10 Pages Vol.13, No. 9 May 2000

--INSIDE THIS ISSUE--


MMA LEADER
Published monthly by the
MMA PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
320 Iwo Jima Blvd.
Harlingen, Texas 78550
(956) 423-6006
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
Robert A. Beckley
PAO SECRETARY
Connie G. Flores

Academy alumni muster for great 2000 Reunion



The new millinium started out in the right way for the MMA alumni association, as a record number of Academy graduates made it back for the 2000 Reunion, 14-16 April.

Over 70 former cadets participated in the many activities planned by the Academy’s director of alumni affairs, Mrs. Gwen Rollings. Those included a parade by the Corps of Cadets, a reception at the General’s house, a cadet/alumni softball game, (which was so popular an extra field was added), and a dinner and awards ceremony at Louie’s Backyard on South Padre Island.

“It was a great weekend,” Rollings said. “Some alumni hadn’t been back to the Academy in over 30 years. They were amazed at all the changes to both the Academy and the town of Harlingen.”

In a plug for technology, Rollings said the internet was probably responsible for the big turnout of alumni.

“With our website and bulletin board, it seemed like there was a lot more connecting going on among alumni,” she said. “Some of the grads got on line and started energizing others. Before long, the word spread. It helped them remember just how much MMA meant to them.

“SgtMaj Steigerwald was also a big help to me,” she said. “Col (Bill) Card had asked him to give me some advice about the association. As soon as he sent out his first e-mail, he was hooked. He’s the connecting link between the school and so many alumni.”

One of the graduates who hadn’t been back in a number of years was Paul Hirt, a three-year cadet and valedictorian from the class of ‘71. It was a lot of gentle persuasion from Steigerwald, Rollings and some former classmates, he said, that got him to return to MMA from Oregon after 29 years.

“Other than the chapel and the president’s house, everything has either moved or changed,” he said. “The only thing that still looks the same is in the inside of B Company.”

Jim Griffith, class of ‘70, also returned for the first time. He is retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces, and lives in Fayetteville, N.C. with his wife and three children.

“The internet is responsible for me being here, that and Dan Miller (MMA ‘71), and Gwen Rollings, “ he said. “Everything is awesome now. They even have air conditioning. The only building that had air conditioning when I was here was the academic building, Coleman Hall. That’s why no one was ever late for class.

“The cadets don’t seem to have changed,” he added. “Cadets will probably always be the same. We’re just 30 years older.”

Kuni Beasley, from the class of ‘72, now teaches classes at the University of Texas-Arlington, near Dallas. He had been back to MMA several times since his graduation, but not since the early 90s.

“All the academic buildings are new now,” he said. “The facilities here are as good or better than we have at my school.

Beasley also helps operate five small private schools in the Dallas area.

“I use the same principles I learned here at the Academy from Col Card,” he said. “Work hard, strive for excellence, and always take care of your responsibilities, because no one’s going to do it for you.”

Former mayor, commandant addresses cadets



MMA cadets were treated to another outstanding guest speaker, 4 April, when former MMA commandant of cadets Col H. Wm. Card, Jr., USMC (Ret), spoke before the Cadet Corps.

Card joined MMA in 1968, when the school as just three years old, and led it through a period of tremendous growth and prosperity, first as director of development and later as commandant of cadets. When he first arrived the Academy had an enrollment of just over 100. When he left seven years later, that number had nearly doubled.

In 1939 at the age of 17, Card was sworn into the Marine Corps Reserve by his father, the late BGen Horace W. Card, USMC (Ret). A year later he was called to active duty. His 30 years of service included the battles of Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima during World War II. He also fought in the Korean War as a member of the Chosin Few.

After MMA, he enjoyed a very successful career as a banker, and later was elected mayor of the city of Harlingen, a position he held for 11 years.

In his address, Card reminded cadets of the importance of focusing on their studies during the last eight weeks of the school year. He also encouraged them to always do their best in any endeavor, and to have the perseverance necessary to achieve their goals.

“Shortcuts in life will only short cut your opportunities,” he said.

He also told cadets to take advantage of their time at MMA.

“I know it’s hard for your to realize at this time, but I want you to recognize what a tremendous opportunity you’ve been given in your life,” he said. “Don’t waste a lot of time and money. Be committed to doing you’re very best while your here.”

MMA cadets impressive at state meet



One would expect Academy cadets to shine in a military skills competition, and shine they did at the Texas State JROTC Meet in Austin, 7, 8 April.

With 37 schools participating from throughout the state, the MMA drill team placed first in inspection and fourth in exhibition.

“It was just an excellent performance. We showed a lot of team unity,” the drill team coordinator, MGySgt Jim Hager said. “In exhibition we had a score of 99.90 out of 100, with only one Irish pennant on a belt loop. That’s phenomenal.

“The competition was a lot tougher this year than in the past,” he added. “Usually we’re up against some schools that just go out there and try not to kill themselves with the rifle, but not this year. It was very tight.”

In the marksmanship competition, MMA turned in an equally good performance, taking second place in prone, third in kneeling and second in standing. Overall, the Leathernecks placed third.

“For many it was their first time to compete, and they all shot well,” said SgtMaj Al Wilson. “Our only returning shooter this year was Joe Herold, our captain.”

The other members of the rifle team were Michael Bajsel, Chris Smith, Jason Merriam, Andrew Hernandez, Jacob Lambuth and Robert Phillips.

Planned leadership school becomes a reality



The new century promises to be a brave new world for MMA cadets. In fact, with the addition of the new School of Leadership Studies, many cadets will go where no cadets have gone before.

The goal of the exciting new program at the Academy is to produce leaders who will foster change, build community, take responsibility and embrace sound, ethical decision making. This has always been the goal of the Academy, only now there is a plan in place to make it a reality.

Starting in the fall of 2000, leadership will now be taught during a regular class period as part of the Academy curriculum. All cadets will be required to attend the class for two years, which will be designated as LS-1 and LS-2. For cadets who want to continue the program, and are recommended to do so, there will be third- and fourth-year classes, known as LS-3 and LS-4.

The course description of LS-1 is basic leadership and ethics. Cadets will receive an introduction to leadership studies, and cover such areas as basic etiquette, public speaking, decision-making and problem-solving.

LS-2 will deal with more complex issues of leadership such as group dynamics, the resolution of conflicts and behavioral theory.

In LS-3, cadets will begin to apply what they have learned in previous classes in specific situations involving both fellow cadets and the community.

LS-4 could be described as a “hands on” course in which cadets participate in public speaking, written projects, mentoring programs and community service, all designed to utilize their leadership skills.

Students who successfully complete all four years of the program will be awarded a Mastery in Leadership Studies certificate, supplementary to their high school diploma. A copy of the certificate will be mailed with each cadet’s college application.

The MMA School of Leadership Studies has borrowed its concept from similar programs at both the high school and college level, said MMA assistant commandant, LtCol Gary Andresen, USMC (Ret).

“We’re modeling ourselves after the best of all leadership schools in the country, but probably the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond is most similar,” he said. “The John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Springs, Maryland also has a quality program. More and more schools are recognizing the need for such training.

“The cadets want it; they want to be a part of a winning team,” Andresen continued. “They want to lead, they want to make a difference, but they don’t always know how. Now we can teach them. Not that we haven’t been doing that before, but now we can expand on it.

“Over the years, we’ve improved our leadership education classes, made sure that our new Coleman Hall has first-rate leadership classrooms, and developed strong ethics classes for all eighth graders. We have slowly developed and refined our leadership training, to the point where the time for formalizing a School of Leadership Studies has arrived.”

The program will also benefit from the construction of new facilities at the Academy. By this summer the school’s new speed march reaction course, a basic USMC obstacle course and a rappelling tower will be completed. Their first use will be this year’s summer camp, but their real purpose will be to enhance the cadets’ leadership training.

“They’re all leadership related,” Andresen said of the new facilities. “Though they can be used individually as confidence builders, they’re primarily team events which also help develop and enhance leadership skills. They imbue cadets with the message they have to work together in order to succeed.”

Valley students attend annual French contest at MMA



The heart of deep South Texas may not exactly be the world’s capital of French culture. Nevertheless, the Marine Military Academy’s annual Rio Grande Valley French Competition just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

This year over 250 students from a dozen local high schools attended the event, which is organized by local French teachers and directed by MMA’s foreign language department chair, Dr. Mary Ricciardi.

The competition began 11 years ago as a written exam, but has expanded recently to include a wide variety of interests including an art contest, musical events, petanque, which is lawn bowling, and even a cooking contest.

“We want things to be fun for the kids as well as educationally sound,” Ricciardi said. “That’s why we check with teachers and students in the Valley to find out what they are doing, and then we give them a way to compete at it.”

A new event at this year’s competition was folk dancing, with the students both making their costumes and then performing in them.

“It was very colorful with all the traditional dress, but of course, our cadets didn’t participate in that,” Ricciardi said.

One event the cadets did find to their liking was the cuisine contest. Abe Kamzan took third place with a spinach quiche, the team of Colin Scherr and Alfredo Sedano came in second with their quiche lorraine, Louis Bitonti and Jake White-Olson were third with a lemon sorbet, and Israel Karren and Javier Guerrero placed first with mushroom-stuffed zucchini.

In the lawn bowling event, the MMA team of Jay Crabtree, Dylan Rollins, Rob Castell, Chris Krauss, Drew Hardberger and Hudson Fremont placed second.In the Concours Culturel, the team of Pedro Said, James Carter, Jay Crabtree, Cliff Pease and Colin Scherr led MMA to first place for the second year in a row.

During a special awards presentation, Cadet Andres Moreno received the Fraternite pin for placing first in South Texas in the National French Contest, Level 1. Ricciardi also received a Certificat d’Honneur as the teacher of the first-place student.

2000 MMA Alumni Reunion

Last year’s grads, Jonathan Shirley and Orrin Battle, were the youngest alumni at the reunion.

Dr. Frank Colunga administers aid to Bill Lins after his home run in the cadet/alumni softball game.

Dale Knutson visits with MMA’s Fern Ovenden during the reception at the General’s house.

‘72 grad Kuni Beasley, and other alumni, offer advice to MMA seniors.

One of the largest gatherings of MMA alumni ever pose in front of the Iwo Jima Monument.

Jim Griffith, class of ‘70, with Mrs. Gwen Rollings, director of alumni affairs.

Dr. Mike Walker, Jim Sproul and Paul Hirt.

Robert Dolard and Lon Bradley congratulate each other on winning the best dressed award at Louie’s Backyard on South Padre Island.

Track



Perhaps it was the advantage of having the district meet at their own facility, or maybe they’re just good. Whatever the reason, two Leatherneck track team members will be traveling to Waco in May for the TAPPS state meet.

Those who qualified are junior John Bell in the pole vault and sophomore Adrian Lash in the discus. They both finished second in their events at the TAPPS district meet, held at Bowman Stadium, 14, 15 April.

Bell cleared 12-0 , and was second to Ryan Morgan of Central Catholic in San Antonio who cleared the same height, but in fewer attempts.

Lash threw 136-8, and was second to Central Catholic’s Larkin Buchanan, who tossed 157-7.

The highest other Leatherneck finisher was junior Tyler Harrison who placed fourth in the 800-meter run. Andrew Gobert was fifth in the 110 hurdles as was Drew Hardberger in the 300 hurdles.

As a team, the Leathernecks came in fifth. The meet was won by Central Catholic with 158 points. Antonian of San Antonio was second with 150 points.

Up and over

MMA POLE vaulter John Bell goes up (above) and over (right) the bar in his successful vault at the TAPPS district track meet at MMA. Bell will next compete at the state meet in Waco, 5-6 May.

Golf

CADET DAVID Mackie shows the form that earned him second place at the TAPPS district golf tournament, 10 April at the South Padre Island Golf Course. Mackie shot an 85 to qualify for the state tournament in Waco. Also qualifying was Cadet Mark Klein, who shot a 99, good for 10th place. Other Leathernecks in the tournament were John Bradley, Joe Pollard and Anthony Aguilar. All of the golfers on the MMA team are underclassmen eligible to return next year.









Baseball

MMA HURLER Adam Van Horne, a freshman from Grapevine, Texas, warms up between innings in the Leathernecks game with San Antonio Holy Cross, 15 April. The Academy has qualified for a bi-district game in TAPPS league play. That will be played 2 May.













Tennis

THE MMA doubles team of Grant Pierce (L) and Jon Mackie won two matches at the TAPPS district tennis tournament at Incarnate Word University in San Antonio, 10, 11 April, to qualify for the state tournament in Waco. The Leatherneck duo defeated teams from St. Augustine of Laredo and Central Catholic in San Antonio to reach the finals. There they were beaten by Alvardo and Alanzo of Central Catholic. Other cadets in the tournament were Matt Christian, Carlos Escudero, Jose Perez and Carlos Barron.









Memorials

G-2-5 WWII Members
Christopher Lee Heard - MMA ‘99
SgtMaj Willard J. Mason, USMC (Ret)
LtCol Thomas E. McQuay, USMC (Ret)
Mrs. R.L. (Helen) Murray
Capt Dean S. Shephard, USMC (Ret)

Gifts were received in honor of:

Col R. Bruce Porter, USMC (Ret), Night Fighter Pilot, Ace
Sergeant Alexander H. Murray
Mr. J. Rob Walker - Birthday
Col Hensley Williams, USMC (Ret)

FOR 13 years volunteers

FOR 13 years volunteers, under the direction of Mrs. Leona Hand at the MMA Gift Shop and Museum, have generously donated their time to make the operation of that facility possible. On 13 April, the Academy paid thanks to these volunteers with an annual luncheon at the MMA messhall, hosted by MMA President, MajGen Wayne E. Rollings, at which time he gave each of them a certificate of appreciation. At left, Mrs. Hand with General Rollings.









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