General News

The Valedictorian of the 8th grade class at the Academy's Middle School is Cadet LTC John ("J.D.") Buchholz.  J.D. is the son of Ms. Lee Buchholz of Lake Tahoe, NV.  He is also supported and encouraged by his uncle and aunt, Lewis and Carla Martin of Charlottesville, VA.  Completing his third year at the Academy, J.D. is the Battalion Commander of the Middle School Cadet Corps.  During each of his years at the Middle School, J.D. has earned President's List, Excellent Conduct, and Meritorious Conduct.  During his 7th grade year, he was recognized for having the highest academic average.  This year J.D. earned the Battalion Commander Award and was recognized as the M.V.P. of the Middle School lacrosse team.  During his years at the Middle School, J.D. has lettered in J.V. and MS football, basketball, indoor track, baseball, and lacrosse.

The Salutatorian of the 8th grade class at the Middle School is Cadet SSGT Dalton Fowler of Carrollton, TX.  A member of "Alpha" Company, Dalton is the son of Mr. Gary Fowler (deceased) and Ms. Katie Smith.  He is completing his second year at the Academy.  As a 7th grade cadet, Dalton earned Honor Roll for the year.  This year, Dalton made President's List and Excellent Conduct for the Year and earned awards for his achievements in Spanish and music.  He was also recognized as a Johns Hopkins Scholar through the Center for Talented Youth program.  Dalton has lettered in cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, and lacrosse while a cadet at the Academy.  He has also been active in the Academy's choir.

Each year a committee from the Academy's Alumni Association selects a number of cadets to receive special scholarships and awards in recognition of their outstanding performances in all phases of the Academy program: academic, military, spiritual, athletic, and extracurricular.

The first honor is the CPT Charles Goodall Snead Award.  CPT Snead was one of the Academy's Founding Guarantors, and served as vice-president of the original Board of Trustees from 1898 until his death in 1925.  This year's recipient is a junior from Bena, Virginia, Staff Sergeant Matthew Carmine of Bravo Company.

The second honor is the Col. E. H. "Gus" Lacy Spirit and Character Award, given to a current Junior in memory of a long-time favorite teacher, coach, and friend to cadets, who served the Academy for more than forty years.  This year's recipient is Staff Sergeant James Sasai, a junior from Leesburg Virginia, and Third Platoon Leader of Bravo Company.

The third honor is the "Greenbrier Cadet."  This is the sixteenth year in which a Greenbrier Cadet has been designated to wear the special green and white cord to commemorate the Spirit of all Greenbrier men who continue to be proud of their alma mater, and who keep their school spirit alive by supporting today's FUMA Corps of Cadets.

The sixteenth Greenbrier Cadet is First Sergeant William Devine of Apex, North Carolina, the First Sergeant of Charlie Company.

Again this year the Academy's faculty and staff members have nominated a group of young men - four from the Upper School, including one postgraduate, and one from the Middle School - to be recognized by the Academy's Alumni Association for their outstanding contributions as members of the Cadet Corps.  Here are the 2013 Distinguished Cadets:

The first full dress parade by the Corps of Cadets of Fork Union Military Academy was held to honor a retired faculty member, LTC Robert Spencer of Scottsville, VA. Spencer taught for many years at the Academy and still maintains close ties with the school and its alumni. A regular attendee of the Academy's annual Alumni Weekend, Spencer remains a beloved mentor and friend to the hundreds of alumni who remember his days as an active faculty member.

On Thursday, April 11 the Fork Union Military Academy middle school lacrosse team faced off against the Culpeper Lacrosse Association in FUMA's third game of the season. The young team earned their second win defeating Culpeper 9 to 5. All team members who travelled to this event were afforded playing time. This opportunity provided valuable experience for several players new to the game.

The FUMA team continues to show improvement at each outing, but there is still much work to be done. In this game the team had more than twenty ground balls recovered and controlled which is good, but offensively as our stick work improves we need to be looking for the next pass and strive to increase our number of assisted goals. We need to continue to grow as a team, play as a team, and win as a team.

In the game FUMA scored 9 goals but only 5 from assists.  Eighth grader John Walker led the offensive effort with 3 goals and 2 assists, seventh graders Cameron Smith and David Signoretti each scored 2 goals, and eighth graders Jonathan Hegler and Shane Maryk scoring 1 goal apiece.

On the defensive half of the field, the team was led by goalkeeper Nick Orsa with more than 8 saves. The best defense is a good offense and keeping the ball on our offensive half of the field makes the job for our defensemen a little easier.

When the final whistle blew, the victorious FUMA middle schoolers recognized their opponents with a "Ray Rah Culpeper" cheer, and then shook hands with what had been the opposing team. When this was completed, Coaches Greenspon and Smith called the team in tight and with sticks raised high the team sang a version of "FUMA Men Are We"* written by FUMA middle school headmaster LTC Feathers.

Thank you to Mrs. Maryk for providing the team with a pizza party after their victory. We appreciate the kindness and the pizza. We are grateful for the encouragement and support of our families and friends.

How's the fishing around Fork Union?

Just ask COL Chris Nothnagle who takes cadets in the Fishing Club to fish at area ponds regularly. Shown below are fifty fish caught in just one hour on a recent fishing trip!