CAMPUS NEWS
A Dozen Graduate, 9 Become Army Officers in December
MMI held its Fall 2011 Commencement and Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony on Dec. 15 in the historic Chapel. Twelve cadets completed MMI's two year program and received an Associate of Science degree. Of those graduates, nine also received their commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Graduation and Commissioning speakers were local attorney/criminal justice instructor Mr. Kirtley Brown (MMI class of 1961JC) and Major General William Crosby, Program Executive Officer, Aviation.
Hall of Honor Inducts 2 Heroes
11.7.11 On October 28, The Alabama Military Hall of Honor, located on MMI's historic campus, inducted two more members, both of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice to this nation. Medal of Honor winner Gunners Mate First Class, Osmond K. Ingram, USN (WWI, KIA) and Captain Eugene M. Thomas, Jr., USA (WWII, KIA) were honored with a ceremony, parade and luncheon.
Marion's Best March in Tuscaloosa
10.8.11 Members of the MMI Corps of Cadets marched in the University of Alabama's homecoming parade alongside school and community organizations. MMI's next parade appearance will be during the National Veterans Day celebration in Birmingham on Nov. 11.
Cadets Canoe Down Cahaba
9.29.11 A group of cadets and MMI staff canoed and kayaked down the Cahaba River on Saturday, Sept. 24 on a beautiful fall day. Other MMI-sponsored off-campus excursions this semester have included a Montgomery Biscuits baseball game and day-trips to Tuscaloosa.
New Students 'Crested' as Cadets
8.30.11 Following the Intensive Training Cycle, MMI welcomed recruits into the Corps of Cadets with its traditional Cresting Ceremony & Parade.
MMI Welcomes New Recruits
8.11.11 MMI conducted student inprocessing on August 9-10, when students from around the country were introducted to their new home in Marion. As recruits they will spend the first part of school in the Intensive Training Cycle.
One new recruit (pictured), Hunt Coulahan of Pensacola, Fla., is a third-generation MMI legacy. His father Chris Coulahan '74JC and grandfather John Coulahan '41JC both attended MMI.
Tiger Camp Prepares Recruits for LTC at Ft. Knox
7.8.11 In June, more than 50 prospective Early Commissioning Program (ECP) cadets spent a week at MMI's Tiger Camp to prepare for the Army's 4-week Leader's Training Course at Ft. Knox.
While on campus, they were introduced to the basics of military life: physical training, team-building exercises, map reading, road marches, and Combat Water Survival Training, among other activities.
Navy League - Mobile (Ala.) Awards $2K in Scholarships
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6.29.11 The Navy League of the United States-Mobile Council provided two scholarships to incoming MMI freshmen for Fall 2011. Ms. Mudiwa Barlow-Beck and Ms. Kyneesha Womack were each the recipient of a $1,000 Laura H. Stewart Scholarship, made possible by the late Admiral William H. Stewart, USCG (Ret) and his wife Paulette.
UPDATE: 81 Service Academy Appointments, a School Record
6.28.11 By June 23, 81 SAP cadets at MMI had received an appointment to their respective U.S. Service Academy class of 2015.
2LT Overton Represents MMI at Governor's Luncheon
6.7.11 As the outstanding senior cadet from MMI's ROTC program, 2LT Kiana Overton (MMI class of 2011) was honored at the 2011 Alabama Governor's Outstanding Servicemember's Awards Luncheon. A member of the Alabama National Guard, she is assigned to the 900th Maintenance Company in Brundidge.
MMI Graduates Cadets/Officers
5.9.11 The MMI class of 2011 consisted of 89 cadets participating in Commencement, with 36 graduates commissioned as second lieutenants on May 7. Addressing the graduating class was Mr. Tommy Millner, President & CEO of Cabela’s; MG Perry Smith, Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard, served as guest speaker for Army ROTC Commissioning.
Alabama Marine Corps League Awards Scholarship
4.15.11 Members of the Alabama Marine Corps League recently held their annual meeting on campus and continued their support of MMI by awarding a $1,600 scholarship to Cadet Drake Phillips of Lemoore, Calif. Cadet Phillips is enrolled in the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course (PLC).
Tiger Classic 5K Raises $1,600 for Breast Cancer
4.11.11 Thanks to the great support from our local community, MMI's inaugural Tiger Classic 5K & 1Mile fun run/walk raised $1,600 for the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.
Cadets Prove Drill Skills & Endurance in Memphis Competition
On Sat. April 2, MMI cadets representing the White Knights, Swamp Fox and Honor Guard organizations traveled to the University of Memphis (Tenn.) for a Drill Competition and Endurance Challenge. The competition consisted of several events: endurance challenge, individual exhibition, dual exhibition, platoon inspection drill and regulation drill and color guard regulation.
The results: our two Swamp Fox teams completed 5th and 6th out of 10 teams, finishing ahead of teams such as Illinois State, Berkeley, the University of Memphis and University of South Carolina. Their timed competition involved a KIM game and such physical rigors as a 2-mile sandbag run, a buddy drag and dead man carry through obstacles, team-log-sit-ups, a 2-mile log run, ammo can lift and run through obstacle course, a 2-mile RUCK, and a team-contributed 200 pull-ups.
In platoon drill and squad drill the White Knights placed ahead of Schools such as Purdue and Ohio State. In the overall competition scoring, our Marion Cadets tied in 3rd place with University of Memphis but having placed in less events had to settle for 4th place overall.
"I could not be more proud of the effort out team put forth in representing themselves and their school," wrote TAC officer CTOCS(SW) R.M. Duke, USN, (Ret), who traveled with the cadets to Memphis.
MMI Signs Transfer Agreement with AUM
3.24.11 In a recent ceremony, MMI President Col. David J. Mollahan and Auburn-Montgomery Chancellor John G. Veres III signed a transfer agreement indicating that the two institutions will establish processes to seamlessly admit MMI graduates to AUM.
Michigan Students Visit & Serve
Students from Aquinas College in Michigan recently stopped by on March 8 MMI for a campus tour. The group traveled to Selma and the surrounding area for their spring break community service project. Pictured with the MMI White Knights, they were in Marion to work on a local woman's house.
MMI Receives $20K Grant from the Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Marion Military Institute is proud to announce its most recent gift from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama in the amount of $20,000. These grant funds have been used to purchase two SMART Carts for classroom use in the Monteabaro Chemistry Building.
“Our faculty and staff are so grateful to the Daniel Foundation of Alabama for the grant funding that has allowed us to establish two additional “Smart” classrooms,” Mrs. Susan Stevenson, Vice President and Academic Dean, stated in an interview. “These will greatly increase our capacity to provide technology-based instruction to our cadets.”
A SMART Cart is a self contained system designed to provide a variety of presentation technologies that enhance instructional techniques. The system contains a computer and monitor with DVD drive, a video player, external speakers, wireless keyboard and mouse, document camera, and software that will allow an instructor to draw, highlight, and generally emphasize areas of interest while the image projects on a screen at the front of the classroom. Instructors have instant access to the World Wide Web, can show video clips, and projects images of actual objects, pictures, articles, documents, etc.
Including the SMART Carts from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama, MMI currently has eleven Smart classrooms. MMI’s goal is to equip all classrooms on campus with SMART technology.
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama’s mission is to strengthen communities within Alabama and improve the quality of life for citizens form all regions of Alabama through the support of quality educational programs, arts and culture, civic and community programs, and medical care and research.
MMI Graduates 18, Commissions 14 in December
On Thursday, December 16th, Marion Military Institute held its December Commencement and Commissioning Ceremonies in the historic MMI Chapel. Eighteen cadets completed MMI’s two-year program and received an Associate of Science degree. Of those 18 graduates, 14 also received their commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.
“Marion has been such a rewarding experience,” Newly commissioned 2LT Justin Littlejohn of Columbia, TN stated in an interview. “I met a group of friends here that I will be bonded with forever. The faculty, staff, and ROTC program instilled in me the discipline and leadership skills necessary to succeed in my future career as an officer in the U.S. Army. I will always hold MMI in high regard and appreciate what it has done for me as a person.”
The graduation ceremony began at 10AM and featured SCPO Bob Duke, USN (Ret), of Demopolis, AL as the guest speaker. SCPO Duke is the Senior TAC Officer and the Director of Cadet Leadership Development at MMI. He also is the rappel master, aquatics and karate instructor.
Following Commencement, the Army ROCT Department held its Commissioning Ceremony at 11:30AM. Visiting campus as the guest speaker was BG Sheryl Gordon, Commanding General of the 62nd Troop Command and Assistant Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard. In honor of the graduates, parents, guests, graduates, faculty and staff were invited to a reception at the home of Susan and Sam Stevenson immediately following the ceremonies.
Cadets in Spirit of Giving
12.20.10 MMI cadets gave back to the local community with two December projects sponsored by the Scabbard & Blade Society. The group collected approximately 80 used cell phones and media to send to the Cell Phones for Soldiers organization in mid-December. Recycling these phones helps our deployed troops call home. Cell phone collection will continue on campus throughout 2011. Scabbard and Blade members also organized the annual U.S Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive on the MMI campus. Collection boxes were filled with new toys from cadets, faculty/staff, and the local community. The gifts will be distributed to needy children. Pictured: Cadets Brann, Hollis & Lee
Cadets March in Honor of Vets
11.12.10 Each year, the MMI Corps of Cadets marches in honor of our nation's veterans. This year MMI cadets marched in the 63rd annual celebration of National Veterans Day in Birmingham, a salute to those men and women who have served their country as members of the armed services and those today who proudly wear the uniform of the active, reserve, and national guard forces. Watch the Fox 6 "Good Day Alabama" news coverage: click on White Knights and MMI President videos.
*Photo courtesy The Birmingham News
Mississippi JROTC Students Visit
10.21.10 JROTC students from Terry High School, near Jackson, Miss., visited the MMI campus with their Senior Army Instructor, MAJ Doug Green, whose son Brian is a 1998 MMI graduate. While in Marion, the students toured campus and the Alabama Military Hall of Honor, listened to briefings, dined in the mess hall, and concluded their day with a game of capture the flag. The group (maroon shirts) is pictured with MMI cadets (in ACUs).
Carter & Hollister Named as MMI Trustees
9.15.10 MMI announces two new members of the MMI Foundation Board of Trustees & Advisors: BG Vandiver H. Carter, USAR (Ret) of Selma, Ala. (MMI class of 1963) and Mrs. Beverly Anderson Hollister (MMI class of 1972) of Draper, Utah. They were approved by the Alabama State Board of Education at its August 26th meeting.
9.12.10 Flight program students take first flights of the semester at Vaiden Field. Click here for the full story.
8.30.10 MMI was awarded a $50,000 ADECA grant to improve heating and cooling in Trustees Hall. Click here for the full story.
11.29.11 The MMI Corps of Cadets organized a "paintball war" on a recent Friday afternoon with proceeds benefitting Brilliance in the Basics, the MMI Capital Campaign. To date, our Cadets have raised more than $1,500 by holding two separate paintball competitions.
