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Massanutten Military Academy

Alumni Center

Named in Honor of Wilson R. Caskey '31

623 South Main St, Woodstock, VA 22664

Welcome to the MMA Alumni Association Home Page. We are currently in the process of developing a completely new Web site. Because the process may take some time, we're doing a partial update of the old site. Check back with us as we continue to add more interesting stories, photos and sections.

Our MMAAA Mission Statement: ...to foster and further the interests of the Massanutten Military Academy and to promote closer relationships to this end between the administration, faculty, alumni and student body.

We're the alumni of Massanutten Military Academy (MMA), an accredited, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory school in Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virginia, serving students in grades 6 through 12, without discrimination as to race, religion, nationality or gender.

Cadets at MMA learn good study habits and the ideals and practices of military leadership and public service. They receive Army J.R.O.T.C. instruction in addition to a full college preparatory curriculum, and go on to colleges and universities throughout the nation. Please visit our MMA NEWS page showing a tremendous improvement of Academy statistics over the last six years under the leadership of Academy President Col. "Rick" Zinser.

Founded in 1899, the Academy is looking forward this year to its 108th birthday.

Historic Woodstock, the county seat of Shenandoah County, Virginia, is some 87 miles west of Washington, D.C., via Interstate Route 66 and I-81. Take the Woodstock exit (Exit 283) from I-81; turn east to U.S. Route 11 (Main Street) and left (north) to the Academy on your left.

You'll see Caskey Alumni Center, our Association's headquarters, on your right at 623 South Main Street, directly across from the Academy buildings, just past the "Historic District" sign. If you're an alum, student, parent, or just want to know more about us, stop by and say hello to Kathy Kern, our Office Administrator andToni Dinges, our Technical Administrator.

The Academy was founded in 1899 by Elders of the Reformed Church, initially as a civilian prep school. In 1917, a military format was adopted. The Academy prospered and survived as a small but respected member of the national community of military preparatory schools, its enrollment varying between 125 and 366 cadets.

With the late '60's came a difficult time for military secondary education because of the unpopularity of the Vietnam War. Many distinguished military schools closed.

In 1969, a group of about 50 Massanutten alums met in Woodstock under the leadership of Katharine H. Benchoff '12 and formed an Association to help the school through these stormy times in whatever way they could. Today, through the generosity of many former cadets MMA is reestablishing itself rapidly as one of the finest private academies in the nation. All classrooms have been renovated, many new classrooms have been added by the sponsorship of Alumni and nearly all of the Academy's dormitories have been renovated. We as an Alumni Association are working harder every day to make a better MMA.

The Association publishes the MMAAA Recall Newsletter bi-monthly which includes Academy News, shares in the Academy's publication of Oyez!, operates this Website with weekly updates, sponsors a bi-weekly E-mail bulletin/newsletter ...The MMAAA E-NET NEWSLETTER, and in March 2005 published the Fifth Edition of the printed MMA Alumni Directory. It sponsors the Memberclicks On-Line Community and Directory to help former cadets maintain contact with one another and renew old friendships. There are close to 9,000 profiles on the Directory which is free to all Alums. Traditional activities include hosting fellowship and celebratory activities at Homecoming and Commencement. Our Headquarters houses the Hall of Fame recognizing the Academy's very greatest friends and benefactors, and we conduct the Last Roll Call in memory of departed brothers and sisters who once attended MMA.

The MMAAA also sponsors many Cadet/Alumni activities such as ballgames which puts MMA "Up In Lights" in several ballparks. We also host Cadet/Alumni BBQ picnics at the Alumni House and a yearly tour of the United States Naval Academy. If you are interested in participating in any of these events please contact us for the schedule.

Restricted gifts accepted by the Association are applied in accordance with the wishes of the donors.

The Massanutten Military Academy Alumni Association is an independent membership organization. Any unrestricted gifts to the Alumni Association are used to support the operations and programs of the Alumni Association.

As spring approaches the staff of the Massanutten Military Academy Alumni Association is in residence and excited to welcome you to the Alumni House and put a fresh pot of coffee on. The south is known for its hospitality, the Alumni House is the perfect place for our visitors to just sit back and absorb the natural beauty in small town America ....