Seeking Alumni Flag Officers!
MMI is in the process of updating our list of Flag Officers who have attended MMI. Currently, MMI counts 206 Generals and Admirals in its alumni ranks.
|
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES REQUEST
It's that time of year again. We are seeking personal updates to be published in the class notes section of the summer Pass in Review magazine. Be sure to include your class year. Photos (optional) are welcomed!
|
|
You're Invited to the April 17 Fly-In
The first annual Vaiden Field Fly-In began in 2009 as a community boosting project conceived by University of Alabama Honors student Bethany McAleer, a young pilot. The free public event, designed to showcase improvements to the airport, drew a good number of pilots and a crowd of 200+ despite rainy weather. Vintage airplanes on display were a hit with all ages.
This year, the new MMI flight club, The Flying Tigers, will co-sponsor the Fly-In on April 17 with plans to become the operating body for the event beginning in 2011. Upgrades to the airport include nearly 6,700 feet of resurfaced runway and fuel service (coming this summer), which will hopefully attract more civil aviators.
Pilots interested in bringing their planes should contact Col. Bill Hansen, USMC (Ret), a career aviator, private pilot and certified ground school instructor at 334-683-4196. |
|
Alumnus of the Year
MMI is pleased to announce its 2010 Alumnus of the Year: Taylor D. Wilkins, Jr. '60 of Bay Minette, Ala. Mr. Wilkins is currently Chairman of the MMI Board of Advisors and Foundation Trustees and will be honored during the Alumni Weekend pass in review.
Alumni Brigade 2010 Honored Teachers are longtime staffers LTC David W. Bauer and LTC C. Gerry Lewis.
|
|
IN MEMORIAM
MMI sadly reports on the recent loss of several alumni:
Kenneth S. Barton '50 of Greensboro, Ala.
James M. Coe '48 of Pensacola, Fla.
David W. Cowart '54 of Oxford, Miss.
Walton Drake '76 of Uniontown, Ala.
Robert W. Hadden '45 of Boca Raton, Fla.
John T. Hartley '59 of Robertsdale, Ala.
Tom I. Kolstad '46 of Wilsonville, Ore.
Paul V. Liles '37 of Columbus, Ga.
Richard G. Kingham of Winter Haven,
Fla.
Charles H. Kowitz '84 of Chipley, Fla.
Larry R. Letscher '59 of Austin, Tex.
|
Save
the
Date
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 7 - Guest Speaker BG John "Doc" Bahnsen, USA (Ret), MMI Class of '52, USMA graduate
April 8-10 - Alumni Weekend
April 14 - Guest Speaker Cedric Wherry, American Red Cross
April 17 - Vaiden Field Fly-In
April 21 - Guest Speaker BG Walter D. Givhan, USAF, Commandant, U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology
April 28 - ROTC Awards
May 3 - Service Academy Prep (SAP) Convocation
May 7 - Graduation Picnic & Honors Convocation
May 8 - Commencement & Commissioning
| |
|
Fitness Trainer 'SGT Ken' Leads PT
On February 17, SSG Ken Weichert, TNARNG, a six-time Soldier of the Year, Master Fitness Trainer, and Veteran of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Desert Storm, came to MMI with his wife Stephanie to lead the Corps of Cadets in a high speed Physical Training session. While on campus, Ken also met key staffers, gave a motivational speech in the Chapel and dined with cadets.
Both Ken (a.k.a. "SGT Ken") and Stephanie, a Certified Personal Trainer, have been featured in national news media and currently produce health and fitness programs for GX magazine and the National Guard website. The Weicherts have also led thousands of soldiers to better health through Operation Fit to Fight™.
Additional special guests graced our campus this semester: Alabama Community College System Chancellor Dr. Freida Hill made her first visit since taking her post in December. Madelon Murfee David, great granddaughter of MMI founding president J.T. Murfee, traveled from Destin, Fla., to Marion to research her family. Meeting with MMI Coast Guard Scholars were CAPT Stephan Finton, Incoming Director of Admissions, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and RADM Ronald Hewitt, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources, USCG. Local author Mary Ward Brown enjoyed a President's Quarters reception and play, Ashes of Roses, at Judson in her honor. U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions toured campus and met with faculty & staff. Alumni returning as Distinguished Speakers were Mike Grayson '71, mayor of Demopolis, Ala., RADM Kenneth Braithwaite II, USN '80 and Midshipman Michael T. Plummer '08, NROTC Auburn University.
| |
|
Help Us Grow!
For just $30, you can now earn a chance to have a room in the MMI barracks renovated and named in your honor as part of the ROOM to GROW Annual Fund Campaign. This naming opportunity with engraved plaque is normally reserved for donations of $3,000 or more. The $30 in 30 challenge kicked off March 10 and runs through April 10, when one donor's name will be drawn at the Alumni Weekend Reunion Celebration. You do NOT have to be present to win. The class with the greatest participation will also be recognized. As of March 31, 80 donors had contributed $5,480 to the campaign.
Pledge your support by donating online. Choose "Annual Fund Campaign" under Gift Description. Checks made payable to the MMI Foundation and noted "Annual Fund" may also be sent to the Development Office, 1101 Washington St., Marion, AL 36756. |
|
Alumni Weekend 2010 Highlights
This year's Alumni Weekend (April 7-10) will feature new traditions and old favorites. You still have time to register!
- Thurs. Alumni Brigade Fish Fry
- Fri. Golf Tournament & Historic Tour
- Fri. President's Reception & Honored Teachers Presentation
- Sat. Arthur Wilkerson Scholarship Presentation
- Sat. Alumni Brigade Membership Meeting with Prize Drawing
- Sat. John Hunt Morgan Leadership Award, Alumnus of the Year Award & Parade
- Sat. Alumni Revelry & Reunion Celebration
|
Knight-Fox Challenge Attracts 170 Prospective Students
 The fourth annual Knight-Fox Challenge recruiting event brought 170 high school students to campus from March 25-28. Participants were exposed to military life and were tested academically and physically. A Saturday scholarship banquet and awards ceremony capped off the weekend.
Read the Selma Times-Journal coverage of the event.
View the KNIGHT-FOX PHOTO GALLERY online.
|
|
Wrestling Team Finishes 7th in Nation; Hazewinkel Named Coach of the Year
The MMI Wrestling Team finished in seventh place at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association's (NCWA) Nationals Tournament in Hampton, Virginia. The Tigers went into the tournament looking to capitalize on their success throughout the wrestling season and scored 58 points against 25 of the best teams in the nation. Jay Mitchell placed 7th overall at 149 pounds, Michael Mullen finished 8th in the Heavyweight Division, and Brandon Westerman was the National Runner-Up at 141 pounds.
The MMI wrestling team did a great job this year by finishing the year with a 17-4 dual record and by winning the NCWA "National Duals" Tournament in January. This was a first for MMI, and Coach Jim Hazewinkel was named NCWA "Coach of the Year" on the heels of that victory. Hazewinkel was a member of the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Olympic teams and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005.
Basketball Team's Top Scorer Earns 2nd Team All-League Honors
The Alabama Community College Conference recently posted its end-of-the-season awards, and Marion's Kyle Watkins was named to the 2nd Team All-League Northern Team. Watkins, a 6'3" sophomore guard played at St. Jude High School in Montgomery, Ala., before committing to play for Head Coach Marcus Thomas at MMI. Kyle finished the year as the tigers' leading scorer (13.53 ppg), shooting a team best 35% from the 3-point line. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds and a team-leading 2.6 assists.
1st Pitch Dinner Raises $10,000
More than 200 guests showed their support for the MMI Baseball Team at the annual 1st Pitch Dinner held March 6 in the Ireland Athletic Center. Pat Ivey, of Marion, walked away the winner of the Grand Prize drawing at the end of the night.
|
|
Cadets Mail Packages to Iraqi Citizens
The MMI Corps of Cadets and the Marion community have been actively collecting items to assist U.S. soldiers in Iraq in ensuring the Iraqi people get basic health and hygiene supplies through care packages. With the help of MMI staff, faculty, the Marion Clinic and physician Shane Lee, MMI Cadets collected and mailed 12 large boxes of items filled with first aid supplies, over the counter medications, office supplies and clothing during a time when the Iraqi people need it the most.
The Iraqi Care Package Program began when LTC Patrick Martin, who is currently serving in Iraq, saw resources drying up as Operation Iraqi Freedom started winding down. MMI will be actively sending care packages to Iraq over the next few months.
For more information on how to donate goods or money, contact Dr. Sam Stevenson at 334.683.2370 or samstevenson@marionmilitary.edu. A box will be set up during Alumni Weekend for those alumni who wish to donate items.
|
|
There are still 9 days left in the $30 in 30 campaign. Take the challenge!
| |
|
