Weekly Update for May 16, 2025

DAY STUDENT INFORMATION:

Cadet Fun Day is scheduled for Sunday, May 18. If your Day Student would like to attend, the event starts at 12 PM and lasts to 4 PM. Please sign in at the Commandant's Department when you arrive on campus.

Additionally, if your Day Student will be absent due to illness, please email absent@fuma.org to notify the school.

END-OF-YEAR DEPARTURE

The next Major Leave will be End-of-Year Departure. Below are the scheduled departure dates for specific groups of cadets.

Important: All boarding cadets must submit a Leave Request in Orah for their End-of-Year departure. To ensure proper accountability, please submit requests by Friday, April 18. Please select a random return date in Orah to be able to submit a request.

Departure Schedule:

• Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 7th Grade departs after 7th Grade Ceremony at 10:30 AM
• Thursday, May 22, 2025 - 8th-11th Grade (who are not in band) departs at 12:30 PM
• Friday, May 23, 2025 - Seniors & Band members depart at 11:00 AM after Graduation. Graduation starts at 10:00 AM.
  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.  

FUMA TRANSPORTATION SHUTTLE NOT AVAILABLE FOR MAY 22 & MAY 23

Please be advised that Fork Union Military Academy cannot offer shuttle service to area airports on Thursday, May 22, or Friday, May 23.

If your cadet requires transportation off campus for departures on either of these dates, please submit a Private Hire request through Orah. These requests will be first come, first served.

• If you have already submitted a Leave Request and selected “FUMA Transportation,” the Academy will do its best to provide transportation. 
• If you have not yet submitted a Leave Request and your cadet needs to depart campus on either of these dates, please submit your request as soon as possible. 

IMPORTANT! REAL ID REQUIREMENT FOR CADETS TRAVELING BY AIR

As we approach end-of-year departures, please be aware of TSA identification requirements for cadets 18 years of age or older who plan to fly home.

Per federal regulations, individuals 18 and older must present valid, compliant identification at airport security. This includes:

• A REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state-issued ID card - OR - A valid U.S. passport
  

If your cadet is flying home and will be 18 or older at the time of travel, please ensure they have proper identification. For more information about Virginia’s Real ID program, visit dmv.virginia.gov/realid.

Thank you for helping ensure smooth and timely departures for all cadets!

RE-ENROLLMENT DEADLINE HAS PASSED

The April 25, 2025 deadline for re-enrollment has now passed. If you still need to re-enroll your cadet for the upcoming academic year, please contact the Admissions Office as soon as possible at admissions@fuma.org.

We’re here to help guide you through the next steps!

FORK UNION NAMED A TOP SCHOOL IN VIRGINIA

We are excited to share that Fork Union Military Academy has been named one of the Virginia Living's Top Schools & Universities 2025! This annual guide recognizes outstanding educational institutions across the Commonwealth, highlighting those that excel in academics, leadership development, and student success. We are honored to be included in this prestigious list, reaffirming our commitment to providing a structured, character-driven education for our cadets. 

Read more here: Virginia Living Top Schools & Universities 2025. 

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CADETS

Looking for a meaningful and enriching summer experience for your cadet? Check out the 2025 Best Summer Programs, identified by College Transitions! These programs offer incredible opportunities for learning, leadership, service, and career exploration, helping cadets stay engaged, build skills, and strengthen their college applications.

Encourage your cadet to take advantage of the summer by:

• Gaining work experience (part-time jobs, babysitting)
• Giving back (volunteering, mission trips)
• Building leadership skills
• Exploring academic & career interests (educational courses, internships)

Browse the full list of top summer programs by clicking here.

NEW -- Also, please check out the top 25 Summer Leadership Programs for High School Students by clicking here.

SUMMER STEM OPPORTUNITIES FOR 7th, 8th, AND 9th GRADE CADETS

West Point is hosting its annual Summer STEM Workshops for students in 6th through 9th grade, offering an immersive, hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and math! This is an incredible opportunity for cadets to explore the West Point Academy grounds, experience cadet life, and engage in exciting STEM activities.

Workshop topics include: Human Physiology, Fuel Cell Cars, Propellants, Robotics, Cantilevers, Soldering Circuits, Fish Biodiversity, Water Chemistry, Meteorology, Egg Drop Engineering, and Data Analytics and more!

Workshop Dates:

• June 2–6 – For 6th & 7th graders
• June 9–13 – For 8th & 9th graders

Applications are open now through February 28, 2025!

For more details and to apply, click here. You can also visit the Center for Leader Development in STEM.

CADET CARE PACKAGES FOR BIRTHDAY AND ANY OTHER OCCASION

Do you want to do something special to surprise your cadet while being away from home? Treat him to a birthday surprise, a pick me-up, or a just because treat from the list below:

Ms. Rhonda White, Assistant to the Commandant, provides parents with the opportunity to treat their cadet with something special. Choose from the following:

• Qty of 6 Cupcakes for $10
• Qty of 12 Cupcakes for $20
• Qty of 12 Brownies for $10
• Qty of 12 Chocolate Chip Cookies for $12
• Medium Size Gift Bag of Treats for $25
• Large Size Gift Bag of Treats for $40
• Chips and Salsa Bag for $12

For more information, please contact Ms. Rhonda White at whiter@fuma.org or 434-842-4203.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR 

Please bookmark the link to our Academic Calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. This calendar highlights all the major events on campus for the academic year, including dates of when each term begins and ends, leave weekends, SAT and ACT tests and all holiday breaks.

The easy way to find it on forkunion.com is under Academics - Academic Calendar. 

IMPORTANT DATES:

Please always check the Academic Calendar for updates on events. Below are a few coming up in the next couple months:

• 7th Grade Promotion Ceremony/7th Grade Departure | Tuesday, May 20 @ 10:30 AM
  • Fork Union Military Academy will promote the 7th grade class into the One-Subject Plan with a formal ceremony at 10:30 AM in the Wicker Chapel. Following the ceremony, the 7th graders will be dismissed for the school year. Congratulations! RSVP here.
• Underclassmen Awards Ceremony | Wednesday, May 21 @ 4:00 PM
  • Fork Union Military Academy will hold its 8th-11th grade awards ceremony in the Wicker Chapel at 4 PM on Wednesday, May 21. Parents and family members are welcome to attend and can join their cadet at dinner following the ceremony. RSVP here.
• Term 5 Final Exam/8th-11th Grade Departure | Thursday, May 22
  • The Term 5 Final Exam will be from 8 AM to 12 PM on Thursday, May 22. Following the exam, 8th-11th graders who are not in the band will depart campus for the year.
• Senior Picnic & Awards Ceremony | Thursday, May 22 @ 4:30 PM & 6:00 PM
  • Fork Union Military Academy will honor its seniors with a picnic and awards ceremony on Thursday, May 22. The picnic will begin at 4:30 PM followed by an awards ceremony at 6 PM in the Wicker Chapel. Parents and family members are encouraged to attend both events. RSVP here.
• Graduation | Friday, May 23 @ 10 AM
  • The Class of 2025 will walk across the stage in a graduation ceremony at 10 AM on Stadium Field. No ticket required for family members. RSVP here.

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Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Kelly Barnette
Director of Communications
Fork Union Military Academy
Email: barnettek@fuma.org