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Front & Center News from Fork Union Military Academy - October 8, 2021

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Stories in this issue:

  • Parent Updates
  • Mark Your Calendar for FUMA's Day of Giving
  • President's Blog: We Press On
  • Meet the New Teachers & Staff: CPT Jarrett Hopewell
  • Teacher of Term 1
  • Term 1 Honor Roll
  • 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!

FUMA Class Ring Order Day - Oct. 15

A class ring captures the memories of the greatest days of your son's high school years! The time is approaching to purchase your son's FUMA class ring. A custom ring designed exclusively for Fork Union Military Academy is available to juniors and seniors. The ring offers the choice of birthstones, and is available in any metal option: 10K, 14K, Yellow or White Gold or Lustrium. Rings will be presented at a Ring Ceremony.

Ring Order Day: Friday, October 15 from 6-8 PM or online at jostens.com!

Parents Weekend Schedule

Parents, if you haven't submitted your RSVP for Parents Weekend through an email from SurveyMonkey, please do so today to help us properly prepare for the big day!

Fork Union Military Academy is excited to host Parents Weekend, starting Friday, October 15, 2021. Friday will be packed with events including Founder's Day Cookout, Parents Day Parade and parent-teacher conferences. Cadets will be eligible to leave Friday after the parade. There is no class on Monday. Click the button below for the Parents Weekend Schedule.

Remember to use the Orah Parent Portal for all leave requests. The Commandant's Department recommends at least four days in advance.

Fork Union to host the PSAT Test Wednesday, Oct. 13

The PSAT Test will be administered to ALL 10th & 11th Grade Cadets on Wednesday, October 13th here at FUMA. There is no registration or fee required of the cadet. If you have any questions regarding this test please contact Ms. Rhonda White at whiter@fuma.org.

November SAT: The next registration deadline for the November 6 SAT Test here at Fork Union is Friday, October 8 by midnight. When registered, a printed admission ticket will need to be presented for admission on test day.

For any questions, please contact Ms. Rhonda White at whiter@fuma.org.

Does your son want to spend Spring Break in Germany?

The Foreign Language Department is set to take cadets and any faculty and staff on a 10-day trip across Germany. The trip is set for March 5 - March 15 and the group will visit Berlin, Prague and Munich.

Any cadet interested in going should enroll online through explorica.com/rooney-9900. The cost for each cadet is $3,400. For more information, click the link below:

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.

The President's Blog: We Press On

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Greetings,

Time on deck is 0815.

We start the day with all hands on deck cleaning their rooms, common spaces, preparing themselves for inspection, a nutritionally well-balanced breakfast, formation for accountability and instruction, morning colors (raising and saluting the flag), and chapel for Bible study/encouragement/life lessons and prayer.

We then go to class.

By 0815 we have already accomplished many learning objectives and to standard, measured, and ranging from low to highest on Blooms Taxonomy (a scale used in education for demonstrating cognitive complexity and engagement).

The strategy, tasks, purposes, and methods today—and every day—are framed from the Biblical perspective as described in Proverbs:

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” — Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

So, we press on in body, mind, and spirit—holding fast to our core values of respect, integrity, faith, character and discipline—for we know it is good. Our development, education, and training in this college preparatory, military-styled, boys only, and Christian environment is the right path.

We are proud of our cadets; you have made us proud.

The transformation of these young men is occurring in body, mind and spirit, every day.

We’ll celebrate our 123rd Founders Day—the Academy's birthday—with a Day of Giving and our Parents Weekend Parade next Friday.

God bless our Academy. His plans for us are not for disaster, but for good, because He loves us. God loves you and so do I. Go ye therefore full speed ahead into this day like a champion, because God is for you not against you. This is the day the Lord has made—so be joyful, glad and smile. Thanks be to God.

And...

Go FUMA!

Colonel David L. Coggins, USMC (Ret.) |President |Fork Union Military Academy

Get to know new teacher, CPT Jarrett Hopewell!

Where did you attend college and what degrees do you have?

I attended college at the University of Montana where I received a B.A. in classical languages (Latin and Ancient Greek) and an M.A. in linguistics (the scientific study of language).

How did you get into teaching?

My first teaching job was when I was 17. I was a ski instructor for 6 year-olds. From there, I was always searching for teaching opportunities in college.

What is your favorite thing about teaching?

My favorite thing about teaching would have to be my relationships with my students. I try to be and enjoy being a positive impact in their lives.

How did you hear about Fork Union Military Academy?

I already knew about Fork Union Military Academy because I attended FUMA from 2010-2011. I originally chose to attend FUMA as a student because I knew the structure was just what I needed to succeed in school.

What makes Fork Union special to you?

The One-Subject Plan comes to mind when I think about what makes FUMA special. It’s such a great class structure for students. I also appreciate the support that the rest of the FUMA campus provides for academics.

What classes will you teach this year?

This year I’ll be teaching Spanish 1, 2, and 3.

What other responsibilities do you have at FUMA besides teaching?

Besides teaching, I also help with Retan Rifles.

What is one thing the cadets would be surprised to learn about you?

I think cadets would be surprised to learn that, just like many of them, I have ADHD. My time as a cadet at FUMA, helped me learned how to manage the disability, and I hope that I can pass on that knowledge to my students.

Welcome to FUMA, CPT Hopewell!

CPT Welch Recognized as Teacher of the Term for Term 1

Fork Union Military Academy congratulates CPT Alexander Welch today for being named Teacher of the Term 1 of the 2021-2022 academic year. Cadets submit nominations for the Teacher of the Term at the conclusion of each grading term. The cadet nominations are reviewed and evaluated by the Teacher of the Term/Year Committee, which is comprised of non-academic staff members. After considering cadet nominations, the Committee announces the Teacher of the Term.

CPT Welch is in his first year at the Academy and taught eighth grade civics during Term 1. He is a graduate of Grove City College in Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and later received his master’s and Doctorate in Government from the University of Virginia.

Outside of the classroom, CPT Welch coaches the Quiz Bowl team and assists with the Debate team. He enjoys playing music with his wife, mostly the piano, during his spare time.

CPT Welch received nominations that stated:

“CPT Welch gives really good explanations on topics; he is always ready to help you and thoroughly explains what you are doing wrong to better help you understand the topics.”
“CPT Welch is an amazing teacher. He always does his job and gives a good about of homework that keeps us busy during CQ. Because of his way of teaching us, I finished the class with a 92-percent.”

Congratulations, CPT Welch.

Honor Roll for Term 1 Announced

Cadets who perform well academically in their class studies each grading term, receiving grades of B- or better as their final grade for the term, are named to the Honor Roll by COL Mike Goad, the Academic Dean of Fork Union Military Academy.

Here is the Honor Roll for Term 1 of the 2021-2022 academic year:

Term 1

Grade: 7th

  • Jayden Anderson
  • Nico Brown
  • Jaden Harris
  • Jeremy Herron
  • Eyiteriolu Olufosoye
  • Kadin Stremlau
  • Jordan Zerkle

Grade: 8th

  • Theophilus Aberra
  • Mason Alston
  • Nigel Asamoah
  • Ryan Barone
  • Neil Bayley
  • Maddox Beaulieu
  • Eugene Belozerov
  • Matthew Brooks
  • Robert Callahan
  • Christopher Chadwell
  • Colton Childers
  • Nicholas Coleman
  • Nathaniel Hopkins
  • Selah Houston
  • Val Kelestyn
  • Ellis Roberts
  • Jimmy Sa Said
  • Iker Serrano
  • Travis Tran
  • William Twetten
  • Trevor Wallen

Grade: 9th

  • Jackson Amendolia
  • Joseph Athey
  • Frederick Baird
  • Paul Bickford
  • Clayton Dunaway
  • Antwan Dunmyer
  • Leland Edwards
  • Jackson Fields
  • Daniel Firewicz
  • Aidan Good
  • Miles Graybill
  • Tyler Hill
  • Sean Hurley
  • Michael Johnson
  • Christopher Jones Jr.
  • Michael Kelsey
  • William Mattox
  • Anthony Molina Iraheta
  • Roman Molina
  • Sean Orth
  • Niv Patel
  • Travis Shepard
  • William Stimson
  • Vu Tran
  • Luke Wells
  • Joaquin Yescas

Grade: 10th

  • Fritzner Black
  • Santiago Bodenstedt Halloran
  • Jaxon Brooks-Powell
  • Jacob Clodfelter
  • John Cottey III
  • Robert Crippen
  • Daniel Desulme
  • Jayden Ginty
  • Seth Groelz
  • George Gurney
  • Laith Haddad
  • Thomas Hill
  • Luke Hiller
  • Brady Hippler
  • Oghenetejiri Idudu
  • Phillip Johnson
  • Tyler Manglicmot
  • Aidan McCants
  • Hunter McDonnell
  • Tucker Miller
  • Everett Mitchell
  • Kelvin Montesinos
  • Sebastian Moss
  • Daouda Niang
  • Cameron Oppenheim
  • Thinh Pham
  • Colin Reynolds
  • Virgil Ryland
  • Ethan Schroyer
  • Emanuel Teklu
  • William Vasko
  • Elan Warll
  • Arkiliz Zavala

Grade: 11th

  • Aiden Bailey
  • Christian Beale
  • Ayden Bland
  • George Boitano
  • Jackson Bolduc
  • Mace Brindley
  • Charles Campbell
  • Kendall Coard
  • Daijaun Creasy
  • Minh Dao
  • Caleb Davis
  • Dalton Davis
  • Grant Demorro
  • Ousmane Dieng
  • Philip DiLorenzo
  • Jackson Edwards
  • Lance Gowans
  • Sean Hall
  • Robert Hass
  • Samson Hauler
  • Reagan Hayes
  • Trey Holmes
  • Tzu-Heng Hung
  • Jai Johnson
  • Damarre Joseph
  • Ashton King
  • Ilya Kurin
  • Wesley Lay
  • Michael Lenherr
  • Grant Liskey
  • Thomas Manganiello
  • Travis Mantha
  • Michael Marandure
  • Trenton Maxwell
  • Jack McCall
  • Matthew Moore
  • Braden Piersol
  • Jackson Pretus
  • Isaac Rivera
  • James Robinson
  • Oscar Sa Zacarias-Bendek
  • Nicholas Sasser
  • Pierce Shedeck
  • Dino Siervo
  • Peter Signorino
  • Francisco Solino-Villacampa
  • Copeland Spearman
  • Ethan Stroh
  • Matthew Vinso
  • Lucas Yates

Grade: 12th

  • Giancarlo Antunes
  • Nhyiraba Asumadu Addo
  • Tobias Atkins
  • Brandon Austin
  • Damien Baize
  • Daniel Bartsevich
  • John Bowdish
  • Isaiah Burel
  • Aiden Burgess
  • Jaden Carter
  • Mitchell Coe
  • Pierce Collum
  • Sa’eed Dasher
  • Gavin Demorro
  • Maxwell Dumas
  • Nathan Gomes
  • Mitchell Heatwole
  • Eric Jones
  • Dominique Julius
  • Kenton King
  • Kris King
  • Logan Kreamer
  • Joshua Labasky
  • Michael Luce
  • Robel Lulseged
  • Walter Magruder
  • Jackson Mayo
  • Kieran Meyer
  • Grayson Mitchell
  • Owen Morrison
  • Elijah Munoz
  • Zachary Piper
  • Jesse Plese
  • Dominic Primavera
  • Sebastian Quienteros
  • Connor Smith
  • Gary Smith
  • Austin Storm
  • Massimo Swail
  • Carlos Taylor
  • Peter Twetten
  • Cameron Wallace
  • Alexander Wills
  • Steven Zaitsev

Grade: PG

  • Riley Ambrose
  • Isaiah Auman
  • Aguibou Balde
  • Jordan Barnett
  • Jahee Blake
  • Keshawn Bullard
  • Elonzo Burroughs
  • Bailey Burton
  • Javon Campbell
  • Trace Campbell
  • Austin Cartwright
  • Jason Chapman
  • Samuel Dankah
  • Trei Dansby
  • Treston Davis
  • Isaiah Domingue
  • Johsua Donald
  • Connor Dougherty
  • James Epps
  • Timothy Fleischood Jr.
  • Jabin Ford
  • Aaron Große Kleimann
  • James Gunter
  • Isadore Hall Jr.
  • V’Jon Hampton
  • Xzavaier Hawkins
  • James High
  • Gavin Holz
  • Morgan Hyman
  • Alvin Johnson Jr.
  • Niles Johnson
  • Rakim Lamarre
  • Felix Lepper
  • Ethan Lester
  • Sean Lovely Jr.
  • Jabri Mack
  • Eric McDaniels
  • Stone McKnight
  • Derran McKoy
  • Zakari McQueen
  • Tayshaun Minor
  • James Moore
  • Damien Moun
  • Khalil Murdock
  • Joshua O’Dell
  • Kameron Olds
  • Irabonoise Oniha
  • Farrell Opoku
  • Ivan Poston
  • Aaron Reese
  • Jordan Robinson
  • Forrest Scheel
  • Ellijah Smith
  • James Smith
  • Nykeen Smith
  • Brandon Sneh
  • Augustine Sprout
  • Iosefa Tanoai
  • Amon Taylor
  • Marseille Taylor
  • Tye Thompson
  • James Voss
  • Jalen Walker

Congratulations, gentlemen!

Cadets enjoyed an off-campus trip to Carter Mountain over the weekend.

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 Staff Sergeant Sebastian Antoine-Pompey is senior and a first-year cadet in Alpha Company. He is a boarding student from Mitchellville, Maryland and has been an outstanding cadet since his first day here at Fork Union Military Academy. Cadet Antoine-Pompey is being sought after by several of the TAC Officers for a promotion into a leadership role soon. He continues to set the example, uphold the very high standards placed upon him, and outperform other platoons within Alpha Company during their weekly competitions. Cadet Antoine-Pompey continues to not only have the fewest room infractions within his company, but he has also passed every PAI with 0 infractions. Bravo Zulu, Cadet Antoine-Pompey.

Cadet Sergeant Kieran Meyer is a senior and a second-year cadet in Bravo Company. He is a boarding student from Yonkers, New York and the starting quarterback on the varsity prep team. Cadet Meyer is a great team player and has exceptional leadership skills, constantly striving to develop others to become better. He is a mentor to the junior prep quarterback, helping him grow as a cadet as well as a player. Cadet Meyer always has an extremely positive attitude no matter what the task or situation is and truly embraces Fork Union’s leadership trait, “enthusiasm”. He also balances academics and sports extremely well, maintaining a high GPA. Bravo Zulu, Cadet Meyer!

Cadet Second Lieutenant Jacob Clodfelter is a sophomore and a second-year cadet in Charlie Company. He is a boarding student from Mickleton, New Jersey and began the year as a Platoon Leader in Charlie Company. Recently, the Battalion Staff was preparing the New Cadet Training Program for Term 2 incoming students. Cadet Clodfelter volunteered to take on the Master Trainer position, overseeing the entire process of instructing new students. He recognized the importance of building a team by ensuring they began with a solid foundation. Cadet Clodfelter and his training team have put the plan into action with incredible results, ensuring that all new students are able to master each event within their training schedule. The trainees are near completion of their training cycle and it is evident that these new FUMA men have been prepared for success and will integrate flawlessly into their permanent assigned companies. Bravo Zulu, Cadet Clodfelter!

Cadet Captain Grant DeMorro is a junior and fifth-year cadet in Headquarters and Service Company. He is a day student from Fork Union, VA and has spent the last 8 weeks preparing to perform the rifle drill routines of Constantine Wilson, an alumni famous for his rifle drill teams. On Friday of this past week, at the home football game, Cadet DeMorro performed this extremely complex routine during halftime for all the families, faculty, alumni, and cadets present. The alumni present were ecstatic when they saw him able to perform such a complicated drill routine. He performed flawlessly and showed what is possible with enough practice and dedication. Cadet DeMorro is proudly carrying on the legacy of Retan Rifles. Bravo Zulu, Cadet DeMorro!

ETN1 John Warren, Band Director, has done a wonderful job working with both Band and Retan Rifles this year. His hard work was on display last Friday where both Band and Retan delivered a wonderful national anthem performance prior to the prep football game. Additionally, ETN1 Warren began teaching 7th grade band class this week and has done a wonderful job teaching our youngest cadets how to play instruments for the first time. Bravo Zulu, ETN1 Warren!

SAGE Dining Services has provided wonderful meals this year. The meals are healthy, hearty, and served with pride and a smile. The team is much appreciated by the cadets, faculty, staff, and the parents. Well done. Bravo Zulu, SAGE Dining Services!

Coming up this weekend for cadets!

Friday:

  • Movie Theater Showing: The Greatest Showman -- 1900
  • Open Pool (Aquatics Center) -- 1900-2030

Saturday:

  • Mario Kart Tournament with Ms. Macek (Social Center) -- 1330
  • Backyard Games (Social Center Lawn) -- 1330 to 1630
  • Open Pool (Aquatics Center) -- 1900-2030
  • Open Weight Room (Estes Center) -- 1400-1600
  • Movie Theater Showing: Guardians of the Galaxy -- 1400
  • Movie Theater Showing: Guardians of the Galaxy 2 -- 1900

Sunday:

  • Backyard Games (Social Center Lawn) -- 1330-1630
  • Movie Theater Showing: Thor -- 1400
  • Open Weight Room (Estes Center) -- 1400-1600
Created By
Kelly Barnette
Appreciate

Credits:

Kristin Firewicz, Steve Macek