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Stories in this issue:
- Early spring blossoms continue to brighten the campus
- Krispy Kreme helps with a tasty fund raiser
- One of those Fork Union moments...
- Orienteering Team takes 2nd Place in National Meet
- Phonathon surpasses goal
- Amazon Smile helps raise money for the Academy
- Admissions Office to begin East Coast Road Trip
- News from the Guidance Office
Early spring blossoms continue to brighten the campus
Right on schedule, following the pretty pink flowers bursting into bloom around the Veterans Memorial, Fraley Circle is next to blossom as the white flowering trees begin to show their spring colors, as well as a few other flowering trees and shrubs around the circle.
This is an indication that Spring Leave is getting closer and closer!
Spring Leave begins this Friday!
Our annual Spring Leave will begin at 12:30 PM this Friday, March 10th, and continue until cadets return to campus on the evening of Sunday, March 19th, at 7:30 PM.
Krispy Kreme helps with a tasty fund raiser
The Cooking Club held a very popular fund raiser this past week to support their club's activities, selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts to cadets and staff. The Cooking Club meets regularly with faculty advisor Mrs. Robbin Dodson to learn how to prepare some home-cooked favorites. The club was able to raise about $200 to support their activities.
One of those Fork Union moments...
Every now and then, with great regularity it seems, you come across something happening on campus at Fork Union Military Academy that reminds you that these young men are having an experience here that you won't often find in other schools around the country. This time it was during a break in the Phonathon action.
By eliminating the distractions of cell phones and video games, we are helping these young men discover a form of entertainment that is far more engaging...
...playing games with others.
Orienteering Team takes 2nd Place in National Meet
Varsity team places 9th in National Interscholastic Orienteering Championship
Orienteers from from Seattle to Boston, and Atlanta to Minnesota converged on Cooper Lake State Park near Sulphur Springs, Texas, and the Fork Union Military Academy Orienteering Team raced to a 2nd place in Sulphur Springs, TX. The Varsity team placed 9th at the National Interscholastic Orienteering Championships.
The two-day event underscored the depth of the JV team as different members of the team contributed to team points over the two-day competition. Sam Marinace led the charge, finishing with the gold medal for the best combined two-day total for the competition. Saturday’s points were also added by David Muench, who placed 2nd, and Zach Williams, who placed 7th on Day One. Day Two saw freshman, Brennan Stone, and sophomore, David Middleton pick up the slack in muddy, rain soaked conditions, to keep the team on the award podium.
Competing was not the only thing the team did in the whirlwind four-day trip to Texas. The team was able to do some sightseeing around the Dallas area, and received a tour of the Institute for Creation Research, observing current scientific research being accomplished. They also sandwiched several hours of study time at the Sulphur Springs Public Library around an afternoon of practice on Friday to prepare for upcoming exams, and they also got a chance to sample some of the various culinary delights that Texas had to offer.
The team also had a unique opportunity on Saturday evening to listen to former Olympic gold medalist Sir Peter Snell speak about training tips for competing in endurance running events. Sir Snell competed for New Zealand in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics, winning three gold medals and is still the only male runner to win the 800 and 1500 meters race in the same Olympic games (1964) since 1920.
Phonathon surpasses goal
Cadets from Fork Union Military Academy spent eight evenings calling over 2,000 alumni, family, and friends of the Academy to raise funds for the school. The group started off with a goal to raise $120,000 and by the time they hung up their phones from the final calls, they had raised a total of $131,025.72.
A big thank you to our dedication phonathon cadets: Blake Chiovaro, Timothy Cooper, Abduar Dasher, Liam Finch, Jared Giszack, Michael Head, Andrew Hill, Maurice Khoury, Kirko Kirkov, Walker Lander, Drew Leydig, Robel Lulseged, David Muench, Thailan Pay, Franklin Wallace, Julian Yescas, and Benjamin Zhu.
Amazon Smile helps raise money for the Academy
Those who wish to support the Academy can do so at no extra cost to themselves by purchasing books and items from Amazon through the Amazon Smile program. The Amazon Smile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.
How do I change my charity to Fork Union Military Academy?
To change your charitable organization:
- Sign in to smile.amazon.com on your web browser
- Go to "Your Account" from the navigation at the top of any page, and then select the option to "Change your Charity"
- Look for and select "Fork Union Military Academy" to support us
Other ways to help the Academy...
Due to aging vehicles in our transportation fleet, the Academy currently does not have a minivan or full size vehicle available to transport cadets. Whether it's to or from the airport, small group/club trips, college visits or local volunteer opportunities, our cadets utilize these vehicles every weekend and even most week days!
We currently only have a vehicle this size in use by the Infirmary. This minivan is utilized for the daily medical appointments of our Corp of Cadets. The Infirmary van was purchased by the Parents Association in conjunction with an alumnus during the 2013-2014 school year. While the Parents Association would love to once again provide a vehicle for campus with money collected from PA registration fees, it is not within our budget to purchase a vehicle at this time.
The transportation department is requesting donation of a working, well maintained, good condition, 6+ passenger vehicle. They are looking for a vehicle no more than five years old with a clear vehicle history report. After all this is for the most precious cargo of all, your sons!
Donating a vehicle not only directly fills this immediate need on campus, but is also a tax deductible donation. Please contact Shannon Higginbotham in our Development Office, shannonh@fuma.org, for more information.
Admissions Office to begin East Coast Road Trip
Representatives from our admissions office will soon be hitting the road searching for new cadets to enroll for the summer and coming fall enrollment season.
Will they be coming near you?
Be sure to encourage your friends and neighbors to come to a nearby admissions event and see about helping their son gain a top-notch college preparatory education at one of the nation's best boarding schools.
News from the Guidance Office
The coming months are a very busy time in the Guidance Department as we gear up to begin the process of course selections for next year. The guidance staff will be meeting with each cadet in the coming weeks to review transcripts, to discuss and select tentative courses for next year, and to discuss plans of study moving forward to eventual high school graduation. COL Feathers will be meeting with his assigned cadets, those in grades 7-9. COL DeVault will be meeting with his 10th and 11th graders, and Ms. Payne will be assisting these two to make sure that an individual conference is held with every cadet. Toward the end of the year, we will be sending home completed course selection forms for parents to review.
On February 17th, LTC John DeVault traveled with a number of our cadets on a “College Road Trip” to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond. Our cadets enjoyed a session with an admissions representative to learn more about the University prior to taking a tour of the school. The tour ended with dinner at one of VCU’s dining facilities. The Guidance Department is in the process of scheduling at least three more “College Road Trips” before the end of the year.
Parents and cadets are reminded that we will be offering the ACT just one more time, Saturday, April 8th. The deadline for registering for this date is this Friday, March 3rd. The SAT will be administered just one more time, as well, on Saturday, May 6th. Registration for this test date ends on April 7th. ACT prep classes have already started; SAT prep classes will begin after spring break.
Credits:
Photos by: COL Al Williamson, Kate Pendergrass, RADM Burhoe, & Charles Thomas