New Mexico Military Institute
Spring 2016 Edition
N M M I ’s C o m mu ni t y N ews a n d Eve nt s
TE
EX
ICO
M I L I TA R Y
IN
ST
I
2
Hypnotized!
2016 Years of Service
Awards
3
Military School Band
and Choir Festival
Science on the Go!
Inside this issue
M
TU
NE
W
ISPATCHES
D
NMMI Joins the
Association of
Boarding Schools (TABS)
4
Taylor Force
Ski Club
Career Information
System
5
2015 Colorado Springs
Sports Hall of Fame
March Highlights
6
All-State Music Festival
The Paul Horgan Library
7
High Jump
NMMI Ballpark
8
Cupcakes
The NMMI Dispatches is a
publication of the
New Mexico Military Institute.
Please forward comments to
NMMI, [email protected].
If you know of anyone not
receiving The NMMI Dispatches,
please tell those persons to provide
contact information to the above
email address.
EDITOR
NMMI Marketing
Communications Department
LTC Colleen Cole-Velasquez
Printed by
Alpha-Omega Printing, Inc.
Tuesday, March 15, was an exciting day for
students at Del Norte Elementary School. Our
cadets brought Science Night to the school
to share their knowledge of science through
hands-on demonstrations and taught the
students about static electricity. Conducting
activities like watching and feeling their hair
stand on end with a Van Der Graaf generator
by rubbing balloons on their hair, charging
rods on fake “rabbit” fur, as well as other fun
things. There were many stations where the
students could learn about magnetic energy
including making magnetic goo and tugging
magnets off of iron. Chemistry came in to play
with experiments involving the pH of liquids
and bubbles big enough to stand in! If that
wasn’t enough, they got to make holograms
on an iPad! The event was coordinated and
planned by Mrs. Edmonson of the PTO at
Del Norte with the help of MAJ Aonan Tang
and MAJ Mia Yang. MAJ Yang says, “First, I
want to thank Mrs. Edmonson and PTO of Del
Norte for giving us this opportunity to serve
the community. Secondly, I want to thank my
boss, COL John McVay, for all the support
we got; LTC Roger Castillo, who taught the
cadets how to demonstrate for the Science
show; COL Eva McCollaum who took the
pictures and edited them until midnight to
send to the yearbook; and LTC Schooley and
CPT Schooley who transported the cadets
and took care of them at Del Norte. Also, MAJ
Aonan Tang, who worked until midnight on
Sunday to build a big demonstration machine.
And last, I want to express my thanks to my
54 cadets, without them, this event cannot
happen. I greatly appreciate the opportunity
of NMMI giving me the chance to teach these
well-educated cadets. Last night, they showed
the community their tremendous leadership.”
FROM THE
PRESIDENT
63 Year-Old Grizzle Competes
In And Completes Half-Marathon
Jerry W. Grizzle, PhD
Major General, USA (Retired)
President/Superintendent
I started to title this article, “What our kids
get us into” until I realized the reality might be the
opposite as evidenced by a picture taken many
years ago.
wrestler. One February in Oklahoma I
slipped on the ice, rolled over my right
ankle and ended up having surgery. I
was in a cast, walking boot, an air cast
and other devices from June until October that year.
During that period is when I began to study diet and
nutrition. I knew I could not workout like I was used to
and I did not want to gain weight during a period when
I could not exercise. Another factor helped me in that
I had just started my Ph.D. program and was in a very
rigid routine, so it was easy to establish and follow a
diet plan that allowed me actually to lose weight during
this period of inactivity.
When the Doctor’s finally took the restrictions off
and allowed me to start working out again, specifically
to start running, it felt like I had a new foot and ankle.
The Doctor’s had removed bone chips from the ankle
joint, cleaned out arthritis in the joint, removed calcium
deposits off of the top of my foot from years of tying
athletic shoes and combat boots and removed a large
bone spur from my heel. With a new ankle and a
40-pound weight loss, I felt like I was flying when I
started running.
The spring running season started, and Matthew,
and I started going to races again. He was now a
freshman in high school. We went to an evening race
that we had participated in several times before. My
wife and my daughter went with us to this race. We
were at the start line and had our usual joke about
Matthew waiting for me when he finished; the gun
sounded, and we took off.
I served in some form of active status in the
Army for almost 34 years. When I was in the
National Guard, I ran in weekend 5k, 8k and 10k
races as a means of staying in shape for the Annual
Physical Fitness Test (APFT) that we had to take. As
my son, Matthew got to an age that he wanted to do
things with me, I asked if he wanted to go with me on
some of the races. Most races had a fun run for kids
that were usually either a 1k (.62 miles) or a 1-mile
run. Matthew thought that would be a fun thing to do
so we started going to the races together.
Most of the races we participated in, my wife
Shawn would go with us, and she would wait for
Matthew to finish and then they would wait for me
to finish. The particular race in the picture Shawn
did not go with us and the times of the race were got
messed up. When we arrived at the race, the Kids
Fun Run had already happened, and they were lining
up for the 5k that I would participate in. Matthew
was six years old and had never run any distance
longer than one mile. I told him that we would do the
5k together, and if he needed to stop and walk, that
would be fine, this would be a buddy deal, and we
would finish the raced together.
Well, the race started and we took off together. I
kept asking him if he was ok, I was concerned I was
running too fast for him to keep up. Finally about one
mile into the 3.1-mile run, he looked up at me and
said, “Dad, do I have to stay with you?” I laughed
and said, “No, you know how to go through the gates,
tear off your number and turn it in and then wait for
me at the end.” With that said, I never saw him again
until I finished the race and he was standing at the
finish line waiting on me.
He won the race for his age bracket and with
that race and all races going forward until his was
15, he never lost a race in his age bracket. It became
a family joke that Matthew would be waiting at the
finish line for me. The longer the race, the longer he
would have to wait on me; until that one fateful day.
I am not really built like a long distance runner.
I am built like a sprinter, a football player and a
2 I finished the race in my best time for a 5k of
22:08, basically a 7-minute mile pace. I had never
run that fast before. I had no idea my time was that
fast. I was just running, it felt good, I didn’t feel like
I needed to stop, and before I realized it the race was
over. I went through the gates at the finish line and
saw Shawn and Brittany, our daughter, standing there,
but I didn’t see Matthew. I asked them where he was
and then saw the stunned look on their face. They
simultaneously said, “He has not come in yet, you beat
him.” Less than a minute later he finished the race.
That was my one minute of glory.
Matthew went on to run on the high school cross
country team. He lowered his 5k time into the teens,
I don’t remember exactly what his bet time was but
suffice to say, I was glad that he was running cross
country for his high school and wasn’t focused on the
one time Dad beat him in a 5k.
Since Matthew’s high school days, I went back on
active duty for almost four years and then moved to
Roswell and NMMI. However, as you know by reading
our publications, our running in races together has
continued. We have participated in the Oklahoma
Memorial Marathon to commemorate the Alfred P.
Murrah Building bombing. We participated in the
Warrior Dash in Oklahoma, and Matthew and a friend
came here and participated in our Alien Mud Run.
To continue our history of running together,
Matthew sent me a link to a run in Puerto Rico. I
suspect as much as it was about the run, it was about
having Dad pay for a trip to Puerto Rico. The run was
in March, and although it did not
exactly match up with our spring
break, it was over a weekend, so
I agreed to participate. Matthew
would do the full marathon; I
would do the half marathon. No
more full marathon’s for Dad,
been there, done that, got the
pictures and the t-shirt, and the
blisters and bursitis in the right
hip and on and on.
The run was on a Sunday. We
flew down on Friday, meeting in
Dallas and then flying to San Juan
together from there. Saturday we
went to the run expo, picked up
NMMI Dispatches | Spring 2016 Edition | www.nmmi.edu
our run packets, visited all of the vendor tents, and I
can’t help myself, but as a former Infantry soldier, I
took Matthew on a recon of the course.
The run started at 0500 on Sunday. Matthew and
I both have developed pre-race routines regarding
eating, drinking, stretching, etc. We set the alarm for
0300 and started our pre-race ritual. I had arranged
for a taxi from our hotel to the start of the race. The
taxi driver told me the cost would be $20, so the only
thing Matthew and I took with us was two $20 bills.
We left our room key at the desk; I out placed the
second $20 bill in my running shorts pocket. I was
worried about the humidity. The average humidity in
Roswell is 17 %, when we woke up that morning the
first thing I did was check the weather and it showed
the humidity to be 94 %.
The race started on time. Obviously it was dark.
There were 1,100 runners in the race; one thousand in
the half marathon and only 100 in the full marathon.
For me, at mile 3 the rain started. This was very
good because it kept the temperature down and kept
us cool. I don’t think the temperature ever got above
75, and the rain was a misty rain for most of the run.
However, again for me, at mile 10 it started to rain
very hard for about 15 minutes and then again on the
last mile of the race. I am as wet as wet can be, from
sweat and rain and then I am cussing the designer
of the course because the last mile is almost all
uphill. For anyone that has been to San Juan, the last
mile was around the old fort and then finally drops
down into the city park to finish. The term “uphill”
is somewhat unfair because we were running at sea
level and the highest elevation we climbed was about
350 feet, but when you have already run 12 miles in a
rain storm, 350 feet looked like Pikes Peak.
I finished in 2:30, my personal best for a half
marathon. For those that care or are trying to figure
it out, that is about 11-minute miles; not bad for a
guy that will be 63 in June. Matthew finished the full
marathon in 3:41, about an 8-minute mile average. I
was 12th out of 24 in my age bracket and 554 out of
924 that ran the half marathon. Matthew was 18th
out of the 100 that ran the full marathon and 4th out
of 26 in his age bracket.
I made a logistical mistake by not taking anything
other than the second $20 bill to get us back to our
hotel. I forgot that I would have to wait until Matthew
finished before we could go back to our hotel. So
for one hour and eleven minutes, I stood in the
rain waiting for Matthew to finish. Fortunately, the
temperature was about 75 degrees, but wet is wet,
and it is not comfortable to stand there. As well
organized as the race was, they did not have any
covered areas at the end of the race for race finishers
or spectators to wait for the complete end of the race.
What’s next on the Father/Son race schedule? I
will leave that up to Matthew. Matthew is 32 now,
so we have been doing this for 26 years. He has
mentioned a marathon that runs on the Great Wall
of China. We will have to start building in more time
for sightseeing. Finally, I now have a five-year-old
Grandson; maybe it is time to add him to the family
running.
Regimental Band members travel to Valley Forge
for Military School Band and Choir Festival
15 members of the NMMI Band participated
in the 40th Military School Band and Choir
Festival which was held at Valley Forge Military
Academy and College from February 26 – 28.
This is an annual event to which Military
Schools from all across the United States send
their best musicians in order to form one large
honor ensemble. This year’s guest conductor
was Col. John Bourgeois, USMC (Ret). Col.
Bourgeois was the conductor of the United
States Marine Band, The President’s Own from
1979 to 1996. The band presents a concert on
Sunday afternoon following 2 days of intense
rehearsals. Fourteen of our cadets played in
the band while one, William Teasdale, competed
in the drum major competition following two
days of intense work with the drum major of
the United States Navy Band, Senior Chief
Musician Michael Bayes. Cadet Teasdale has
been selected to be the Regimental Drum Major
next year.
Special recognition needs
to go to Cadets Perry Morris
and Mycah Smith as they were
selected to be first chair in their
respective sections. Cadet Morris
plays tenor sax and Cadet Smith
plays trombone. The highest
honor of the weekend went to
Mycah as she was selected
by Col. Bourgeois as the best
instrumentalist out of all the band
participants for the weekend.
She received a gold Military School Band
Festival medal. Other cadets who participated
were Malachi Nero, Michael Fody, Hanna Lee,
Stephanie Eisenbraun, Delinda Moore, Abigail
Valadez, Mathew White, Brittany Lake, Timothy
Lockwood, Julian Brown, Thea Minor, and Lake
Keating.
Each year the festival moves to a different
location and NMMI has been selected to host
the event in 2019. Next year’s MSBF will be
at Norwich University. The cadets were also
able to visit the Gettysburg battlefield and
several historical sites in old Philadelphia
including Independence Hall and the Liberty
Bell museum. Our cadets represented NMMI
with the utmost professionalism and esprit and
we look forward to next year’s event.
ACHIEVEMENT
NMMI Joins the Association
of Boarding Schools (TABS)
recordings or videos where you talk about your
experience. We will be collecting these now
through Homecoming and plan to continue to
capture these memories of your experience
to help us talk to potential students about the
possibilities available at NMMI. To participate,
Kalith Smith, Director of Admission
please contact Colleen Cole-Velasquez, Director
of Marketing by e-mailing [email protected].
In September of 2015 NMMI submitted
an application to become a member of The
Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). This
is the premier boarding school organization
whose membership consists of boarding schools
across North America. Other members include
Albuquerque boarding school, Menaul, as well
as our fellow military boarding schools (listed
below). It stretches from Phillips Exeter Academy
in New Hampshire to Hawai’i Preparatory
Academy on the Big Island. This organization
hosts www.tabs.org, a website where potential
boarding students go to find the best boarding
schools in the country.
As you will notice on the TABS website,
we can add testimonials. If you’re an alumnus
or a parent or maybe just a big fan of NMMI,
we could use your help! We are looking for
statements from alumni, possibly audio
Fellow Military Boarding School TABS Members:
Admiral Farragut Academy Florida, USA
Army and Navy Academy California, USA
Carson Long Military Academy Pennsylvania, USA
Culver Academies, Indiana
Fishburne Military School Virginia, USA
Fork Union Military Academy Virginia, USA
Hargrave Military Academy Virginia, USA
Howe Military Academy Indiana, USA
Marine Military Academy Texas, USA
This is a moment to pause and be proud of
our accomplishments. Without the hard work
that goes into providing an excellent education,
the outstanding support received in the Corps
of Cadets, the constant support of our Alumni,
and the hard work that goes into maintaining
the highest levels of accreditation in both the
High School and Junior College, this step would
not be possible.
Massanutten Military Academy Virginia, USA
Missouri Military Academy Missouri, USA
New Mexico Military Institute New Mexico, USA
New York Military Academy New York, USA
Randolph-Macon Academy Virginia, USA
St. Catherine’s Academy California, USA
St. John’s Military School Kansas, USA
St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy Wisconsin, USA
Valley Forge Military Academy Pennsylvania, USA
Wentworth Military Academy Missouri, USA
2016 Years of Service Awards
30 COL Cheryl D. Martinez
25 Jimmy L. Barnes
25 COL David W. Gray
20 Rafael D. Manchego
20 Samuel T. Garza
20 Donna J. Alvarado
20 LTC John K. Umberger
15 LTC Inez E. Lueras
15 LTC Jeffery L. Boyd
15 LTC Billy S. Gallagher
10 MAJMonty D. O’Bannon
William N. Harvell
10
Sisto Sedillos
10
10
Daniel J. Garza
10
Maria D. Sisneros
10 LTC Kalith A. Smith
Candace L. Mundy
10
10 LTC James J. Forchtner
10 SFC Eddie S. Baros Jr.
10 LTC Shelby R. Forchtner
10 MAJKyle L. Chaney
10 LTC Moses C. Theimer
10 COL Eva M. McCollaum
10 MAJGina L. Hartwick
10 MAJSteven D. Young
10 COL Charles C. Hendrickson
Robert M. Thompson
10
10
Miguelina Murillo
10
Helen S. Chavez
5
James F. McMullen
5 CPT Amanda J. Garcia
Rebecca A. Holstun
5
5 MAJKris C. Ward
5 COL Terry D. Waggoner
5 LTC J. Randy R. Montoya
5 CPT William G. Lamb Jr.
5 MAJChance H. Mace
5 MAJSusan L. Moore
5 MAJBarbara J. Morales
5
Yolanda I. Luna
5 MAJAonan Tang
5 CPT Nathan Brock Jr.
5
Nancy J. Burrola
5
Scott F. Peters
5 CSMRonald P. Fabec
Chad L. Patton
5
5
Jennifer L. Rawdon
5 MAJDiane L. Capizzo
5
Aaron Hite
NMMI Dispatches | Spring 2016 Edition | www.nmmi.edu 3
Memorial Service
for Taylor Force
Ski Club
Written by: c/1SG Nicholas Valentine
This ski season, although short for the New Mexico Military Institute
Ski Club due to transportation issues, cadets were able to enjoy some
of the best snow conditions New Mexico has had in years. Lead by the
club’s president, Nicholas Valentine, and sponsored by COL Martinez
and LTC Surgett, the Ski Club was able to go to Ski Apache late January
of 2016. Some of the cadets skied and others snowboarded. Out of the
hundred or so cadets who wanted to attend the trip, only forty were
able to enjoy the slopes of Ski Apache, which held a record snowpacked base of eighty inches. In addition to skiing, the Ski Club was
able to enjoy the famous food at Circle J Barbecue, located in Ruidoso.
Friendships were formed, memories were made, and the NMMI Ski
Club was able to mark another successful trip down in the books to be
remembered.
Color guard members of the New Mexico Military Institute exit the
memorial service for Taylor Force on Monday, March 14, 2016, at Broadway
Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. Force, a Lubbock native, was stabbed to
death during a terrorist attack while on a school trip in Israel.
(Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal via AP)
Pictured are: Cadet Dutch Lane, Cadet Saul Aguirre and Cadet
Savanah Moore. Not Pictured Cadet Samantha Rodriguez.
Looking for information on colleges or careers?
The Career Information System (CIS) is
a powerful website that gives students the
opportunity to complete career assessments;
research careers, colleges, and scholarships;
create resumes; learn about the world of work; and
much more. While there are many sites students
can use to accomplish these tasks, CIS pulls it all
together in one location and allows students to
save all information into an online portfolio they
can access even after they leave NMMI. The career
assessments and occupation information are from
O*Net, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department
of Labor. College information is from the Peterson
Guide, which is one of the major college guides.
All NMMI cadets have access to the Career
Information System, accessed from their MyNMMI
page and at: http://www.cis.intocareers.org. Cadets
have been set up with accounts:
Username: ABT (with 0’s)
Password: 2013Nmmi (case sensitive).
This is temporary password that cadets should
reset upon their first log in.
Instructors who want to look around to see if
this site would be beneficial for their classes can
use the generic NMMI log-in:
Username: NMMI
Password: 201212
In addition, instructors can be assigned “Staff Accounts” that will
allow them to set up groups, create assignments, and monitor assignment
completion.
4 NMMI Dispatches | Spring 2016 Edition | www.nmmi.edu
Anyone experiencing difficulty with accessing the site – or with
questions on how to use the site – are encouraged to contact MAJ Moore
at [email protected].
NMMI
FOUNDATION
2015 Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame
Class of Inductees Announced
Submitted by: Jennifer Rawdon,
NMMI Foundation
Among the Colorado Springs Sports Hall
of Fame Class of 2015 inductees you will find
NMMI Alumnus Robert W. “Bill” Daniels 1939
HS - 1941 JC. Daniels was posthumously
awarded the Thayer Tutt Sportsman award
during the induction ceremony this past
October. The Thayer Tutt Sportsman Award
is presented annually by the Colorado
Spring Sports Corporation to an individual in
recognition of exceptional philanthropic and
community sports support, as well as on the
national sports stage.
went on to prove himself a fine naval officer and
fearless combat pilot in World War II.
Daniels began his business career by
opening an insurance agency in Casper, WY,
where he learned that many small towns did not
have access to TV. As a result, he built Casper’s
first cable system in 1952. One of the earliest
pioneers in cable TV, Daniels owned hundreds
of systems across the country. His company,
Daniels & Associates, operated these properties
and brokered many deals that shaped the
industry.
Daniels was widely considered one of the
great business visionaries of the twentieth
century. He achieved phenomenal success
by working hard, passionately following his
instincts, acting with ethics and integrity and
treating everyone with respect and fairness.
An avid sports fan, Daniels was one of the
first in cable to generate sports programming,
clearing the way for today’s regional sports
networks. He sponsored professional boxers,
served as president of the American Basketball
Association was a founder of the United States
Football League and an owner of professional
sports teams, including the Utah Stars and the
Los Angeles Lakers.
Born in Greeley, CO, in 1920, Daniels’ family
lived in Nebraska and Iowa, and then moved
to Hobbs, NM. While attending school at New
Mexico Military Institute, Daniels earned the title
of New Mexico’s Golden Gloves welterweight
boxing champion. After four years at NMMI, he
The respect Daniels eared for his
achievements in business was matched by
the admiration generated by his philanthropy.
Daniels made countless charitable contributions
and supported his community in meaningful
ways. While money was an important part
March Highlights
A serious but necessary active shooter
drill occurred on the NMMI campus on March
1st. NMMI staff worked with all local law
enforcement agencies to coordinate this event.
Cadets were moulaged to mimic various injuries
obtained in an active shooter scenario. Those
cadets were then transported to different
area hospitals where they were treated as if
their injuries were real. This drill is necessary
and helps cadets, staff, and faculty prepare
themselves if an event such as an active shooter
were to occur. A few weeks before the drill all
3 squadrons were briefed on active shooters.
During this briefing they were taught to run hide
and call for help. The cadets took this drill very
serious and participated to their full ability.
On March 5 the Corps of Cadets participated
in the annual Cancer March. The event has
been occurring since 2006. The corps was very
excited to participate and march for a great
cause. The purpose of the cancer march is to
raise money for the Chaves County Cancer Fund.
The CCCF is an organization in Roswell that
provides financial help to those who are suffering
from cancer, they help with everything from
groceries, wigs and bills. This is one of the few
events that the whole corps participates in. The
corps formed up on Stapp Parade Field and a few
of the members from the CCCF expressed some
of their thanks to the corps. The cadets then
marched a lap as a whole corps. They then spent
the rest of the time outside on Stapp field playing
various sports and having a good time. As a
new addition to the cancer march, the marketing
department aided the RC in hosting a raffle to
raise more money. A variety of goodies were put
in the raffle, everything from a purse donated
by Hippy Chicks in Roswell to a goody basket
that consisted of nothing but Ramen noodle
soup! There were also gift cards to different
restaurants. As the day went on the cadets
enjoyed themselves outside. Once night fell the
DJ a.k.a Julian Brown started playing music and
of his contributions, his visible support of
charitable causes also served as an inspiration
for others.
When Daniels passed away in 2000, his
estate transferred to the Daniels Fund, making
it one of the largest foundations in the Rocky
Mountain region. The Daniels Fund continues
Bill Daniels’ legacy of compassion and
generosity by providing grants to outstanding
nonprofit organizations, and scholarships to
deserving students in Colorado, New Mexico,
Utah and Wyoming.
In 2013, the Daniels Fund surpassed $520
million in grants and scholarships awarded
since 2000. To date, NMMI and the NMMI
Foundation have received over $25 million from
the Daniels Fund. These funds have been used
to support scholarships, leadership and ethics
programs, athletics, construction, infrastructure
improvements and other programs at New
Mexico Military Institute.
cadets expressed themselves through dance and
had a great time. Once the cancer march was
over the corps went to Bates and enjoyed pizza.
Overall the cancer march was a huge success
and is always something to look forward to.
The weekend of March 19th did not only
include the first day of spring but also spring
family weekend. There was a parade to honor
the families that attended as well as the NMMI
parents club. The NMMI parents club is a
very active organization that provides support
during sporting and social events. They also
provide help and advice to parents of new
cadets. The corps of cadets is very fortunate to
have an active parents club. During the events
on Saturday a select few of the high school
cadets were recognized for their hard work as
they turned to new privates. This was the early
turning ceremony, the next turning ceremony will
include many more of the high school cadets.
The spring family weekend was a fun event and
a great time to recognize our supportive parents
club as well as the families of the new spring
cadets.
Congratulations!
The New Mexico Military Institute has been named Gold Winner by the
Higher Education Marketing Report and the Collegiate Advertising Awards.
NMMI Dispatches | Spring 2016 Edition | www.nmmi.edu 5
Cadet Experiences All-State Music Festival
By Steve Thorp, LTC NMMI
For the second consecutive year, a NMMI high
school cadet was recently honored as a participant
in the 72nd annual New Mexico Music Educators
Association All-State Music Festival. Fifth-class
cadet Mycah Smith, daughter of Mr. Michael
Smith & Mrs. Kathy Nestorowich of Carlsbad, was
selected to perform in the All-State Small School
Band. The festival, hosted by the University of
New Mexico in Albuquerque on January 6 – 9,
2016, culminated with a series of concerts after
three days of demanding rehearsals.
In order to participate in the festival, Cadet
Smith was required to pass a rigorous audition
process in which she competed with talented
music students from all over New Mexico for
positions in their respective ensembles. She was
one of only nine trombonists selected for the
Small School Band.
After an initial chair-test, All-State
instrumentalists proceeded with seven hours of
rehearsal each day of the festival. Students were
also treated to performances of various honor
groups representing different high school music
departments from around the state. The festival
concluded with All-State participants performing
with their respective ensembles—the Mixed and
Treble Choirs, the Symphonic, Concert and Small
School Bands, and the Concert and Symphonic
Orchestras—before capacity crowds in UNM’s
Popejoy Hall, New Mexico’s premiere concert
hall. The final concerts were professionally
recorded and given well-deserved statewide media
coverage.
One of the most important opportunities
afforded music students attending All-State is the
experience of performing under the direction of
some of the most well known and sought after
conductors/clinicians. This year Roswell’s own
Mike Lee, a talented instrumentalist and band
director, conducted the All-State Small School
Band. This was his first occasion to direct a New
Mexico All-State ensemble after successfully
leading and adjudicating regional school bands for
over thirty-two years.
Cadet Smith came away from the event with
a valuable experience that is sure to stay with her
throughout her musical life. She remarked, “It
was great to a part of such an outstanding group.”
She also indicated that participating in All-State
helped fulfill some of her musical aspirations while
at NMMI.
CPT Bill Lamb, NMMI Bandmaster, also attend
the All-State Music Festival where he served as
co-chair of the All-State Small School Band for
the eighth consecutive year. The NMMI Music
Department is proud of our involvement in this
prestigious event.
Hypnotized!!
The Corps packed Pearson Auditorium for the annual
hypnotist show. Richard Barker with Wand Enterprises performed
for the Corps. Mr. Barker had the cadets dancing, fearing for their
lives from a “scary microphone” and generally acting crazy. A
great time was had by all, those that could remember anyway!
What can Toles do for you?
The Paul Horgan Library provides informational resources and services
required by the high school and junior college programs. Resources available
include:
• Print resources and e-books
• Access to a range of databases and other electronic resources
• Access to computers, headphones, printers, scanners, audio and video
players
• Fax, binding, and laminating services are available at a nominal fee.
Services beyond the library are all free:
• Our Writing Center, located upstairs in room 212, is open during NSH and
helps cadets meet the rigorous standards of the NMMI curriculum. Our
Writing Center staff guide students through the writing process – from
brainstorming ideas to polishing a final draft. They assist students in
developing their writing and editing skills and help them to understand and
apply MLA formatting. Cadets who need writing help during the day are
encouraged to ask at the Circulation Desk in the library. Our library staff will
help you find the assistance you need.
• In the College & Career Centers, cadets receive one-on-one help navigating
college and career options. The Center includes printed resources as well
as access to the Career Information System (CIS) – and online system for
completing career assessments, researching colleges and careers, finding
scholarships, creating resumes, and much more.
• Academic Assistance is a class that provides high school students who
are struggling in their current coursework a structured time to work on
academics. In addition to subject-specific assistance, cadets can get help
with time management, organization, goal setting, and other academic
success strategies.
• Our junior college advisors work with students to develop a course of study
that not only meets their academic study goals at NMMI but also assists in
a smooth transfer to a 4-year college or university. Advisors help with the
transition to college and support students in the career planning process.
6 NMMI Dispatches | Spring 2016 Edition | www.nmmi.edu
• Our study rooms on the second floor are designed for individuals or
small groups who need a quiet place to study where they don’t have to
be concerned about disturbing others as they work problems or discuss
course content. During NSH, the study rooms are reserved for junior
college cadets to use on a first-come basis. During the day, the rooms are
available for all cadets to use. To check out a key to the study rooms, stop
by the Circulation Desk.
• College representative visits are hosted in the College and Career Center
throughout the year. This year we have had representatives from NMSU,
UNM, NM Tech, and the UNM BA/MD program. Cadets wanting to learn
more about Angelo State University should plan to attend their presentation
on Tuesday, April 26th starting at 11:45 AM in the College and Career
Center. As with all college visits, high school and junior college cadets are
welcome, and lunch is provided.
NMMI
SPORTS PRESS
Batson talks high jump at national clinic
Karen Boehler
NMMI Sports Press
NMMI assistant cross country and track coach
Jack Batson has been teaching and coaching for
more than 40 years — almost everyone involved
with athletics in Chaves County knows his name
— and that experience earned him a special honor
early this year.
Batson was invited to speak on high jump
techniques at the West Coast Superclinic in
Sacramento, Calif., a major gathering where high
school and college coaches come to advance their
track and field knowledge.
Despite presenting along with some big-name
coaches — Vince O’Boyle, a 32 year coach with
UC Irvine; Boo Schexnayder, one of America’s top
jumps event coaches; and Tony Veney-Master,
a former UCLA sprint coach who’s served on
numerous international teams — Batson said he
wasn’t nervous.
“At first, I felt inadequate, but after I started
thinking about it and after the two (organizers),
Dave (Shrock) and Peanut (Harms), both said,
‘No. That’s why we want you. Because you have
something to offer that nobody else has,’ then
I felt much more (comfortable, and) after five
minutes, being in there, I didn’t even remember I
had a microphone on. I was just me.”
Labeled as the “high jump guru from New
Mexico” on the clinic program, Batson’s topic was
“High jump: from the ground up,” and he spoke
to a packed house. His goal, he said, was to help
beginning coaches learn the basic techniques
of teaching high jump, and after a one hour, 20
minute presentation, felt he had done just that.
The talk also put NMMI in the spotlight, as
Batson opened his presentation with a portrait of
the school.
“I ended up giving about a 10 minute
commercial for NMMI, which is the other reason I
decided to go,” he said. “It’s nice to be selected to
do a presentation like that, but at the same time, I
think I’m helping spread the NMMI word.”
Batson’s 15 minutes of fame isn’t done yet.
As a result of his talk, he was invited by Dr. Jim
Peterson, president of Coaches Choice, a company
that produces DVDs and books on sports
fundamentals (https://www.coacheschoice.com/
default.aspx), to produce several videos on track
events.
So while he’s still not sure what events he’ll
be demonstrating — other than high jump — he’ll
be headed out to Monterey, Calif. sometime soon
to put his stamp on several of the sports he’s
been coaching for a long time. And he’s glad he’s
getting the chance to do it.
“I really had a ball. I didn’t think I was going to,
but once I got into it, and after Dr. Peterson came
and said, ‘Hey! I want you to do three or four more
videos,’ I thought, ‘This is kind of exciting. It really
is.’ To be asked by somebody like that, at a major
company, to do something like that …”
Renovations mostly complete at NMMI Ballpark
Karen Boehler
NMMI Sports Press
Baseball has been played at the New Mexico
Military Institute for almost 120 years, and the latest
renovation to the long-time sport is now complete.
The NMMI Ballpark, which opened for the
1992 baseball season, now has a completely turfed
infield (mound, home plate and bases); upgraded
bullpens (full on the home side; plate and mound
on the visitor’s) and existing batting cages; new
batting tunnels; new padding behind home plate;
and suspension netting to replace the chain link
backstop.
Spectators and the press are especially pleased
with the new netting, which offers a much clearer
view of the entire field, while the turfed infield will
make rain delays far less common and take away the
bad hops common to grass fields.
“We’re proud of our long baseball tradition here
at NMMI, with collegiate teams going back as far
as 1898,” said NMMI athletic director Jose Barron.
“These upgrades to our existing facility will make the
baseball complex more usable and versatile, whether
for practice or on game days and give us greater
flexibility with regards to scheduling.”
The work was completed by Waide Construction
Company, a local Roswell contractor.
Bronco head coach Chris Cook sounded pleased
with the rejuvenated field.
“It was fine. Plays pretty fast. It’s still a little
bumpy but it looks like the mound and plate held
up OK. We’ve still got some fine tuning to do, but it
was nice to be in our own dugout,” he said after the
opening-day split with Dodge City on the new field.
And Colt coach Charlie Ward was excited about
playing in the upgraded park.
“Very proud to be a part of the NMMI school
and staff with this program,” he said. “We’re seeing
it with this facility. It looks very beautiful. The
backstop, everything.”
NMMI Dispatches | Spring 2016 Edition | www.nmmi.edu 7
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 204
Roswell, NM
NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE
101 West College Blvd.
Roswell, NM 88201-5173
www.nmmi.edu
1-800-421-5376
Return Service Requested
Parents Club Supports our Cadets with Cupcakes!
March saw cupcakes and cocoa socials sponsored and supported by the NMMI Parents Club. Each Squadron had their own social and the
cadets put away over 1000 cupcakes and drank 50 gallons of cocoa!
Third Class Dinner
(Pictured are Third Class Dinner Master of
Ceremonies, C/MSG Forest Green; CPT Carmody
and MG Grizzle)
The graduating high school class held
their Third Class Dinner on 13 April, 2016 in
the VMV Ballroom. CPT Harrison Carmody,
a 2004 NMMI high school graduate was
the guest speaker. Upon graduation from
NMMI, CPT Carmody attended West Point,
graduating and receiving his commission
in the aviation branch in May 2008. Upon
graduation, he attended the Basic Officer
Leader Course at Fort Benning, GA,
NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE
continuing on to attend Flight School XXI,
and graduating with a rating in the AH-64D
Apache Longbow. CPT Carmody’s remarks
centered around the leadership skills and
lifelong friendships that are forged at NMMI.
The 70 graduating high school seniors
present for their dinner enjoyed themselves
and a relaxing evening with friends. Good
luck to the Class of 2016!
101 W. COLLEGE BLVD. • ROSWELL. NM 88201-5173
800-421-5376
NMMI is our nation’s only Land Grant educational institution operating as a military college preparatory high school and junior college. The 2015-2016
900-member co-ed Corps of Cadets consists of scholars from 38 states, the District of Columbia, 4 U. S. territories, and 18 foreign nations;
including 52 Federal Service Academy Preps, 55 Army Early Commissioning Cadets, 208 Legislative Scholars, and 153 Scholarship Athletes.