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Christmas Parade Appearances
Selected cadets represented the Institute at two in-state events on December 5: the Abbeville and Demopolis, Ala., Christmas Parades. |
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HEADLINES: MMI in the News NBC13 in Birmingham, Ala., covered the Corps' participation in the 62nd annual Veterans Day Parade. Two cadets were interviewed.
The Montgomery Advertiser featured the 2009 Alabama Military Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony with a video tour of the museum and an article about the event.
MMI was ranked #43 in the Top 50 Fastest-Growing Public Community Colleges in a report published by Community College Week.
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In Memoriam
It is with sadness that we report on the recent loss of two alumni:
Edward D. Shivers III '49 died November 28 at Duke Hospital in Durham, N.C. During his 28-year military career he served as a pilot and was in numerous
Command/Staff positions and a veteran of the Vietnam War. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on February 19 at 1:00 PM.
Walter F Hamilton Jr. '42 of Pleasant Hill, Calif., died on November 27. He is to be interred at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. |
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Dove Shoot Raises More Than $26K
The J.C. Webb Memorial Dove Shoot was another successful fundraiser this year for both the MMI Foundation and the Alumni Brigade, who co-hosted the event at Sam Givhan's farm in Safford, Ala., on Nov. 5. Proceeds from the Shotgun Drawing and Dove Shoot secured $26,460 for the Institute. Capt. William Love of Georgia walked away the lucky winner of the Weatherby Athena D'Italia III at the end of the evening. |
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FIND US ON FACEBOOK
ROTC Department & Alumni Office
For those who have Facebook accounts, we encourage you to "friend" us on one of three pages managed by MMI staff. Tiger MMIROTC reports on the training and activities of the Army ROTC Department with up-to-date photo galleries and posts. Marion Military Institute Alumni, the official MMI alumni page, is a group site where upcoming events and Alumni news are posted. Lastly, Marion Military Photos gives cadets, alumni, parents and friends a look at campus life. |
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Display Your Sword Proudly
Custom sword holders are the perfect way for alumni to display their MMI memorabilia. They also make great graduation gifts for current cadets. The MMI sword holder incorporates the school crest and a plate that can be personalized with your name and dates of attendance. $119.95 + tax and shipping (includes engraving).
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Save
the
Date:
Alumni Weekend April 8-10
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Upcoming Events:
Jan. 19 - Montgomery Alumni & Friends Mixer, 6-8 PM at Montgomery Country Club
Jan. 29 - Cresting Parade
Feb. 12 - Presidents' Day Parade
March 25-28 - Knight-Fox Challenge
April 8-10 - Alumni Weekend
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Flight Class Takes Off
Students of the MMI 2009-2010 flight class logged their first training flights at Marion-Vaiden Field on Saturday, November 7, in a Cessna 152. A new offering for cadets as well as the general public, the flight school is a partnership between MMI, South Star Aviation of Montgomery (providing flight instruction) and the local airport. Colonel Bill Hansen, a former executive vice president at MMI, conceptualized the flight school and will be doing some of the ground school instruction for the Spring semester. He notes that the program counts about eight cadets, as well as one faculty member.
Hansen hopes to secure scholarships and/or additional funding to help future students through the solo phase of instruction. "We would expect that when the program gets fully implemented, the students will be able to get their private pilot's license or work toward subsequent ratings," he says. Anyone wanting to get involved with the flight school should email whhansen@hotmail.com.
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Campus Outreach
This semester, MMI cadets as well as faculty/staff
participated in three drives organized by the Commandant's Office. The first
was the annual Fall blood drive in the Ireland Athletic Center, where 84
individuals donated blood. For Thanksgiving, Bravo Company took the
lead in organizing a food drive and collected more than 50 lbs. of
non-perishable goods from the Corps. As part of the "Cadets for Christmas" program, students, faculty and
staff joined together to donate 133 toys for needy Perry County Children. A
former Marine, Rep. Ralph Howard of Greensboro, Ala., (pictured with MMI
President Col. David Mollahan and cadets) helped Scabbard & Blade organize the toy drive for the
second year in a row.
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Congratulations to our December graduates and new Army Officers!
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: 
First-Hand Advice from a Firstie
While home during Thanksgiving Break, Spencer Walker, an Air Force Academy "firstie," took the initiative to travel from Birmingham to Marion to speak to fellow Service Academy Prep (SAP) cadets enrolled as Air Force Academy candidates. Walker graduated from MMI's SAP program in 2006 and hoped to impart some advice about Academy life to the MMI cadets. He stressed physical conditioning and making the most of limited free time, among other things. In his spare time, Walker runs marathons, snow skis, and travels the country as part of the Wings of Blue skydiving team, appearing at football games and air shows. As a jumpmaster, he also teaches basic freefall to other cadets. (If you watch the BCS National Championship Game, Alabama vs. Texas, on January 7, look for Walker to jump with his team during the halftime show.)
During his last semester at the Air Force Academy, Walker will serve as Group 2 Commander, in charge of 10 squadrons. He commissions in May and will go to pilot training. "Looking back, I'm not sure I would be where I am in terms of leadership if I hadn't been at Marion," he says. | |
Three Athletic Teams Ranked Nationally
The Marion Military Institute athletic department is proud to announce that three of their sports programs sit among the nation's best.WRESTLING coaches Jim and Dave Hazewinkel have their team sitting atop the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) with 540.5 team points as well as several individual wrestlers ranked in the Association's Top 10. The Apprentice School, last year's National Champion, is in second place with 476.95 team points, and Marion's Southeastern Conference main rival, University of Central Florida, is sitting in third place with 341.75 team points. Top 10 wrestlers include Michael Mullen, a heavyweight currently ranked 2nd, Brandon Westerman, a 133-pounder in 4thplace, and Joe Salvatore, a 165-pounder in 8thplace. Other wrestlers breaking into the NCWA's Top 35 are Terence Jones (125-lb) in 16th, Greg Magee (197-lb) in 20th, Kendrick Renfroe (HWT) in 21st, Maxwell Watson (165-lb) in 24th, Jay Mitchell (149-lb) in 29th, and Cody Bollinger (157-lb) in 35th.
The other two nationally-ranked teams belong to Head TENNIS Coach Chuck Wright. His men's team finished the fall season with a #20 NJCAA/ITA ranking while the women's team finished close behind in 23rd. Both #1 singles players for Marion, Rachel Rossi and Chad Llewellyn, have been recognized for their play this fall with a 24th and 54th rank, respectively. Rossi and her doubles partner Ashley Grafton have clawed their way to a #11 rank after both qualified for the ITA Small College National Championships held in Mobile, Ala. Llewellyn and his doubles partner Austin Dean have earned a ranking of 39 after their first fall season of play together.
"It is always great to see our student-athletes perform at such a high level," said MMI's Athletic Director, Dr. Michelle Ivey. "We are extremely proud of these young men and women and what they have been able to accomplish. All of our programs have grown tremendously in recent years and it is a testament to the job our coaching staff is doing on a daily basis. It's definitely a great time to be part of the MMI Tiger Pride family!"
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MMI Puts Proposal in Front of Alabama Congressmen
On November 18, Jimmy Rane, Founder/Chairman/President/CEO - Great Southern Wood, flew MMI administration and alumni to Washington, D.C. on his private jet to visit members of the Alabama Delegation. MMI President Col. David Mollahan, USMC (Ret), presented a proposal to construct a new $21 million Military Science/Math & Science Building. The group met with Senators Shelby and Sessions and most of the congressmen representing the State of Alabama.
Also in attendance were Bob Geddie, Partner - Fine, Geddie & Associates, Inc.; Julian Smith, Retired Vice President, Governmental Relations, Alabama Power Company; Dean Mooty, Partner - Mooty & Associates, P.C.; and MMI representatives Susan Stevenson, Vice-President & Dean for Academics; Maj. James Lake, Professor of Military Science; and Suzanne McKee, Director of Development.
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Alumni Reconnect at Local Mixers
This fall, the Alumni Office had the opportunity to co-host several
"Alumni & Friends Mixers" across Alabama and beyond. Kicking off
the year was the West Alabama Mixer, where plenty of locals came out to
meet new MMI President Col. David Mollahan, USMC (Ret). Later events
took MMI representatives to Birmingham, where Dan & Ashley Moran sponsored a wonderful evening at The Club, and Huntsville, where R.T. & Rosalie Smith invited guests to The Ledges. Another annual mixer was held in Millersville, Md., where Shivers & Nancy McCollum
and family entertained D.C.-area guests with a BBQ supper.
The next
mixer is scheduled for January 19, 6-8 p.m. at Montgomery Country Club.
Tuscaloosa, Mobile, Dothan and Destin events are in the planning
stages. Check the Alumni Events page for updated information. 
Col. David Mollahan, MMI President, presents Maryland Mixer host Shivers McCollum '46 with a Chapel stained glass window replica.
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