The Gig Line
A Marion Military Institute
E-News Publication
Volume 3 Issue 2
The Honor Ground Brick Project
The focal point of the Marion Military Institute (MMI) campus, The Chapel, is celebrating 150 years since its construction in 1857. The Honor Ground Brick Project is a way to commemorate this special year. Make your name or that of a family member, friend, or classmate a part of 150 years of this great educational institution while helping build the endowment of MMI.
The Honor Ground Inner Circle will feature the MMI flagpole in front of the Chapel and will add a special touch to the presentation of the colors. By purchasing a brick you can add your name, a parent, mentor, or friend permanently to the legacy of the Chapel and the MMI Campus. It is an opportunity to recognize current cadets or former cadets. You can also recognize a special organization or business by adding a brick to the Honor Ground Inner Circle.
Purchase your brick now to be part of The Honor Ground Inner Circle…the most prominent location. Only 1,000 bricks available!
To order a brick, call the Office of Development at 334-683-2394, 334-683-2347 or email us at .
Marion Military Institute Holds College Commencement and Commissioning Ceremonies
Marion Military Institute’s Junior College Commencement and Commissioning Ceremonies were held in the William R. Ireland Center on Saturday, May 5, 2007. MMI Advisory Council Board Member and 1975 Alumnus, H. Dean Mooty, Jr., was the featured speaker during the Commencement ceremony. Mr. Mooty is an attorney in Montgomery, Alabama.
Cadet David Sexton, of Columbia, Alabama, graduated Summa Cum Laude. Cadet William Hollifield, of Cedar Key, Florida, maintained the second highest grade point average. The Best All Around Award was presented to Cadet James Pearson of Jackson Gap, Alabama.
Immediately following Commencement, a lovely reception was held at the President’s Quarters on the MMI campus. There, graduates and their families were greeted by Colonel Jim and Mary Benson.
Twenty-Four Cadets were inducted into the United States Army as Second Lieutenants during MMI’s 2007 Commissioning Ceremony. LTC David McMickle, MMI Professor of Military Science, was the featured speaker. The ceremony took place at 1 o’clock in the William R. Ireland Athletic Center.
55 MMI Cadets Receive Appointments to the Service Academies
The 2007 MMI Service Academy Preparatory Convocation was held on Monday, April 30, 2007, in the historic MMI Chapel. The sixty-three cadets received twenty-two appointments to West Point, three to the Naval Academy, eight to the Coast Guard Academy, twenty-one to the Air Force Academy, and one to the Merchant Marine Academy.
Colonel Michael Jones, Director of Admissions of the United States Military Academy at West Point, was the featured speaker. Captain Susan Bibeau, Director of Admissions of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, was also a guest speaker.
The following cadets received awards during the ceremony: Cadet Tyler Clendenon, Johnson City, TN, in English; Cadet David Karwick, Buffalo, NY, in Math and History; Cadet Matthew Adams, La Porte, TX, in Political Science; Cadet Genevieve Harmon, Aiken, SC, in Chemistry; Cadet James H. Carter, III, West Chester, PA, in Physics.
MMI Prep Graduates 32 Cadets
Marion Military Institute graduated 32 cadets during its 2007 Preparatory School Commencement Ceremony on May 26 in the historic MMI Chapel. Current MMI Advisory Board Member and former Marion Mayor Edward Daniel was the featured speaker.
Cadet Terresica Crews, from Marion, received the Valedictorian Award and Kenderia Smith, also from Marion, received the Salutatorian Award. Both cadets are members of the National Honor Society.
Dr. Michelle Ivey, Athletic Director and Chemistry instructor, was awarded the MMI Alumni Brigade Preparatory Teacher of the Year Award. Mr. Tom Wilbourne, President of the MMI Alumni Brigade, presented the award.
Following the graduation ceremony, a reception was held at the President’s Quarters where guests received a warm welcome from Colonel Jim and Mary Benson.
MMI Cadets Attend Summer Training Camps
MMI sent 45 sophomore Early Commissioning Program (ECP) cadets to Fort Lewis, Washington, for the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) this summer. MMI Cadet Jeremy Trantham, from 5th Regiment, Bobcats, was recognized as the number one cadet in the regiment out of 331 and received the AUSA Leadership Award at their graduation ceremony, which was held on 21 Jun 2007.
Several MMI cadre attended the camp in Fort Lewis, Washington, to serve as platoon tactical officers and on committees. CPT Tiffany Maraccini, CPT Sean Davis, and SFC David Steele, served as Platoon Tactical Officers. MSG David Collins and MSG Billy Spreen served as Technical Evaluators on the Squad Tactical Exercise Committee.
After attending a five-day Tiger Camp on the MMI campus, 35 cadets attended the US Army Leadership Training Course (LTC) in Fort Know, Kentucky. These cadets will enter MMI in the fall as freshmen in the Early Commissioning Program (ECP).
New Additions to the Faculty and Staff
Wendy Rinehart Nichols has taken over as the new Alumni Assistant and Public Relations Coordinator. Wendy is a 1996 graduate of MMI. She comes to us from The Perry County Nursing Home where she was the Medical Records Director. Wendy’s father, sister, and numerous other relatives also attended MMI. Wendy and her husband, Preston, MMI class of 1994, reside in Marion with their two girls, Mary Margaret and Camille.
LTC Stanley Bamberg will be joining MMI as a full-time religion and philosophy instructor. LTC Bamberg has taught at Montreat College in North Carolina, Auburn University and Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Alabama. LTC Bamberg and his wife, Julia, reside in Marion. LTC Bamberg will return from Iraq in August.
A new face in the Administration Building this summer and a new addition to the Dean’s staff has been Donna Leemon. Donna, new to the postsecondary education field, comes to us with over 20 year’s business office experience. She will be acting as the Dean’s assistant and filling the Institutional Research & Planning position in 2LT Tamara Brewer’s absence. Donna and her husband are newcomers to the Marion area, just recently moving from Helena, AL.
There have been several new additions to the Admissions staff over the last several months. 2Lt Matthew Baker, MMI class of 2005, was hired in February as a Recruiter. 2LT Baker graduated from MMI in the ECP Program and is currently working towards completing his four year degree. Gunny Richard Cruz, USMC (Ret), came on board in June as a Recruiter. He came to MMI from Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida. Also hired in June was Ms. Natasha Johnson. Ms. Johnson is a native of Marion and holds a Masters Degree from Auburn. She is the Administrative Assistant for the Director of Enrollment Management. In July, Ms. Jennifer Hughey, another Marion native, was hired as the Administrative Assistant for Admissions and Records. 1SGT Christopher Borghese, USMC (Ret), will join the Admission team in August as a Recruiter. He will come to us from Indianapolis, Indiana.
There are several new faces in the ROTC Department as well. Major Darrell Martin has replaced a retiring LTC David McMickle as the Professor of Military Science. MAJ Steven Miscenski has taken over as the new Battalion Executive Officer, replacing MAJ Brad Nuckols, and CPT Sean Davis will join the ROTC Department as the new MSI instructor.
Recruiting Short Burst
The Admissions/Recruiting Office has had an eventful year thus far managing various events and programs … The Tiger Orientation Program (TOP), The Knight-Fox Challenge, The Tiger Volunteer Program, The Call Center, Mass Mailing, College Fairs and road trips. The Admissions Office remains active year-around. As of July 16, 2007, there were an estimated 336 active applications on file (230 have prepaid their $200 room deposit).
MMI recruiters have been especially busy encouraging qualified students to consider the many benefits offered at MMI. This past year, 100 Alabama residents participated in the Tiger Orientation Program, which is an over-night visit also known as the TOP program; and approximately 232 students attend the first Knight-Fox Challenge, a program which involves 4-days of military-oriented programs for prospective cadets and their parents. During these exciting orientation programs, the prospective cadets are treated with an inside glimpse into the day-in-the-life of an MMI cadet.
The Recruiting Office maintains contact with all prospects interested in MMI – well over 10,000 phone calls are made each semester by the recruiting staff and cadets who work in our call center. Each prospective cadet is categorized as “WJ” (Will Join), “PJ” (Probably Join) or “INT” (Interested) in coming to MMI.
The Recruiting Office continues its year-around mission to grow enrollment at MMI and offer the opportunity to experience the best leadership development program available to those who want to become leaders in their chosen profession – whether in the military or civilian sector of society. If you would like to learn more about the recruiting process at MMI, or if you’re interested in joining the recruiting team as a Tiger Volunteer, or maybe you know someone who would like to attend MMI, contact the admissions office at 1-800-MMI-1842 or visit the website at www.marionmilitary.edu.
Alumni Weekend Recap
Alumni Weekend was packed full of events this year beginning with the Brigade Fish Fry on Thursday, April 12, 2007. A ceremony was held Saturday morning to dedicate the new rappel tower and Mr. James W. Rane, class of 1964, from Abbeville, Alabama, was honored as the 2007 MMI Alumnus of the Year at the Corps of Cadets parade on Saturday. Molly Thornton and Susan Wilbourne were honored at the Alumni Brigade Banquet on Saturday evening as the 2007 Alumni Brigade Honored Teachers.
During Alumni Weekend, the Alumni Brigade held their officer and board of directors elections. Tom Wilbourne, class of 1986, from Selma, Alabama, was elected President of the MMI Alumni Brigade. 2LT Matthew Baker, class of 2005, from Gardendale, Alabama, Teresa Colburn Pope, class of 1989, from Marion, Alabama, David Scott, class of 1954, from Scottsboro, Alabama, and Edward “Ned” Smith, class of 1962, from Cropwell, Alabama, were elected to three years terms on the Brigade Board of Directors.
Alumni Weekend is a great time to come back on campus, get together with old friends, reminisce about old times, and make new memories. Alumni Weekend 2008 is scheduled for April 10, 11, and 12, 2008. Look for more information in upcoming Gig Lines and on the website.
Rappel Tower Dedication
On Saturday, April 14, 2007, during Alumni Weekend at Marion Military Institute, a dedication took place of the Rappelling Tower provided by Mr. James W. Rane, Class of 1964 and owner of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc. The tower was dedicated to the memory of Mr. Rane’s friends who attended MMI, Charles W. “Monkey” Davis and Marshall L. Calender who served and died for their country in Vietnam. A wrought iron sign listing the names of Mr. Davis and Mr. Calender was unveiled during the dedication. Family and friends of Mr. Davis and Mr. Calender traveled from Tallassee, Sylacauga, Birmingham and Montgomery to attend the dedication.
Alabama Military Hall of Honor To Induct Two
On November 9, 2007, The Alabama Military Hall of Honor will induct two Medal of Honor recipients, Colonel Charles W. Davis, USA, (deceased), and RADM Richmond P. Hobson, USN, (deceased). For more information, please contact 334-683-2346 or email COL John Gibler at or MAJ Willard Nichols at .
MMI Cadets Travel to High Museum of Art
On Friday, April 27, thirty-five MMI cadets and their professor, Buffy Taylor, traveled to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia. The students had the privilege of seeing two wonderful exhibitions: The Louvre Atlanta and The Gates of Paradise: Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Renaissance Masterpiece. The Louvre Atlanta is a three year collaboration between Musee du Louvre and the High Museum of Art that will bring hundreds of famous art works from their home in Paris to Atlanta. The Gates of Paradise exhibition celebrated the recently completed restoration of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise—the gilt bronze doors of the Baptistry in Florence—with an unprecedented exhibition of three reliefs depicting stories of the Creation, Jacob and Esau, and David.
While at the museum, cadets also had the honor of meeting the museum curator, Mr. Michael Shapiro. This meeting between the cadets and the curator was arranged by local art lover and MMI board member, Mr. Jimmy Scruggs. Mr. Scruggs thought this meeting would be a wonderful tribute to his late cousin, Robert Brietling. Mr. Brietling, an MMI alumnus and benefactor, was also a patron of the High Museum.
Marcus Thomas Named MMI Men’s Basketball Coach
Marion Military Institute has hired Marcus Thomas as the new Head Men’s Basketball Coach/Physical Education Instructor. Thomas’ most recent coaching duties were as an assistant coach at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. While at Millsaps, Coach Thomas served as the head coach for the men’s junior varsity team, assisted in budgeting travel and meals, implemented skill enhancement drills, recruited student-athletes, oversaw student-athlete academic progress, developed the strength and conditioning programs and assisted with on-the-floor coaching. Coach Thomas served as an assistant coach at both Jackson State University and Tougaloo College before coming to Millsaps in 2005.
Coach Thomas’ playing career started as a walk-on at the University of South Alabama. In 1994 he joined the United States Army where he played on the Army All Post Team from 1994-1998. While enlisted in the Army, Coach Thomas also served as an Assistant Basketball Coach at both Fort Carson and Fort Bliss. After leaving the military, Coach Thomas accepted an athletic scholarship to play point guard for Belhaven College. His 2001 team participated in the NAIA National Tournament. Coach Thomas graduated from Belhaven in 2001 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Medicine and then completed a Master’s Degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Jackson State University in 2004.
Coach Thomas is married to the former Brownya Abram and has three children; Aaron (7), Elijah (3) and Nathan (1).
Charles Wright Named Head Women’s Tennis Coach
Marion Military Institute will field its first women’s tennis team this upcoming academic year with Charles Wright as head coach. In addition to his coaching duties, Wright will serve as an instructor in the English Department.
Wright began his coaching career more than two decades ago in the high school ranks at Quigley Catholic High School in Braden, PA. Since that time he has coached both boys’ and girls’ teams at the following schools: Center High School, Monaca High School, Big Beaver Falls High School, and Hartford County High School. On the collegiate front, Wright coached the Penn State University – Beaver Campus Men’s Tennis Team to its first conference title in 1991.