![Missouri Military Academy cadets perform a review during Homecoming.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1750352500/missourimilitaryacademyorg/s5ltgelxpqvunojlrirv/HomecomingReview.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1750352500/missourimilitaryacademyorg/s5ltgelxpqvunojlrirv/HomecomingReview.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1750352500/missourimilitaryacademyorg/s5ltgelxpqvunojlrirv/HomecomingReview.jpg","width":799}])
For the fifth year in a row, Niche.com ranks Missouri Military Academy among the 2025 Best Private Schools in America, reflecting the Academy's strategic focus and cadets' achievements. Below, learn about the 136th Missouri Military Academy Corps of Cadets' notable successes during the 2024-25 academic year.
1. Missouri Military Academy’s 136th Graduating Class Celebrates Commencement
The 136th Commencement Ceremony of the Missouri Military Academy (MMA) Corps of Cadets was held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10 a.m. in the Centennial Gymtorium. This year’s graduating class of 49 seniors collectively earned over $15 million in college scholarships and achieved a 100% college acceptance rate.
Among the class’s notable accomplishments, Cadet Mason Brooks received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of 2029, while Cadet Ryan Miles was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Preparatory School. Both Cadet Brooks and Cadet Aidan Maristany-Diaz were also awarded prestigious three-year Army ROTC scholarships, supporting their higher education and future service as commissioned officers. Click here to read more.
2. Second in State — Colonels Soccer Brings Home State Trophy
The MMA soccer team finished its 2024 season on Thursday, November 21, by bringing home the state runner-up trophy for Class 1. Despite a tough 4-0 loss to No. 1-ranked Valley Park, No. 3 MMA Colonels accomplished a season to be proud of, carrying a nine-game winning streak into the state championship game. Click here to read more.
3. First Place in Inspection! Fusileers Earn National Honors at Rocky Mountain Drill Competition
The MMA Armed Fusileer Drill Team traveled to Denver, Colorado, to compete in the Rocky Mountain National Drill Competition on Saturday, April 12, earning top honors — including first place in Inspection, second place in Armed Exhibition and second place overall in the Armed Division. Click here to read more.
4. MMA Cyber Cadets Dominate Fourth Consecutive Cyber CTF
For the fourth consecutive season, cadets from MMA’s cyber program delivered an outstanding performance in the spring 2025 Army JROTC (AJROTC) Cyber Capture the Flag (CTF) competition. In the spring 2025 competition, MMA’s CY1 teams captured 1st and 2nd place out of 28 competing teams. CY2 teams earned 1st, 6th, 7th and 9th place out of 23 teams. Competing as CY3 teams, MMA’s CY4 Cadets swept the top three spots — 1st, 2nd and 3rd— out of 15 teams. Click here to read more.
5. Missouri Military Academy Cadet-Athletes Shine at State Competitions
Eight Missouri MMA cadets qualified for the 2024 Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHAA) State Finals in four swimming events. Cadet Batbileg Bataa ’25, placed 14th in the individual freestyle and contributed to a top-15 finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The relay team included the following: Cadet Bataa, Cadet Kenneth Burle’28, Cadet Clayton Reich ’26 and Cadet Ethan Prentiss ’27. Click here to read more.
MMA Cadet Jesus Beltran Gonzalez earned the title of state champion in the 400-meter run at the Missouri state middle school track and field championships, held Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. Cadet Beltran Gonzalez, an 8th grader from St. Michael, Minnesota, secured first place with a time of 55.01 seconds, setting a new state middle school record for the event. Click here to read more.
During the 2024–25 academic year, MMA had 162 instances of cadet participation in team or individual events at the state level and above — including nationals. This total includes some cadets who competed in multiple events.
6. MMA Cadets Earn Honors at 2024 AMCSUS Annual Competitions
MMA cadets earned multiple honors in the 2024 Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS) annual competitions. Results were announced at the 2025 AMCSUS Awards Banquet held on February 24, 2025, with MMA cadets earning multiple awards in academic, physical training (PT), drill and writing competitions. Click here to read more.
7. MMA Cadets Earn Top Honors at the 2025 National Military School Band & Choir Festival
MMA cadets competed at the 2025 National Military School Band and Choir Festival held at Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, CA, on February 22 and 23, earning several first-place honors and two of the four gold medals awarded at the festival. The Military School Band & Choir Festival is a national annual event, and MMA competed against approximately 120 cadets from eight schools at this year’s competition. Click here to read more.
8. MMA Scout Troop 1889 Places 3rd and 7th in Great Rivers Klondike Derby
MMA’s Scout Troop 1889 participated in the Great Rivers Klondike Derby in Macon, Missouri, camping out on January 24 and 25, 2025. More than 200 Scouts competed in the derby, and MMA’s Troop 1889 Blackhawk Patrol and Combat Wombat Patrol placed third and seventh out of 32 patrols. Click here to read more.
9. Missouri Military Academy Cadets Qualify for FBLA State Competition
Following qualifying wins at district competition, nine MMA cadets — Marcus Miller, Jacob Pehle, Gunnar Ward, Michael Pfeifer, Malachi Imrie. Deonte Kerns, Tiago Ruas, Dallas Grantz and Daniel Bravo — attended the Missouri state Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition in April. Click here to read more.
10. Missouri Military Academy Cadets Participate in Community Service Projects
On November 2, 2024, MMA’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter assisted the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Columbia, Missouri, on November 2, 2024. Thirteen cadets, along with faculty member Melba Lackey and faculty member and FBLA advisor Peggy Reynard, volunteered their time, assisting with event logistics and presenting the colors. Click here to read more.
On March 21, the MMA Corps of Cadets participated in the Academy's spring 2025 community service day, volunteering at the American Legion/VFW Ashland, Missouri Veterans Home, The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia, MO, Pin Oaks Nursing Home, McCords Apple Orchard, Hickory Ridge Orchard, Pin Oaks Nursing Home, Arthur Hills Golf Course, Williams Center, City of Mexico, Centralia Parks and Rec and more. Click here to read more.
![Missouri Military Academy cadets listen to President Geraci during a leadership session in Memorial Chapel theater.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1752270190/missourimilitaryacademyorg/tqpo3qjsairdknvb0yzp/240808GeraciSpeakingtoCadreLoJackson-4-web.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1752270190/missourimilitaryacademyorg/tqpo3qjsairdknvb0yzp/240808GeraciSpeakingtoCadreLoJackson-4-web.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1752270190/missourimilitaryacademyorg/tqpo3qjsairdknvb0yzp/240808GeraciSpeakingtoCadreLoJackson-4-web.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1752270190/missourimilitaryacademyorg/tqpo3qjsairdknvb0yzp/240808GeraciSpeakingtoCadreLoJackson-4-web.jpg","width":1200}])
![Missouri Military Academy Interim Commandant of Cadets Major Wayne Welander stands in his military uniform against a backdrop of the American and MMA flags.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1751938431/missourimilitaryacademyorg/d83tlpqm5fg8ioy3isx2/Welander.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1751938431/missourimilitaryacademyorg/d83tlpqm5fg8ioy3isx2/Welander.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1751938431/missourimilitaryacademyorg/d83tlpqm5fg8ioy3isx2/Welander.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1751938431/missourimilitaryacademyorg/d83tlpqm5fg8ioy3isx2/Welander.png","width":1200}])