Subscribe to Front & Center
Learn what's happening on the campus of Fork Union Military Academy by subscribing to Front & Center. You'll receive regular updates on the news, special events, and success stories from our Corps of Cadets, conveniently delivered to your inbox for easy viewing on your computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
Want to view past issues of the Front & Center newsletter? Find them all on our website.
Stories in this issue:
- Parent Updates
- Meet the New Teachers & Staff: Ms. Aniela Macek
- Environmental Science Field Trip to Cemetery
- Bravo Zulu Awards
- Weekend Activities
Parent Updates
All parent updates can be located on Fork Union Military Academy's website on the Parent Updates page. Click the link to view on forkunion.com!
Parents need to use the Orah Parent Portal for all leave and day pass requests
The first official Leave Weekend is next weekend, September 17-19. Please activate your account with Orah to submit the leave request!
Orah is an online software platform we use to communicate with you about leave information and travel plans, as well as other aspects of your cadet's residential life here on campus. Click the link below for information about creating your account.
Parents Weekend Tentative Schedule Information
Last week, we released information on Parents Weekend, which is scheduled for Oct. 15-18. Please follow the link below for all the information/schedule.
Do you want to schedule Senior Portraits?
It is time to schedule your sons' senior portraits! We are pleased to be able to recommend Kristin Firewicz Studios to our cadet families. Kristin is a professional photographer contracted by the Academy to take campus photos throughout the year and has been specializing in high school senior photography for 10 years. Kristin is local to Fork Union and her son attends the Academy. For more information regarding booking your son's senior session, please visit the website below for special FUMA rates:
Remember to always check the School Calendar for more information throughout the next few weeks.
Get to know new teacher, Ms. Aniela Macek!
Where did you attend college and what degrees do you have?
Princeton University. I have a Bachelors of Science and Engineering in Computer Science.
How long have you been teaching?
One year.
What made you become a teacher?
I wanted to share my passion for Math and Computer Science with the next generation.
What is your favorite thing about teaching?
I really love when I get to see students who are struggling with a problem finally “get it” and be able to solve it themselves.
What made you interested in teaching at Fork Union Military Academy?
I worked as a substitute last year, and really enjoyed working with the cadets.
What makes Fork Union special to you?
I was born and raised on this campus, and have many fond memories of playing with other faculty children outside of the dining hall.
What classes will you be teaching this year?
Algebra II, Geometry, and Computer Science.
What other responsibilities do you have at FUMA besides teaching?
I coach Robotics and help the IT department.
What is one thing the cadets would be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve owned every video game console that has come out since the Nintendo Gamecube.
Welcome to FUMA, Ms. Macek!
Environmental Science takes field trip to the Fork Union Cemetery
MAJ Bob Busk took his Environmental Science class up the road to the Fork Union Cemetery where they collected data on the cemetery's population and later collaborated on a lab experiment on survivorship. They plotted survivorship curves by age groups, connecting data points to create pre- and post-1880 survivorship curves for males and females.
Check out the glide show below:
Bravo Zulu from Col. Coggins
Every Friday the Fork Union Military Faculty and Staff meet to nominate a few who have exceeded the standards and demonstrated superlative performance. Whilst we have various awards and recognitions - a simple "Well Done!" we hope, is also appreciated. The combination of the Bravo and Zulu nautical signal flags, i.e., Bravo Zulu, also referred to as "BZ," is a naval signal, typically conveyed by flag hoist or voice radio, meaning "Well Done" with regard to actions, operations or performance.
The following are the Bravo Zulu awards for this week:
Cadet Private Logan Kreamer is a senior and a three-year cadet in Alpha Company. Cadet Kreamer is a boarding student from Hershey, Pennsylvania and member of the prep wrestling team. He had a very good week in the classroom and barracks. Cadet Kreamer has improved his leadership inside the barracks where he is an acting squad leader for 2nd platoon. He has really embodied what it takes to be a FUMA man. His leadership and influence helped Alpha Company win both commandants room inspection (CRI) and personal appearance inspection (PAI) this week. Specifically, his squad had a perfect PAI, scoring zero infractions. He has spent countless hours this week developing his squad members. He has embodied servant leadership, assisting his squad every morning with cleaning their rooms, making their beds, and sharing best practices. He has also been working very hard in the classroom and currently has high marks in US Government with CPT Chace. Bravo Zulu, Cadet Kreamer!
Cadet Second Lieutenant Charles Campbell out of Bravo Company went above and beyond this week. Campbell is a junior from Arlington, Virginia, and was walking back to the barracks when he noticed a faculty member attempting to change a tire on her vehicle. Along with Cadet Private Calieb Collazo, they took it upon themselves to ask if she needed any assistance. Cadets Campbell and Collazo were very polite and professional as they changed Ms. Schnelle’s tire. These young men took initiative and set an example for other cadets to emulate and are true servant leaders. He did the right thing. Bravo Zulu Cadet Campbell!
Cadet Private Calieb Collazo from Bravo Company went above and beyond this week. Collazo is a first-year sophomore from Glen Burnie, Maryland, and was walking back to the barracks when he noticed a faculty member attempting to change a tire on her vehicle. Along with Cadet Second Lieutenant Charles Campbell, they took it upon themselves to ask if she needed any assistance. Cadets Collazo and Campbell were very polite and professional as they changed Ms. Schnelle’s tire. These young men took initiative and set an example for other cadets to emulate and are true servant leaders. He did the right thing. Bravo Zulu Cadet Collazo!
COL Brian Bodine, Assistant Dean & Director of Science and Mathematics has truly settled into his new role over the past week as Assistant Dean. He is investing a considerable amount of extra time and effort to ensure our new faculty members make a smooth adjustment to life at FUMA, all while continuing to carry a full course load in the classroom. His commitment to excellence and dedication to our new teachers and cadets have been on full display this week. Bravo Zulu, COL Bodine!
MAJ Dave Mitchell, Middle School Instructor, has done an excellent job restoring the beauty of our campus, assisting in the construction of our new Press Box, and he will be taking 10 young men to the UVA football game this weekend – all after teaching middle school students each day! His mentorship and guidance of these young men facilitate a successful transition to the lifestyle at Fork Union. MAJ Mitchell is a blessing and is literally building the future of our Academy. Bravo Zulu, MAJ Mitchell!
Coming up this weekend for cadets!
Friday:
- Movie Theater Showing: The Sandlot - 1900
Saturday:
- Pool Tournament (Social Center) -- 1400-1630
- Cooking with Mrs. Montero-Sharpe (Hatcher Hall Kitchen) -- 1330-1530
- Backyard Games (Social Center Lawn) -- 1330 to 1630
- Open Library -- 1300-1700
- Open Chain Lab -- 1230-1730
- Open Weight Room (Estes Center) -- 1400-1600
- Movie Theater Showing: Billy Madison -- 1400
- Movie Theater Showing: Happy Gilmore -- 1900
Sunday:
- Pool Tournament (Social Center) -- 1400-1630
- Tie Dye with Mrs. Jones (Pruitt Lake Pavilion) -- 1200-1400
- Backyard Games (Social Center Lawn) -- 1400-1630
- Movie Theater Showing: Glory Road -- 1400
- Open Weight Room (Estes Center) -- 1400-1600
Credits:
Kristin Firewicz