1,393 Volunteer Hours in 1 Day: MMA Cadets Participate in 2021 Tyronn Lue Community Day of Service

In a single day, MMA cadets and faculty contributed 1,393 hours to improve the Mexico community, positively impacting 16 local organizations.

On Friday, September 24, 2021, MMA's corps of middle school and high school cadets volunteered at local organizations in central Missouri for the 2021 Tyronn Lue Community Day of Service in Mexico, Missouri – in recognition of Mexico native and head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers Ty Lue. View photos on Flickr.

Selfless service is one of MMA's core values. An important component of cadets' 360° Education at MMA, community service provides an early understanding of philanthropy and a sense of direction and belonging for cadets. It promotes empowerment, self-worth, and empathy, and it develops social, emotional and physical skills.

MMA cadets contribute roughly 8,000 hours of community service hours annually – from cleaning up parks, to spending time with kids and veterans, to working with food-share programs like the Central Missouri Food Bank and Buddy Pack Program.

Organizations where cadets and faculty volunteered:

• Little Dixie Fire Protection District
• City of Mexico Recreation Department
• Coyote Hill
• Cuddle Cat Rescue
• McMillan Early Learning Center
• Missouri Veterans Home
• The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri
• Williams Family Support Center
• and more.

Below, photos from 7th grade community service — cleaning up a 100-year-old cemetery. 

Cadet perspective: "We were able to use mechanical tools and I thought that was really fun. We made tunnels through the brush and used them to expand from the outside inward. We had a big brush pile that we were able to jump on it and camouflage in it. We stacked the pile really high and jumped on it to compress it down."

Faculty report: "These cadets have performed with honor and duty and have done an excellent deal towards the improvement of this cemetery, which was overgrown and in a poor condition."

In 1889, the community of Mexico, Missouri, had a vision. They wanted a local academy to offer classical education for boys, set a standard of academic excellence, and provide learning with emphasis on discipline.

Through their efforts and vision for the Academy's potential, Missouri Military Academy came to be — founded on 2 November 1889. MMA and its cadets continue to thrive today through the support of donors.

 MMA will celebrate Founders' Day on 22 November. Please help us honor the vision of our founding Mexico community. Support our mission with a gift to positively impact cadets.

Please make a gift today.