Lyman Ward Military Academy Expects Record Enrollment
Camp Hill, Alabama, August 22, 2010 – While many of the area’s schools are back in session, Lyman Ward Military Academy, Alabama’s only boy’s military boarding school, expects to match record enrollment experienced across East Alabama for its first day of classes on August 26.
“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.