2024 in Review: Top 10 Missouri Military Academy Stories

As 2024 draws to a close, we invite you to reflect on the achievements and milestones of the past year at Missouri Military Academy (MMA). This year, MMA proudly celebrated its 135th anniversary — a testament to its enduring legacy of excellence in education and leadership. From earning an A+ grade in Niche.com’s 2025 Best School rankings for the fifth consecutive year to remarkable moments of cadet success, MMA continues to shape future leaders. Join us as we highlight the top 10 stories that defined this year.

1. Missouri Military Academy’s 135th Graduating Class Celebrates Commencement
The 135th MMA Corps of Cadets celebrated commencement on May 18, 2024. The graduating class, consisting of 37 seniors and three post-graduates, collectively earned over $4.9 million in college scholarships and achieved 100% college acceptance to schools such as the University of Notre Dame, Virginia Military Institute, Loyola University Chicago, University of Missouri, Baylor University, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School.

Notable achievements included Class of 2024 Battalion Commander Cadet Bradley Thumbi receiving a $180,000 NROTC scholarship and Cadet Evan Batson earning a $153,000 ROTC scholarship. 

The Class of 2025 has already secured an impressive $3.7 million in scholarships.

---

2. Fusileers Finish in Top 4 in Nation at 2024 Drill Team Competition in Daytona
The Missouri Military Academy Fusileers Drill Team competed in the U.S. Army Cadet Command JROTC Drill Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2024. The Fusileers Color Guard finished third in the nation, out of 21 teams competing in the advanced division. The team finished 4th in theArmed Exhibition (advanced division).

---

3. MMA Cadets Succeed in State and National Competitions
The Missouri Military Academy Colonels soccer team finished its 2024 season on Nov. 21 by bringing home the state runner-up trophy for Class 1. The MMA Colonels accomplished a season to be proud of — carrying a nine-game winning streak into the state championship game.

Cadets Trae Griffiths ’26 and Ryan Miles ’25 competed at the Class 1 state wrestling championship February 21-22 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. Cadet Griffiths medaled by finishing fifth out of the top 64 wrestlers in the 157-pound weight class, and Cadet Miles placed thirteenth in the 150-pound weight class.

At the Camp Perry JROTC Regionals competition, Cadet Noah Kaheaku individually placed second, earning him a spot to compete at the national level. In a competition against 17 other teams, MMA's team 1 finished fourth regionally and 18th nationally for Army teams, and MMA’s team 2 finished 11th regionally and 34th nationally for Army teams.

---

4. Cadets Showcase Superior Leadership and Discipline in 2024 JROTC Accreditation Inspection
The 135th Missouri Military Academy Corps of Cadets, led by Cadet Battalion Commander Bradley Thumbi '24, successfully executed the 2024 Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Program of Accreditation (JPA) on 26 April. 

---

5. Honoring the Sacrifice: MMA Cadets Remember Missouri’s Fallen WWII Soldiers from Exercise Tiger
Missouri state officials and cadets from Missouri Military Academy gathered at the Missouri state capitol in Jefferson City to pay tribute to the 200 Missouri soldiers who died during Exercise Tiger, a World War II large-scale rehearsal for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. This commemorative ceremony marked the 80th anniversary of the tragic event

---

6. MMA Cadets Earn Medals at 46th Military School Band & Choir Festival
Missouri Military Academy (MMA) band and choir competed in the 46^th Military School Band & Choir Festival, held February 16-18 at Virginia Military Institute. Accompanied by Pipe Major Stuart Mackenzie, Choir Director Ted Brauker, Band Director Brad Smith and Activities Director Elliot Goodwin, the cadets performed well, earning several medals for their performances. 

---

7. Notes of Achievement: MMA’s Cadet Mason Brooks Makes U.S. Military School History with National Progression Award
Missouri Military Academy’s Cadet Mason Brooks ’25 from Henrietta, Texas, became the first cadet from any high school or college-level military school in the United States to win a National Progression Award for piping. After years of practice in bagpipe theory, practical skills and performance, Cadet Brooks successfully passed level 2.

---

8. Missouri Military Academy Cadets Selected As 2023 Cross Country Academic All-State Athletes
Four Missouri Military Academy cadet-athletes — Gerardo Quiroga ’25 (Mexico DF, Mexico), Ryan Miles ’25 (Dallas, Texas), Michael Pfeifer ’25 (Mexico, Missouri) and Malachi Imrie ’25 (Wildwood, Missouri) — were selected as 2023 Cross Country Academic All-State athletes.

---

9. MMA FBLA Shines in Competitions and Community Service
Missouri Military Academy cadets showcased outstanding performances at the Future Business Leaders of America district competition on February 2, earning a total of 22 medals out of 18 participating cadets. 

On November 2, 2024, the FBLA chapter assisted the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Columbia, Missouri. 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.

---

10. Missouri Military Academy Cadets Participate in Fall 2024 Community Service Day
As part of the Tyronn Lue Day of Service for the Mexico community, the Corps of Cadets at Missouri Military Academy (MMA) demonstrated their commitment to service during the fall community service day on September 20, 2024. Cadets volunteered at a wide range of locations across the local community, engaging in projects that included cleaning, yard work, classroom assistance, sewing and setting up equipment. Annually, MMA cadets contribute roughly 8,000 hours of service to their community.