TheThe Kablegram-LeaderKablegram-Leader SMA/VWIL Alumni Newsletter Published by the Staunton Military Academy Alumni Foundation • Staunton, Virginia November 2019 2019 LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP SELECTEES Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2019 Legacy Scholarship. Three of these young people are descendants or relatives of SMA alumni. All were outstanding high-school students who also participated in athletics and other extracurricular activities. Through their character, each showed a clear understanding and application of the ideals of truth, duty, and honor. They are: Thomas Westbrook from Lancaster, PA; Laurel Bennett from West Point, NY; Jacob How- ard from Weston, FL; and Lauren Childres from Biloxi, MS. Thomas A. Westbrook: I am from Lancaster, PA, and graduated from Lancaster Country Day School at the top of my class. In the fall, I will be attending Washington University in St. Louis as a prospective mathematics and French major. Academics are a big focus of mine, but my passions include theatre, ten- nis, and community service. Playing varsity tennis shaped my character and honed my sense of discipline and honor through sportsmanship. In my summers, I work as a counselor for a Head Start-type program serv- ing underprivileged children. My experiences with these kids helped strengthen my belief in SMA’s ideals of truth, duty, and honor. I am proud to be a representative for the values of Staunton Military Academy, as my grandfather, Donald L. Westbrook, and great-uncle, Mark L. Westbrook, are graduates of the classes of 1969 and 1970, re- spectively. That their legacy and their experiences at SMA can live on through my scholarship is humbling and gratifying. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Legacy Selectees ................1,3-6 Laurel Bennett: I’m Laurel Bennett. I Reflections ............................... 2 currently live in West Point, New York. How- Stepping into the future.............. 6 ever, because of my dad’s career in the Reflections from our Chaplain .... 7 Army, I was born in Germany and have grown up moving around the United Legacy Fund .......................8-11 States. Growing up, I have experienced Deep South ............................ 11 and learned the values of Truth, Duty, Reunion 2020 Raffle ............. 12 and Honor, due to being surrounded Reunion 2020 application ...... 13 by the Army and its motto being, “Duty, Reunion 2020 RSchedule ....... 14 Honor, Country.” I graduated from James I. O’Neill High School, and I am excited VWIL Gallery .....................15-22 to attend the Leeds School of Business at TAPS ................................23-34 the University of Colorado, Boulder this Cadet store ............................ 35 Fall 2019. Throughout high school, I have Dues/Initiatives ....................... 36 participated and led in many sports, clubs, chorus groups, and other extra- © Copyright 2019 curriculars who have shaped me into Staunton Military Academy Alumni Foundation Inc. Continued on page 3 -1- BOARD OF DIRECTORS Reflections from the Hill President ............. George Mastroianni, SMA ’73 The Staunton Military Acade- Vice President ............... David Shipula, SMA ‘73 my Alumni Foundation Board of Di- Secretary/Chaplain ...Richard Henderson, SMA ‘63 rectors came together in the SMA Treasurer ...................Peter Birckhead, SMA ’73 Museum on September 21, 2019, for Asst. Secretary .......................Al Rossy, SMA ‘74 our fall face-to-face meeting. It was PERMANENT COMMITTEES a lovely day to visit the Shenando- ALUMNI RELATIONS ah Valley and spend some time with Lee W. Lawrence, SMA ‘56 ....................Member old friends. I’ll take this opportunity FINANCE to point out that Burdette Holmes Peter Birckhead SMA ’73 .................... Chairman (’62), who has served as our Kable- LEGAL gram Editor for many years, has Warren Hutton, SMA ‘75 .......................Member been transitioning those editorial re- sponsibilities to BG Terry Djuric and the VWIL Corps of AD-HOC COMMITTEES Cadets. From this point forward, major responsibility for the Kablegram will be assumed by VWIL. One of SMA FOUNDATION LEGACY FUND Peter Birckhead SMA ’73 .................... Chairman my priorities as President is to look for ways to knit closer ties between VWIL and SMAAF. My thinking is SMA SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE that eventually, the active role played by SMA alumni *Kelly McGavock, SMA ’59 ................. Chairman in perpetuating the legacy of SMA will diminish dra- Burdette Holmes, SMA ’62 ....................Member matically, and eventually is not very far in the future. *Tony Shipula, SMA ’74 .........................Member As the passing of time pushes us Old Boys further into REUNION the background, we hope to see VWIL alumnae step Edmund A. Smith ‘76 ......................... Chairman Thomas E. B. Phillips, SMA ‘74 ............Member forward and carry our joint legacy into the future. Lee W. Lawrence, SMA ’56 .................. Member Thanks to VWIL for stepping up to take over editori- *Jay Nedry, SMA ‘69 .............................Member al duties for the Kablegram – this is just the direction in which we hope to continue to move in the years SMA-VWIL MUSEUM ahead. *Brocky Nicely, SMA ‘65 ......................... Curator Thomas E. B. Phillips, SMA ‘74 .......... Chairman Burdette’s contributions to the Foundation Lee W. Lawrence, SMA ’56 ....................Member have been substantial and significant, and we should Mark J. Orr, SMA ‘73 ..............................Member all be very grateful for the truly amazing job he has William K. Bissett, SMA ‘74 ....................Member done with Kablegram during his tenure as Editor. Bur- dette’s grace and generosity in dealing with those of SMA HISTORIAN *Gregory P. Robertson, ’70 ...................Historian us who sometimes treat deadlines more like sugges- tions are the mark of a true gentleman. Thank you, KABLEGRAM - LEADER sir! [email protected] ..........................Editor It is not too early to begin planning for the 2020 WEBSITE SMA All-Class Reunion, which will take place 23-26 Mark J. Orr, SMA ‘73 ........................Webmaster April in Staunton. This year will mark the 60th anniver- AT LARGE sary of the graduation of the Class of 1960, and the Dominic (Jack) Dalbo ............................SMA ’68 50th for the Class of 1970. Larry Lee Atkinson .................................SMA ‘67 Eugene K. Ehmann ................................SMA ‘74 No.4 advantage of a military boarding school Edward A. Newbegin .............................SMA ‘75 as stated by SMA in 1920: “As he is taught to obey so Joseph Frank ........................................SMA ‘68 he learns to command and to study character that Edmund Leigh .......................................SMA ‘74 his influence and efficiency may be increased.” SMA ALUMNI OFFICE *Arlene Nicely ....................SMA Office Manager George Mastroianni, SMA ‘73 * VIP (non voting board member) President, SMA Alumni Foundation © Copyright 2019 — SMA Alumni Foundation Inc. -2- 2019 LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP SELECTEES Cont. the person I am today. I hope to continue my activities involving service, leadership, and teamwork at the University of Colorado, and I am very honored to be receiving the Staunton Military Academy Legacy Scholarship this year. My cousins who attended the Staunton Military Academy are Anthony Shipula, from 1970-1971, David Shipula, Class of 1973, and my great-uncle John Horoshko, class of 1959. I am happy to have made them and the rest of my family proud with my acceptance for this scholarship. Jacob Howard: First and foremost, I would like to thank you for picking me to receive one of the SMA scholarships. It is a very humbling honor to be a recipient of the SMA scholarship for this year. My great uncle, A. Michael Lipper, is an SMA alumnus (1953), and through his character the ideas of truth, duty, and honor are exemplified. He began his leadership learning at SMA and of con- tinued while he was a part of the Columbia University Fencing team and NROTC Program. I am grateful for my great uncle’s service, as well as everything else he has done and will do in my life. I will be attending New York University (NYU) in the fall of 2019, where I will be studying business. After college, I hope to work in the financial industry exemplifying truth, duty, and honor the same way my great uncle has throughout his entire life. Lauren Childres: Lauren Childres was born and raised in Biloxi, MS, and graduated in May 2019 with High Honors from d’Iberville High School. She finished high school in the top 8%, graduating 22 out of 279. While in high school, she was a member of the National Honor Soci- ety, Beta Club, Harrison County Junior Leadership Program and Student Council. She received a medal for attaining Mississippi Scholar status. While excelling academically, Lauren also participated and earned awards in four sports: basketball, tennis, cross country, and track. She plans to attend Mississippi State University in the fall and major in aero- space engineering. She is honored to receive the SMA Legacy Scholarship. This scholarship will help her in achieving her goal to receive a bachelor’s degree in engineering. -3- 2019 LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP SELECTEES Cont. LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP EXTENSIONS 2019 Congratulations to the following individuals who, having been recipients of the SMA Legacy Scholarship in either 2017 or 2018, applied for and were granted extensions of those scholarships. It is our hope that these young men and women and future Legacy Scholarship winners