Missouri Military Academy
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Missouri Military Academy is considered one of the leading military schools and boarding schools in the United States, with a strong record of college admission. Missouri Military Academy, as an JROTC Honor Unit With Distinction, as designated by the Department of the Army, has the privilege of nominating cadets to the US Military Academy at West Point, the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, the US Air Force Academy and the US Coast Guard Academy.
The academy accepts young men in grades 9-12 from around the world based upon their good character and their ability to achieve in the Academy academic program. The program is dual-tracked, accepting average and above-average ability students. The honors track is designed to prepare students for the larger colleges and universities. The traditional track prepares students for small colleges that have support programs. Since 1933, a separate middle school with its own barracks has been maintained for boys in grades 6-8. In the summer, there is a one-week Confidence Camp, for boys 8-11 years old, and a two-week Leadership Camp, for boys 12-16 years old.
The 2006 estimated total cost of $27,500 for tuition, room and board and other expenses is moderated by a generous program of financial aid. Approximately one-half of the US cadets receive grants and/or scholarships that help to offset varying amounts of the expense of attendance.
MMA has up-to-date technology; modern air-conditioned barracks; a Gymtorium with a first-class weight room, basketball court, and performing arts center; a field house complete with indoor running track, rifle range, 2 tennis courts and 4 basketball courts; and a Natatorium which houses a 25-meter indoor swimming pool with a diving tank. The outdoor recreational/sports areas include tennis courts, a riding stable, a 43-foot rappelling tower, Colonels Football Field, soccer fields, an all-weather track, Brad Calvert Baseball Field; and a back campus wilderness area with a lake, lakefront lodge and stream.
The college-prep program (grades 9-12, plus an available post-graduate year) has two curricula for both average-ability and honors-level students. There are dual-credit courses available for students who are ready for the challenge of college-level classes, while completing high school.
MMA's mission and motto: to teach a young man to look like a soldier, act like a gentleman and study like a scholar.
[edit] History
The Academy was founded in November 1889 when the citizens of Mexico, Missouri donated funds and 20 acres of land for the purpose of establishing a military school. The task of building MMA fell to Col. A.F. Fleet, a US Civil War veteran, who erected the campus' first buildings southwest of the city.
When fire destroyed the school's original site in the fall of 1896, Col. Fleet removed the cadets to Culver Military Academy (now the Culver Academies).
In 1900, the Businessmen's Association of Mexico and Col. A.K. Yancey of the Alabama Military Institute rebuilt MMA. The City of Mexico assisted the project with a contribution of $10,000, which was used to purchase the grounds on which the modern Academy is located. On Sept. 20 of that year, the doors of the Academy opened once more.
Upon Col. Yancey's death in 1901, his business partner, Col. William D. Fonville, assumed the office of superintendent and oversaw the construction of additional barracks. After his retirement in 1911, Col. Fonville was succeeded by Col. W.R. Kohr and, three years later in 1914, by Col. E.Y. Burton.
In 1933, Col. C.R. Stribling, Jr., a 13-year member of the MMA faculty, assumed command of the school. Under Col. Stribling, the Academy solidified its position as one of the nation's leading prep schools. In 1948, the Academy was reorganized as a not-for-profit educational organization, controlled by a Board of Trustees.
In 1968, Col. Stribling's son, Col. Charles R. Stribling, III, member of the MMA Class of 1944 and MMA faculty member since 1952, followed his father and served as the President of the school for 25 years. The elder Col. Stribling remained on campus as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees until his death in 1983. In 1981, the school's administration building was renamed Stribling Hall to honor his lasting contribution to MMA.
MMA celebrated its Centennial in 1989, four years after being named one of the nation's Exemplary Private Schools by the US Department of Education.
Col. Charles R. Stribling, III, served as President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees concurrently for 10 years after his father's death until Col. Ronald J. Kelly, veteran MMA teacher, coach, company advisor, admissions director, executive officer and superintendent, was elected as the eighth President of the Academy in August 1993. Col. Stribling continues as Chairman.
