board of
2
Directors of the National Association
Max Weiner, ’13
of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is
Max, a former RMA Battalion
also a former Board member of the
Commander, is currently the pitching
Florida Association of Criminal
coordinator for the Seattle Mariners
Defense Lawyers. Weiner was
of Major League Baseball. Prior to his
inducted into the RMA Sports Hall of
work with the Mariners, Max was a
F │ a │ m │ e│ i │ n │ O│ c │ t │ o │ b │ e│ r │ .│1 2 0
minor league pitching coach with the Cleveland Indians (now the Cleveland
Bienfait was recently promoted to vice president at Global Aviation Helicopter in Norcross, Georgia. He is an engaged supporter of the RMA Aerospace Engineering Program.
6 Mason Anthony, ’19 Anthony has put the skills learned
Guardians) and founded a player
from RMA’s Eagle News Network to
development and research company
good use working as an editor and
known as “The Arm Farm."
videographer for MotorTrend’s Lokar
2
4 4 Bubba Boisfontaine, ’87 Crystal Clear Imaging (CCI) was presented the JEDCO Small Business │o│f│t│h│e│Y│e│a│r│A│w│a│r│d│i│n│D│e│c│e│m│b│e│r│o│f│ │201.B│o│i│s│f│o│n│t│a│i│n│e│i│s│t│h│e│C│E│O│a│t│C│C│I│.
27
5 David Bienfait, ’01
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
Car Show and MAVTV’s Sam’s Garage. He has also worked as a p │ r │ o │ d │ u │ c │ t │ i │ o │ n │ a │ s │ s │ i │ s │ t │ a │ n │ t │ f│ o │ r │ a │ f│ e│ a │ t │ u │ r │ e│ ß││ lm │ .│
6
7 7
10 Kwame Crawford, ’14 Crawford leads Defense & Veterans A │ œ│ai │ r │ s │ o │ u │ t │ r │ e│ a │ c │ h │ f│ o │ r │ T│ a │ m │ m │ y│ D│ u │ c │ k │ w│ o │ r │ t │ h │ ,│ U│ e│S . │ n │ a │ t │ o │ r │ f│ o │ r │ I│ l │ l │ i │ n │ o │ i │ s │ H│. e│ a │ l │ s │ o │ s │ e│ r │ v │ e│ s │ │ │a│s│d│i│s│t│r│i│c│t│s│t│aœ││l│i│a│i│s│o│n│t│o│t│h│e│Se│n│a│t│e B│ l │ a │ c │ k │ L│ e│ g │ i │ s │ l │ a │ t │ i │ v │ e│ t │S a │ œ│C│ a │ u │ c │ u │ s │ │ B│S( L│ C│S t │ ,) h │ e│ o │ l │ d │ e│ s │ t │ c │ o │ n │ g │ r │ e│ s │ s │ i │ o │ n │ a │ l │ s │ t │ a │ œ│ association on Capitol Hill, and leads o │ u │ t │ r │ e│ a │ c │ h │ t │ o │ s │ t │ a │ œ│a │ c │ r │ o │ s │ s │ d │ i │ s │ t │ r │ i │ c │ t │ o │ c │ e│ s │ .│
7 Jarrod Casteel, ’06 Casteel was recently promoted to Vice President, Legal Counsel at Everytable.
8 Tersoo Uhaa, ’08
11
11 James Drake, ’99
(second from left)
Drake competed in Season 14 of
│U│h│a│a│,a│s│s│i│s│t│a│n│t│s│t│r│e│n│g│t│h│a│n│d│ │c│o│n│d│i│t│i│o│n│i│n│g│c│o│a│c│h│f│o│r│t│h│e│U│n│i│v│e│r│s│i│t│y│ of Georgia football program, helped │t│h│e│t│e│a│m│w│i│n│t│h│e│201C│o│l│l│e│g│e│ Football National Championship.
10
American Ninja Warrior in San Antonio, Texas. See more photos on Instagram @jamesbryandrake.
12 Errol Bisso, ’61 After 55 years of dedication and loyal service to Riverside Military Academy, Coach Bisso retired at the end of the a │ 2 0 -│ 1 2 0 c │ a │ d │ e│ m │ i │ c │ y│ e│ a │ r │ .│
8 9 Logan Clemens, ’09 (left) Stephen Frady, ’09 (right)
Wanderseat (TikTok meets Google Flights) was launched by Clemens and Frady in both the App Store and Google Play. This innovative app rewards content creators with travel │p│o│i│n│t│s│w│h│e│n│b│o│o│k│i│n│g│a│i│g│h│t│t│h│r│o│u│g│h│
9
12
their posted content.
SUMMER 2022
28
Cadets Experience Joy Serving Others
A
s stated by the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for
o │ t │ h │ e│ r │ s │ ?│ ¶„│A │ s │ p │ a │ r │ t │ o │ f│ a │ w│ h │ o │ l │ e│ p │ e│ r │ s │ o │ n │ e│ d │ u │ c │ a │ t │ i │ o │ n │ a │ t │ │ RMA, cadets learn to do just that – help others. Through service opportunities, including a partnership with the Rotary Club of Gainesville’s Ramp Building Project, cadets become active members of their community, acquire life-skills │a│n│d│p│r│o│v│i│d│e│s│e│l│e│s│s│s│e│r│v│i│c│e│t│o│t│h│o│s│e│w│h│o│n│e│e│d│ it most. This year, several cadets participated in two ramp-building projects where they spent the weekend investing their time and talents to help others by building handicap-accessible ramps for those in need.
“ To love what you do every day is truly a blessing. I am honored to have the chance to give back to our community as well as instill the importance of giving within our cadets.” - Jamie Burkley,││D│i│r│e│c│t│o│r│o│f│t S │u│d│e│n│t│Aœ│a│i│r│s│ While the day consists of hard work, cadets also have a great time. One of the greatest outcomes of the project is big smiles on the faces of all involved – especially on the faces of young men who understand that their work helped someone else.
29 30
REVEILLE | Riverside Military Academy
BOARD OF VISITORS Mr. Gregory F. Werd, ’56, Chairman Mr. Whitney H. Owens, ’79, Vice Chairman Mr. Leslie T. Smith, ’63, Secretary Mr. Dennis M. Agnelly, ’66 Mr. Richard L. Alfonso, ’81 Mr. S. David Alphin, ’65 Mr. Arthur M. Boisfontaine, ’87 Dr. Arthur D. Canales, ’81 Mr. Conrad C. Conti, ’58 Mr. Alexander C. Deitch, ’98 Mr. Stephen W. Earhart, ’80 Mr. Christian L. Eiroa, ’89 Mr. Joseph M. Gordon, ’96 Mrs. Susan Graybeal Mr. Patrick H. Higdon, Jr., ’57 Mr. Kennedy S. Judd, ’87 Mrs. Diana Kelly Mr. Alberto Marrufo, ’87 Mr. Fredy E. Marrufo, ’90 Mr. W.L. McLendon, ’58 Mrs. Betsy Pearson LTC John H. Shirley, ’65 Mr. John C. Sipple, ’69 Mr. W. Michael Strickland Mr. Wayne E. Stringer, ’80 Mr. Samuel D. Weil III, ’66 Mr. E. David Williams, ’65 Mr. Andrew C. Zager, ’88 ALUMNI COUNCIL Dr. Bryan T. Baldwin, ’96, Chairman Mr. Zak Haque, ’01, Vice Chairman Mr. Hector J. Laya, ’89, Treasurer Mr. Dennis Agnelly, ’66 Mr. Errol J. Bisso, ’61 Mr. Richard L. Bisso, ’85 Mr. Paul M. Davila, ’93 Dr. John B. Delcambre, ’66 Mr. Zachary A. Garrett, ’11 Mr. Brian E. Greene, ’90 Mr. Jason J. Klein, ’08 Mr. Robert Lindsey, ’80 Mr. Frank Piedra, ’87 Mr. Christopher Reed, ’11 EMERITI Mr. Bobby W. Bush, Jr., ’49, Chairman Maj. Charles Cook, ’74, Chairman Mr. Ron Fenner, ’66, Chairman Mr. Bernard M. Freeman, ’68, Chairman Mr. Jay Glazer, ’64, Chairman Lt. Col. Fred Kennedy, ’64, Chairman │M│r│.D│a│n│i│e│l│‚│B│u│d„││O│a│k│e│y¶││, │5,C7 │h│a│i│r│m│a│n Judge E. J. Salcines, ’56, Chairman Mr. Sumner Cahoon, ’49 Mr. Bill Glisson, ’78 │M│r│.R│o│b│e│r│t│‚│B│o│b„││J│o│n│e│s¶││, 5│6 Mr. Paul Posner, ’56 Mr. Seth Wagner, ’56 Mr. Nizar Zakka, ’85 Members of the Board of Visitors and the Alumni Council are volunteers who serve without compensation or reimbursement of any expenses.
Final Taps
Ashley D. Pace, Jr., ’37 Ernest H. Ryder, ’│4│2 Russell A. Roden, ’44 James C. Trapnell, Jr., ’45 Carlos A. Navarro, ’46 John R. Wood, ’47 James K. Henahan, ’48 Samuel J. Tomlinson, ’48 Lee D. Walker, ’48 Clarence E. Hester, Jr., ’50 Virgil E. Porter, Jr., ’51 Austin Bernstein, ’│5│2 Manuel A. Garcia Vergne, ’│5│2 Charles A. Wethington, ’│5│2 William C. Nell, ’54 Donald M. Gilner, ’55
John N. Sloan III, ’55 Gerald M. Spencer, ’57 David J. Carter, Sr., ’58 William A. Gray, Jr., ’58 Stephan H. Snider, ’58 Robert N. Whitaker, ’58 Charles M. Cassidy, ’59 William A. Ross, ’60 Robert B. Wallace, ’60 Donald H. Buckley, ’61 James V. Peters, ’61 Stephen J. Schott, Jr., ’61 Daniel J. Flynn, ’│6│2 Thomas F. Temple, ’64 Ernest L. Redding, ’67 James A. Alderman, ’70
James S. Maggard, ’70 Edward B. Casper, ’73 Richard K. Feigenbaum, ’73 John P. Staggers, ’75 │J│eœ│r│e│y│S.M│o│r│r│i│s , ’│8│2 Bennett D. Schneider, ’│8│2 Mark A Cohen, ’86 Christopher S. Parr, ’86 Jimmy J. Lemming II, ’│9│2 Charles P. Konas, ’07 Demarlo M. Branch, ’08 Samuel C. Wardlaw, ’08 Alexander N. Parkes, ’11 Alex Postell, ’│2│5
The Academy has learned of the passing of these alumni since the 2021 Fall edition of Reveille.
Reveille magazine is a collaboration of Advancement and │M│a│r│k│e│t│i│n│g│/P│R│.E│v│e│r│y│eœ│o│r│t│i│s│m│a│d│e│t│o│e│n│s│u│r│e│a│c│c│u│r│a│c│y│. For questions, email: publicrelations@riversidemilitary.com. EDITOR IN CHIEF Britt Daniel, J.D. DESIGNER Libby LeBlanc LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Natalae La Douceur
CONTRIBUTORS Jamie Burkley Ellen DeFoor Mark DeFoor Natalae La Douceur John McKernan Tee Mitchell
James Palmer │C│O│L│(R│t )S │aI││P│r│e│c│z│e│w│s│k│i│,P│h│.D│. C/CSM Andrew Presten Valarie Reeves Jody Wilson SUMMER 2022
30 31
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE
PAID
ATHENS, GA PERMIT #11
│201R│i│v│e│r│s│i│d│e│D│r│i│v│e Gainesville, GA 30501 1-800-GO-CADET riversidemilitary.com Change Service Requested
Civil Air Patrol Coming This Fall! “ My son enjoys Aerospace Engineering at RMA, and Civil Air Patrol will give him hands-on experience.” – RMA Parent
For more information, scan this QR Code or visit...
RiversideMilitary.com/SOAR
GRADES 6-12
