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May 2, 2025

Weekly Update for May 2, 2025

DAY STUDENT INFORMATION:

UPDATE! All parades going forward will have the Uniform of the Day as Class A Uniform.


REMINDER! This Sunday, May 4, is the Alumni Day festivities, including a Veteran's Ceremony (10 AM) and Parade (1:30 PM). Day Students must be signed in at the Commandant's Department by 9 AM on Sunday, May 4 in Class A.

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

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!

RSVP NOW FOR END-OF-YEAR EVENTS

As we approach the end of the academic year, we invite families to join us in celebrating their cadets’ accomplishments. If you plan to attend any End-of-Year Events, including awards ceremonies, or Graduation, please let us know by submitting your RSVP using the link below.

RSVP Here.

Your response helps us ensure a smooth and meaningful experience for all guests. We look forward to seeing you on campus!

MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND MARKS FINAL LEAVE WEEKEND

The weekend of Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11 will be the last leave weekend of the academic year.

Please note: All boarding cadets are required to remain on campus the following weekend (May 16–18) as we prepare for End-of-Year Departures and Graduation activities.

Thank you for your support as we close out the school year strong!

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.  

EVENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR

Fork Union Military Academy has finalized its events for the remainder of the year. The PDF Calendar on the website has been adjusted to include those events. Please print and bookmark the revised calendar for your interest for the months of April and May. Events like Parades, Special Ceremonies, and End of the Year Departures have been added. You can access the revised calendar below.

Please note, all Day Students must attend all parades.

2024-2025 PDF Calendar with Events


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:

  • Alumni Weekend | Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4, 2025
    • Fork Union Military Academy will host its annual Alumni Weekend starting on Friday, May 2. The weekend will consist of multiple festivities, including a Veteran's Ceremony (10 AM) and Parade (1:30 PM) on Sunday. Day Students are expected to sign in by 9 AM on Sunday, May 4. To view the entire Alumni Weekend schedule, please visit: www.forkunion.com/aw25
  • Mother's Day Parade/Leave Weekend | Friday, May 9 @ 2:00 PM
    • Fork Union Military Academy will host the Mother's Day Parade at 2 PM on Friday, May 9. Cadets will be eligible to go on leave following the parade. Please submit a Leave Request in Orah by Tuesday, May 6. Leave will end at 7 PM on Sunday, May 11.
  • Senior Day Parade | Friday, May 16 @ 2:00 PM
    • Fork Union Military Academy will host the Senior Day Parade at 2 PM on Friday, May 16. This is not a leave weekend, due to planning for departure day. All boarding cadets are required to stay on campus this weekend.
  • 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.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

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


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