Anthony Melick from Overland Park, Kansas, was the Class of 2023 valedictorian. Please enjoy the inspiring words of his valedictorian speech or watch the video of his address.
Current Campaigns
- Annual Giving Campaign
- 1889 Scholarship Fund
- Calvert Baseball Field Renovation
- Gold Dome Society
- Buy a Brick Campaign
- Memorial Chapel Campaign
- Planned Gifts
Annual Giving Campaign
Annual gifts are the first and most important gifts that Missouri Military Academy requests of our parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, and friends because they directly support the day-to-day operation of the school. Click here for more information.
1889 Scholarship Fund
Grant support for cadets is a growing need. Together, the MMA family can add $50,000 or more every year to support MMA cadet grants.
By supporting the MMA 1889 Scholarship Fund, you make a lasting impact on the lives of young men with a simple monthly gift.
Please consider a recurring monthly gift of $18.89 using your credit card, for an annual commitment of $226.68.
To make your 1889 grant commitment and support cadet scholarships, click here.
Your credit card will be charged $18.89 per month (tax deductible). Credit card transactions will be processed 30 days after the initial recurring gift and may be cancelled at any time.
Calvert Baseball Field Renovation
Missouri Military Academy began renovation and upgrade of the Brad Calvert Baseball Field in 2020. The Calvert Baseball Field renovation supports MMA’s strategic plan objective to develop cadet life programs such as competitive band, athletic and military teams and strong intramural programs that attract and retain cadets, build esprit de corps, and encourage participation in recreational activities.
To help support the project, please contact Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rob Silbaugh via email or at 573-581-1776 ext. 230.
Gold Dome Society
Few buildings in the state of Missouri boast a gold dome. When Missouri Military Academy reconstructed Stribling Hall in 2012 the existing dome was replaced with a new gold dome.
Alumni, parents and friends can be part of the new Stribling Hall by joining the Gold Dome Society. Your tax-deductible gift of $1,000 or more determines eligibility. If you can’t make a $1,000 contribution outright, you can spread your pledge over time up to three years. Indicate your choice on the pledge form or discuss payment options with the Office of Development.
The names of Gold Dome Society donors are prominently displayed in the atrium of the Stribling Hall dome. Society members also receive a commemorative crystal memento custom designed to include the image of the gold dome.
Give today and become a Gold Dome Society member here.
Gold Dome Society Members
Federico Acebal ‘95
Amy Adair
Robert ’49 & Helen Albright
Phillip C. Andrews ‘81
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Antoniou
Edsel & Dawn Baker
Kenneth K. Baker Jr.
Leslie ’48 & Joanne Barnard
Mark & Mona Beatty
Wally Beckley ‘48
Fred & Tracy Belton
Joseph B. Bonney ’40
MAJ & Mrs. Richards Boyce
Thomas & Elizabeth Bridge
David, Cassandra & Madeline Brooks
Jeffrey & Jane Brummet
Jose L. Cantu Saldivar
Randel & Patricia Cardott
Linda Wikman Carlson
Albert B. Chance ’71
HyunJun Choi ’15
Ruhan Chowrira '22
EuiJeong Chung ’12
Marvin & Carol Clark
Class of 1970
Class of 1971
In Memory of George T. Cline, Jr. ’46
Richard Cooper ’82
In Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Roy Creasey & daughter, Rosemary
Dana ’69 & Nancy Dabney
Michael B. Dalton ’59
Daniel J. Davis ’71
Dean ’78 & Patricia Davison & Family
George F. ’68 & Patricia L. Davison
Dennis & Kathy Diederich
John Dillon '13
Phillip and Cassaundra Dunbridge
Kristen & Jim Edmonston ’72
Dan & Cheri Erdel
Jason Falbo-Gwinn ’88
Robert M. & Helen B. Fenlon
Maj Gen & Mrs. R.M. Flanagan
Charles L. Foley ’53
Dan & Becky Fowler
Rick Frahm ’71
Mr. & Mrs. Maxwell Anders Frederickson ’01
Trent & Robin Frohock
John & Carol Gallaher
Jose E. Garcia ’78
Chris Gentry '88
BG Richard V. Geraci, USA
LTC(R) Paul E. Gillette ’70
Kevin D. Gregory ‘73
David Gwinn ’56
Larry ’74 & Christine Harrod
Macy D. Helm
Mr. & Mrs. Norman O. Helm
Todd Helm ’80
Richard Heriford ’71
Jack K. Heutel III
1SG Randal & Lena Jacobson
Adam & Kristie Johnson
Ben Jones ’50
In Fond Memory of Alfred Ben Jones
In Fond Memory of Elizabeth Curry Jones
In loving Memory of Phelma Keith Jones
John Josendale ’72
Randall T. Kelly ’89
Ronald & Susan Kelly
Kip Kimberley
Willis Kleinsorge
James & Billie Koons
Gerald & Margaret Kopp
Mr. & Mrs. R. Stribling Koster
In Memory of Col. Derrill S. Kuhlman
Marvin & Emily Kunde
Mr. Zhaosheng Li
Terry Logue ’72
Yushuo Lu ’14
Renè ’50 & Barbara Maleś
Robert Jr. ’63 & Betty Manche
Frank and Mary Matthews & Eoghan Matthews '13
Major Lawrence A. & Joanna Z. McClarey
President Charles A. & Joy McGeorge
Lt. Col.(R) Jim & Sherry Medley
Jose Mejia, Carlota Latofski & Jose Mejia '16
2011-2012 MMA Alumni Association Board of Directors
Mitchell ’82 & Mam Moffitt
Keith Morgan
Greg & Bev Morton
John C. Mosby III ’49
Chris ’71 & Debbie Naeter
In Memory of CW2 Tommy F. Noel -The Noel Family
Nicholas C. O’Neil
Jim '86 & Amy Obenshain
Bruce & Nancy Oliver
Dr. Zack & Regina Parr, Zack ’14 & Collin ’18
Paul & Veronica Petit
Mike Porter ’71
Kevin M. and Peggy C. Quinn
Reinhardt/Wilson
COL Dana, Peggy and Keith Reynard
Thomas M. Reynolds ’61
Sandra K. Riutcel
Michele & Derek ’15 Ryan
LTC(R) Ralph E. “Butch” Saner, Jr. ’71
Chaplain & Mrs. Randall Sawyer
Chris ’89 & Jeni Schafer
LTC Tim A. Scherrer
LTC Gregory & Mary Seibert
Paul & Mary Patrick Seigfreid
William W. Sims ’60
Greg & Christine Smith
Jorge J. Soriano '89
Gary ’72 & Dee Stewart
Raymond ’71 & Debbie Stotlar
Mr. & Mrs. C. R. Stribling III ’44
Mrs. Renae D. Stumpe
SGM Henry Suddarth
Tom & Leslie Teague
Gregory ’71 & Cindy Temple
Rik & Nellie Thornton
John L. ’64 & Linda F. Unnerstall
Donald ’54 & Moira Vaughn
Ben M. Veldkamp III ’75
Matthew Vore
John L. Walker '64
Stephen Allen White ’88
David Wilkins
Marc Wilson
Jerry ’63 & Regina Witts
Larry & Chu Woolery, Nick ’11 & Chris ’13 Helverson
Lawrence Wylie ’88
Richard N. Zahnow '72
Junying Zeng
Jesse Zimmerman ’12
Kent Zimmerman
Buy a Brick Campaign
Memorialize your time at Missouri Military Academy as you benefit scholarships for today's cadets with a personalized brick on the historic Senior Walk.
For nearly a decade, alumni and friends have had the opportunity to leave a legacy on the Missouri Military Academy campus through our "Buy a Brick" campaign - if you don't have your name on campus yet, this is a great way to be part of history!
By making a donation of $250 or more your name and information will be inscribed on a brick and laid in the Senior Walk on the front campus of MMA. Proceeds benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships to Missouri Military Academy cadets who demonstrate financial need. Click the button below to order and submit payment for your brick.
If you would prefer to make a donation to the Academy without purchasing a brick, your contribution would be very appreciated so show your support to Missouri Military Academy by making a generous donation today!
Memorial Chapel Campaign
The Assembly Hall
Cadets and their families come to Missouri Military Academy with high expectations for the facilities, technology, and amenities available at a private boarding school. Our campus plan has addressed this expectation with the construction and enhancement of our academic and administrative facilities. We will soon upgrade our athletic facilities and playing fields, however, there is a present need to provide improved programs and space for cadet entertainment and large group lectures. The Assembly Hall presents an opportunity to create such a space.
Cadets from the latter half of the 20th century remember the Assembly Hall as the site of JROTC classes, exam days and movie nights. As this current photo illustrates, the facility is currently in need of renovation. Our current plan is to update this area with new flooring, paint and wall treatments, roll-out windows and HVAC upgrades. Beyond that, the space will be enhanced to create a space outfitted with commercial quality seating, sound, and lighting to allow the Academy to host movie nights and guest speaker events.
Memorial Chapel Renovation
Work began in 2014 with the stripping away of old paint and finish. Original craftsmanship and beautiful woodwork began to shine through. A year of hard work resulted in a transformation from a dated appearance to a warmer, traditional atmosphere. Updated paint, gilding, wood refinishing and new flooring have brought the Memorial Chapel back to its original glory. Additional touches have enhanced the space to reflect its original purpose and mundane structural and environmental details have also been addressed to enhance the worship experience. Landscaping and paint give the exterior a fresh look.
A $5,000 kick-off gift from the MMA Alumni Association toward the renovation of the 55-year-old Memorial Chapel & Assembly Hall made on October 6, 2015 has now grown to a total of $218,022 in gifts from alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations! This represents nearly 70% of $350,000 overall funding goal for the project as gifts and commitments continue to be made every week. A special $100,000 gift challenge by the Alumni Association to encourage all alumni to support the effort has garnered $94,345 of the total gifts and pledges received! Under the leadership of Jeff Kays ’84, Alumni Association Board President, class agents are working with members of their classes and decades to reconnect and engage in commitments to fund naming opportunities in the updated facility. The MMA “Centennial Class” of 1989, led by Chris Schafer, and the Class of ’71, led by Greg Temple, each has launched special challenge efforts within the larger alumni challenge campaign.
Work in Memorial Chapel continued to add special gilded eagle wall bases and sets of flags representing MMA and each branch of the U. S. military, and an eternal memorial flame has also been included in the altar area. Gifts of all amounts are still encouraged toward the overall Memorial Chapel renovation fund, and naming gifts are still available for small and large Chapel pews and three remaining flag sets.
Excitement is building toward the completion of the Assembly Hall renovation. The old space has been completely gutted and the old paint, ceiling tiles, windows and air-conditioning units and wood and steel desk chairs have been removed. The rejuvenated Assembly Hall offers a fully-functioning movie theater, complete with padded seating for 140 cadets and guests funded by the Allen P. and Josephine B. Green Foundation, digital projection, and sound funded in part by the Miriam Arnold Edmonston Foundation, central room controls, and new paint, windows and ceiling upgrades.
Special thanks are due to the William T. Kemper Foundation and Commerce Bancshares Foundation, who combined to make a $50,000 grant in support of the Assembly Hall project.
We Shall Always Remember
As World War II raged on in faraway lands, the cadets enrolled in the relatively safe enclave of Missouri Military Academy felt the waves of war lapping at their feet. The news of brothers killed in action inspired the MMA community to build a memorial to these young men who would never come home. This would be a place of tranquility and reflection, a symbol of peace and reverence in the midst of a world in chaos.
So began the first Memorial Chapel campaign, as members of each graduating class raised funds to build a chapel remembering those who gave their lives so that “The American Way of Life Might Survive.” In 1961, their dreams and efforts were realized as the Academy dedicated the Chapel to “classmates of mine and of yours who marched from this campus to war and gave the last full measure of devotion to their country.”
In 2014, during the Academy’s 125th anniversary year, MMA began a renovation of the Memorial Chapel when half a century of use began to take a toll on the structure. The goal was not only to revive the space, but to enhance it, and to build upon the legacy begun by MMA brothers more than 60 years before. The Academy has set a goal of $300,000 in gift support to underwrite the cost of renovating this critical component of our 360˚ Education.
The Society of St. George
The Missouri Military Academy Memorial Chapel and Assembly Hall facility was dedicated in 1961 in honor and memory of MMA cadets who gave their lives in combat against tyranny – they “marched from this campus to war and gave the last full measure of devotion to their country.” In years to follow, the facility has also served in memory of first responders who lost their lives in dedicated service to save others.
The Missouri Military Academy Society of St. George is dedicated to the perpetuation and support of the programs, services and facilities of the Memorial Chapel and Assembly Hall that honors these young men. Inaugurated in 2016 as part of a $350,000 fundraising campaign to renovate the facility, The Society of St. George recognizes loyal MMA alumni, friends of the academy, community groups and corporations and foundations who provide gift support at $2,500 or more toward enhancing chapel and assembly hall programs and facilities. Funds donated beyond the total cost to renovate the facilities will be directed toward ongoing program development and facilities beautification and maintenance for the future. New members will be publically recognized with an appropriate inscription in the facility.
St. George, known best for the legend of the dragon-slaying, is regarded as one of the most prominent military saints and one of the most revered saints in all of Christianity. George was a soldier in the Roman army, the son of a prominent army official of the day and mother who were both devout Christians. George was an exceptional soldier, rising to the rank of Centurion in command of 100 soldiers in the Guard of Emperor Diocletian. George had espoused his parents’ Christian faith and, upon an edict by Diocletian that all Roman soldiers should renounce Christianity and offer sacrifices to the Roman gods, refused to recant his beliefs. Diocletian sentenced George to severe torture and death for failure to renounce the Christian God, and surrender to pagan practices of sacrifice to Rome. George, who loudly-proclaimed his faith in God while heading to the executioner’s ax, was beheaded in approximately AD 303.
In his canonization of George into sainthood in AD 491, Pope Gelasius I considered George among those “whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God.” St. George is venerated throughout the Christian world and among many Middle Eastern Muslims, from Egypt to Asia Minor. Patronages honoring St. George have been established worldwide. He is the patron saint of England, where the Georgian Cross is the basis for the national flag. Patronages are also established in Malta and Gozo, Portugal, Lebanon, Russia, Georgia, and Bulgaria.
It is an honor and privilege to induct Missouri Military Academy alumni and friends into The Society of St. George for steadfast support of the memory of our fallen heroes.
Memorial Chapel/Assembly Hall Campaign Component Cost Structure
As of October 2015
Phase I: Chapel Interior
$ 32,000 | Interior Painting
$ 23,000 | Interior Flooring
$ 18,000 | Flags and Eagle Bases
$ 15,000 | Improved Lighting
$ 15,000 | Environmental Improvements
$ 9,000 |Carved MMA Seal
$ 5,000 | Full-Length Pew (@ 35)
$ 2,500 | Small Pew (@ 22)
$ 1,000 | Memorial Eternal Flame
Phase II: Chapel Exterior
$ 13,000 | Exterior Painting
$ 5,000 | Landscaping
$ 5,000 | Window Treatments
$ 27,000 | Structural Improvements/Labor
Phase III: Assembly Hall
$ 35,000 | Sound and Projection
$ 20,000 | Theater Lighting
$ 20,000 | Entrance Awning
$ 15,000 | Updated Flooring
$ 15,000 | Acoustical Ceiling
$ 5,000 | Window Treatment
$ 1,000 | Blackout Curtains
$ 6,000 | Site Preparation
Please consider a generous gift to MMA in support of this extraordinary cause!
Planned Gifts
Legacy and Planned Giving
Plan today to leave your legacy to the Missouri Military Academy.
Estate gifts empower some donors to make the gifts of a lifetime. Donors are recognized via membership in the Heritage Club.
The following is provided for informational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. Please consult your tax adviser, attorney or financial planner prior to making any decisions regarding your estate.
Wills and Trusts
Over the years, many generous alumni and friends have made a great impact at Missouri Military Academy by naming the Academy as a beneficiary in their will or trust. Naming Missouri Military Academy in your will or trust allows you to have full control of your assets while you live and then pass on a significant gift upon your death.
Unrestricted bequests are typically designated to the Missouri Military Academy endowment unless the Board of Trustees elects to apply it to a special fund such as a scholarship or capital project.
There are several options for those who wish to include Missouri Military Academy in their will. You can name Missouri Military Academy as the beneficiary of:
- A percentage of your estate’s assets
- A fixed dollar amount within your estate
- Specific personal property such as land
- Assets that remain after your loved ones have been provided for
- Gifts of Life Insurance
You can make a significant gift to the Academy by naming Missouri Military Academy as a primary or secondary beneficiary to a life insurance policy. Paid policies may also be transferred to the Academy. In some cases, the annual premium can be tax deductible.
Charitable Lead Trusts
A charitable lead trust is an irrevocable trust established when a donor transfers money to a trustee, usually at amounts of $100,000 or more, establishing a trust. The trust produces investment income that is paid directly to Missouri Military Academy annually until the donor’s death. Upon the donor’s passing, the remaining trust is distributed to the donor’s beneficiaries at reduced estate tax rates. The donor receives the benefit of seeing the impact of their gift during their lifetime.
Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs)
A charitable remainder trust can be established by using property or money to set up a trust that the donor will continue to benefit from for a specified period of time, after which Missouri Military Academy receives the principal. Donors can avoid capital gains tax on the donated assets and may also receive an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the remainder interest earned by the trust. The assets are removed from the donor’s estate, subsequently reducing the donor’s estate taxes.
There are three types of CRTs available: charitable annuity trusts, unit trusts, and a charitable pooled income fund. Each option has different benefits and restrictions. Your financial advisor and/or a representative from your bank can provide complete details about these options.