“Even with the nation’s sluggish economy, we continue to have success enrolling students both domestically and internationally, and we anticipate starting the year with approximately 100 Cadets, our largest enrollment in several years,” says COL (Ret) Bill Jenrette, President of LWMA.  “This demand validates our success in educating and developing exceptional young men, and our 100 percent college acceptance rate continues to be one of our greatest recruiting tools,” he added.

While in-state students represent around 45 percent of the current Cadet population, the Academy’s administration continues to make strides internationally in its recruiting efforts, focusing on Central America and Mexico.  “With our strong Internet presence, we’re now able to reach potential families across the globe, and we’ve re-established relationships in Latin America that are proving beneficial,” says MAJ (Ret) Joe Watson, Director of Admissions.  According to Watson, the Academy is exploring the development of a Spanish version of its Web site at www.lwma.org.

The remainder of the Cadet population hails from the Southeastern and Eastern United States (35 percent), the Mountain states and the West Coast (15 percent) and Central America and Mexico (5 percent).

The Academy’s summer school program and the continued success of its athletic programs, especially soccer, have also contributed to increased enrollment.  “We’re developing academic, athletic, military and extra-curricular programs that potential Cadets find interesting,” says Jenrette.  LWMA recently introduced an ACT preparatory program in addition to offering Advanced Placement Courses and dual enrollment through accredited online courses offered by Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City, AL.

LWMA is one of less than 30 military boarding schools nationally, educating young men from grades 6-12.  LWMA is designed to not only educate, but to teach traditional values such as leadership, patriotism, respect, self-discipline, and accountability.  Sports, such as football, soccer, baseball, and basketball are also offered, and the Academy is a member of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) and participates in the Associations sports and academic competitions.  Additionally, the Academy’s JROTC program is designated an Honor Unit with Distinction and is among the top five percent in the nation, a designation that it has retained for the past 35 years.  For more information, visit www.lwma.org.

Camp Hill, Alabama, June 15, 2010 – Though school is out across most of the nation, new Cadet recruitment at Alabama-based Lyman Ward Military Academy (LWMA) is a year-round process, and school administrators are turning to an untapped resource in their outreach – allowing Cadets to showcase daily life through its newly launched Cadet Life blog at www.lwma.org/blog.

“One of the leading concerns in our recruiting efforts is being able to appropriately describe the day-to-day life of a Cadet, and our new Cadet Life blog gives potential students the opportunity to read first-hand the emotions, challenges and successes from some of our Cadets,” says MAJ (Ret) Joe Watson, Director of Admissions.

LWMA has seen its share of challenges during the past decade, including financial difficulties, and the inaccurate rumor of the Academy’s closing.  “We’ve weathered plenty of storms, yet we continue to grow and develop exceptional young men.  We’ve managed to increase the diversity of our Cadet population, and we continue to maintain a 100 percent college acceptance rate, a fact that the entire Lyman Ward family looks to with pride,” says COL (Ret) Bill Jenrette, President of LWMA.

Lyman Ward administrators selected five Cadets from among a number of volunteers, allowing each to provide a glimpse into daily activities such academics, military instruction and drills, free time and athletics.  “We view this as an outstanding way to build relationships with future students.  Our Cadet bloggers are capable of telling the LWMA story and answering prospective Cadets questions in a way that we as administrators cannot,” added Jenrette.

“When I was first told that I was being sent to military school, I was terrified,” writes Cadet Larry Woods of Anniston, AL in a recent blog posting.  “I wish there had been a blog when I was a new Cadet, as it would have provided a great guide as to what to expect, and taken some of the anxiety out of attending a military school” writes Woods.

LWMA is one of less than 50 military boarding schools nationally, educating young men from grades 6-12.  LWMA is designed to not only educate, but to teach traditional values such as leadership, time management, respect, self-discipline, and accountability.  Sports, such as football, soccer, baseball, and basketball are also offered, and the Academy competes on the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) level.  Additionally, the Academy’s JROTC program is designated an Honor Unit with Distinction and is among the top 5 percent in the nation, a designation that it has retained for the past 35 years.

The Academy will host an Open House on its 300-acre Camp Hill campus on June 19 and July 17, and admissions personnel will be in Huntsville on June 23, Daphne on July 13 and Pensacola on July 14.  For more information, visit www.lwma.org.

Lyman Ward Military Academy Announces Summer School Session - Boarding Students and Day Students Offered Accredited Coursework

Camp Hill, Alabama – May 19, 2009 – The phrase ‘summer school’ conjures up dreadful thoughts of boring, seemingly endless days of remedial instruction in a hot, stale classroom, while everybody else is out having fun. 

Such is not the case with Camp Hill, Alabama-based Lyman Ward Military Academy (LWMA), as the Academy will open it doors for summer school, June 14-July 10, to male boarding students, and both male and female day students in grades 6-12.

Lyman Ward Offers Summer Session

“This isn’t your parents’ summer school,” says Maj. Jeff Damron, school counselor and director of the Academy’s summer school.  “We already have a significant number of students enrolled who are being proactive about their next year’s coursework by taking accredited classes this summer.”

According to Damron, Lyman Ward’s summer session provides a unique opportunity for students to learn in a structured, yet fun environment.  “Instruction will be rigorous, but relaxed,” says Damron.

LWMA will offer both boarding school and day students a positive atmosphere with small classes, personal attention and exciting activities and programs.  Core academic and elective subjects will be offered, providing students from other city and county school systems with the opportunity to make-up credits he or she needs to graduate, or explore a new area of interest for personal enrichment or getting ahead.

LWMA is accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), and course credits are transferable to any school or college in the nation accredited by SACS.  Several courses will be offered, including math, English, science, biology and history.

“Our close proximity to Auburn, Opelika, Dadeville, Alexander City, Lanett, Valley, Tuskegee and Dadeville, makes our summer session competitive with other programs that may not offer as much enrichment as ours,” says Damron.

The program will also offer non-credit classes for students in grades 6-8, designed to help individuals gain skills in specific academic areas.  The LWMA summer session allows a student to complete a full credit of coursework in one month. 

Boarding students will have the opportunity to participate in supervised after school programs and athletic activities, or explore the Academy’s 300-acre campus, offering a game room, gymnasium, swimming pool, weight room, library, lakes and athletic fields.  Weekend activities include field trips to area educational, historical and recreational sites, including the National Infantry Museum, the Civil War Naval Museum, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Auburn University, a Montgomery Biscuits AA minor league baseball game, and Surfside Water Park.

Based in Camp Hill, Alabama, LWMA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  LWMA is one of less than 50 military boarding schools nationally, educating young men from grades 6-12.  For more information about the summer school session, contact Maj. Jeff Damron at 256-896-2907, or visit LWMA online at www.lwma.org. 

 

Lyman Ward Cadets Host Dixon Foundation Appreciation Day

Lyman Ward Military Academy Appreciation Day - Cadets Show Gratitude to Solon & Martha Dixon Foundation for Support

Camp Hill, Alabama – May 14, 2009 – Next to Dr. Lyman Ward himself, founder of Lyman Ward Military Academy (LWMA), no other individuals have had such a profound impact on the Academy than the late Solon and Martha Dixon.

Upon graduating from SII in 1922, Dixon went on to receive a degree in mechanical engineering from Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University.

Dixon was a forestry leader, conservationist and farmer and was known for his dedication to education. He and his brother, Charles, developed and managed Dixon Lumber Co. in Andalusia. The family’s acquisition of forestland began in the 1920s and peaked in the mid-1970s with about 90,000 acres. Solon Dixon died in 1986. His wife, Martha, and the Foundation’s board members, continued his philanthropic support of education through the Solon & Martha Dixon Foundation.

Based in Camp Hill, Alabama, LWMA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  LWMA is one of less than 50 military boarding schools nationally, educating young men from grades 6-12.  For more information, to schedule an on-campus visit, or for a list of recruiting events, visit LWMA online at www.lwma.org. 

“Dignity of work cannot be expressed in words, but in deeds."

Lyman Ward Military Academy’s J.D. Gooden Field Nominated for Makeover - Residents of East Alabama Encouraged to Vote Online

Lyman Ward Military Academy’s J.D. Gooden Field has been nominated to receive a complete makeover as a part of the ‘Plant a Seed’ program sponsored by Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes.

“The small town of Camp Hill has seen better times, and the local public school closed several years ago.  Many of the town’s people work and support Lyman Ward Military Academy, which remains the crown jewel of this small southern town,” says Lyman Ward alumnus (’80), Nick Myers, who nominated the field. 

“J.D. Gooden Field is almost 50-years-old, and has received few capital improvements during this time, yet it continues to support the Academy’s soccer, football and various intramural teams.  The field has aged rapidly and is in desperate need of resurfacing, while the stands, parking lot and restrooms are all in need of repairs,” says Myers.

According to the Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes website, the company’s Plant a Seed program “believes that every kid should have a place to be active and play hard so they can be their very best.  But as communities everywhere face difficult financial decisions, many are finding themselves without the funds they need to maintain their local playing fields.  That’s why we (Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes) is committed to rebuilding fields all across America.”

Lyman Ward Military Academy Is now one of less than 50 military boarding schools nationwide, and continues to struggle, adjusting to society’s demands and facing the ongoing challenges of financial support and misunderstandings by the public.

“Our role has been the same since the Academy was founded as the Southern Industrial Institute in 1898 – the development of the “whole” man, says Col. Bill Jenrette (Ret.), President of Lyman Ward Military Academy.  “At Lyman Ward, we not only teach academics, but our instructors take an active role in mentoring Cadets on self-confidence, ethics, character, discipline, pride, organization, respect and civic duty,” says Jenrette.

The Academy’s alumnus, friends and residents of Camp Hill encourage citizens of east Alabama to support this great cause by visiting www.frostedflakes.com/#/plant-a-seed, and voting for J.D. Gooden Field.  “Gooden Field not only represents the school, but is a local landmark where residents, students and former players can put aside their differences, and join together as a family,” adds Myers.

For a first hand look at the pride taken by the Academy’s Cadet-athletes, search ‘Remember the Ranger’ at www.youtube.com.  For more information about Lyman Ward Military Academy visit www.lwma.org, or call toll free 1-800-798-9151.

Pensacola Teen Embraces Military School – Calls it “Home”

After spending years bouncing around from school to school following his father’s career in the Navy, Pensacola teen Kaylen Sampson says he has finally found a school to call home in Camp Hill, Alabama-based Lyman Ward Military Academy (LWMA).

“Folks would think that the decision to come to Lyman Ward Military Academy was one made solely by my parents, but I was actively involved in the decision-making process,” says Sampson.  “My parents and I looked at several military boarding schools across the country, and Lyman Ward was a good fit,” says the Junior Cadet.

Sampson admits that his grades were suffering before he joined Lyman Ward, but his desire to obtain a good college education, and to pursue a career as a pilot in the military, is what drives him to study hard.  

“It’s nice to finally have a school to call home,” says Sampson, whose adjustment to a military boarding school was made easy as the son of a Naval Officer.  “Adjustment and transition are two words that I have lived by during my father’s 25-year Naval career,” says the Cadet. 

Cadets are encouraged to pursue their interests, and Lyman Ward Cadets are fortunate to have a 300-acre campus, complete with hiking/biking trails, fishing ponds and shooting range.  Sports, such as football, soccer and basketball are also offered, and the Academy competes on the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) level.  Additionally, the Academy’s JROTC program is ranked among the top 5 percent in the nation, and has done so for the past 35 years.

Memphis Teen Gains Self Confidence – Military Boarding School the Right Choice

Germantown teen Ryan Ferrara says he has finally found a school that has taught him the discipline, structure and hard work necessary to succeed, not only academically, but also in life.

“I was reluctant to attend Lyman Ward, to say the least,” says Ferrara.  “My mother always told me that if I went down a rabbit hole, she’d be right there to pull me out – and she did,” says the Cadet.

“I was definitely headed down the wrong path, and needed more structure and discipline in my life, something that Lyman Ward has provided me,” says Ferrara, who was attending one of the area’s largest high schools before transferring.  “I got lost in the crowd, from a discipline and academic stand point,” he says.

Ferrara says he attributes his academic success to confidence.  “The Academy gave me the confidence in knowing that I could become both a straight A student and a leader.  It boosted my confidence in myself,” says the Battalion Commander.

Now when Ferrara returns to his hometown, he often serves as a role model to his friends.  He plans to continue his military training by joining a ROTC program in college, and hopes to attend the University of Tennessee. 

“Many parents feel that public schools are not meeting the needs of their sons, and look to institutions such as Lyman Ward as a cost-effective alternative to private schooling,” says Joe Watson of LWMA.  He added that when LWMA was founded in 1898, a high school education was the means to an end, and that it now is the means to a beginning.

Huntsville Teen Takes New Outlook on Life & Success - Military Boarding Provides Direction

Headed down a “wrong path” before high school, Huntsville teen Clay Marcous says he has finally found a school that has taught him the discipline, structure and hard work necessary to succeed, not only academically, but also in life.

Marcous’ daily routine as Senior Cadet at Camp Hill, Alabama-based Lyman Ward Military Academy is much different than many of his friends back in Huntsville, and he is quick to attribute his academic success to this routine, something he was unable to achieve at other schools.

“I was reluctant to come to Lyman Ward, but my parents and the Academy’s Superintendent all told me to just give it a chance,” says Marcous.  “I was lost while attending Huntsville High School, and was one out of approximately 600 students in my class,” says the Cadet.  “Once I joined the Academy, I soon learned to embrace the decision, and began getting good grades.  I wouldn’t trade my experience at Lyman Ward for anything,” he says.

Marcous added that this was the first time in his life that he received encouragement from teachers, school administrators and peers.  “Everyone kept telling me that I had so much potential, something I always questioned.  Now I’m in a leadership role, am getting good grades and am planning to attend college,” says the Cadet.  Marcous plans to join the military upon graduation from Lyman Ward, and is exploring military academies.

LWMA, like other military boarding schools, is designed to not only educate, but to teach traditional values such as leadership, time management, respect, civics, and accountability.  

Mobile Teen Takes Different Educational Path - Military Boarding School Provides Structure Needed for Success

Lacking confidence and not meeting his potential, Mobile teenager Carson Pruett has finally found a school that is providing him the structure and environment necessary to succeed in Camp Hill, Alabama’s Lyman Ward Military Academy.

The seventh grader’s daily routine is much different than many of his friends back in Mobile, and his mother is quick to attribute his academic success to this routine, something he was unable to achieve at other schools.

“Carson is gaining confidence that he never had before, and his study skills and appreciation for academics are more than I could have ever hoped for,” says Lynn Pruett.  “Carson and I have always been close, as most mothers and sons are, and this transition has been difficult for both of use, yet it means so much to me that so many people at Lyman Ward care for and watch out for the well-being and success of him,” Pruett says.

Pruett added that her son is a very intelligent young man, but he couldn’t see this in himself.  “Sometimes it takes someone other than a parent to show a child how special they are.”

LWMA is one of fewer than 50 military boarding schools nationally, educating young men in grades 6-12.  The Academy, founded in 1898, has watched as social and cultural influences have changed the way public and private schools function.

“While the perception of the military boarding school has changed dramatically during the past 50 years, the core principles of providing young men with an opportunity to succeed remains the same,” says Col. (Retired) Bill Jenrette, President of LWMA.

Lyman Ward to Host Military Day on May 2

Lyman Ward Military Academy to Host Military Day - Academy Opens Doors to Public with Tours, Activities and Military Displays

Lyman Ward Military Academy will host its 2009 Military Day on Saturday, May 2, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., giving interested parents/students and residents of east Alabama an opportunity to check out one of the nation’s most prestigious military boarding schools.

The day’s events will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the Ranger Ramble 5K Road Race, a challenging but fun course that meanders through the Academy’s 300-acre campus in Camp Hill.  There is a $20 entry fee, with proceeds going to the non-profit Lyman Ward Military Academy/Southern Industrial Institute Alumni Association. Competitors may register at the starting line between 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. on race day.

From 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., the Academy will be open for tours, and visitors will be treated to several military displays and activities, including participation from the 803rd Army Reserve Quartermaster Company, the 20th Special Forces Unit, the Marine Corps Military Police, the U.S. Army Recruiting Detachment and military helicopters from the Alabama National Guard.  At the conclusion of the day, the Academy’s Corps of Cadets will conduct a Full Dress Parade.

“Our school and its Cadets should be an immense source of pride for anyone living in east Alabama, as our role continues to be the development of the ‘whole’ man, which goes well beyond academic success,” says Col. (Ret) Bill Jenrette, President of LWMA.  “Our instructors take an active role in mentoring Cadets about self-confidence, ethics, character, pride, organization, time management, respect and civic duty.”

Lyman Ward Military Academy, which opened its doors in 1898 as the Southern Industrial Institute, is rich with stories and east Alabama lore; tales that include on-campus visits by well-known Alabamians Booker T. Washington and Julia S. Tutwiler. 

The Academy currently has a Cadet population of just fewer than 100, and continues to build upon its long heritage of successes. 

“At Lyman Ward, we face the typical challenges of financial support and misunderstandings by the public, yet we continue to develop young men of exceptional character, which makes our role in society even more important,” says Jenrette.

The Academy will also host an Admissions Open House for parents and perspective students on Saturday, April 25.

For more information about Lyman Ward Military Academy or Military Day, visit www.lwma.org, or call toll free 1-800-798-9151.