Randolph-Macon Academy

Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA) is a coeducational private boarding school in the U.S. state of Virginia with a military leadership component. R-MA serves students in grades 6-12.

Randolph Macon Academy
Sonner-Payne Hall at Randolph-Macon Academy in March of 2015.
Address
200 Academy Drive Front Royal , Virginia 22630 United States
Information
Type	Private (Boarding)
Founded	1892
President	Brig. Gen. David C. Wesley, USAF Ret.[1]
Commandant	Mr. Frank Carlucci IV, formerly USN
Grades	6 - 12
Mascot	Yellow Jacket
Programs	College-Prep; Flight; Drama; Art; Band; Chorus; CyberPatriot; Middle School, JV, & Varsity Sports; Speech and Debate; Art Club; Model UN; Interact Clubs at Middle School and Upper School
Website	www.rma.edu

The 135-acre (0.55 km2) campus overlooks Front Royal, and is 70 miles (110 km) west of Washington, D.C. It is one of six private military schools in Virginia.

Accreditation

Randolph-Macon Academy is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.^[2]

History

Randolph-Macon Academy Color Guard in New York.

Randolph-Macon Academy was founded in 1892 by Dr. William W. Smith as part of the Randolph-Macon College preparatory school program. The original 15-acre (0.061 km²) campus had one main building which housed classrooms as well as dormitories. The original building resembled a castle in its design and architecture.^{[citation needed]}

In 1917 it transformed into a military school. The program later undertook the title of the "National Defense Cadet Corps."^{[citation needed]}

After a fire, the new "Main Building" was built in 1927; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 as Sonner Hall.^[3]

Randolph-Macon Academy admitted its first African American applicant in 1971.^{[citation needed]} In 1974 it became coeducational and in 1975 adopted the United States Air Force Junior ROTC program.^{[citation needed]}

In 1981, Col. Trevor D. Turner (USA, Ret.) was hired as President (1981-1997). Col. Turner's period in charge coincided with a financial crisis due to a fire, which was successfully overcome by the time he left in 1997.^[4]

In June 2023, Brigadier General David Wesley announced that Randolph-Macon Academy would no longer have an AFJROTC program, and would instead be developing its own military leadership program. The replacement, the Cadet Leadership Development Program, focuses on positive character development with military undertones.^[5]

Notable alumni

• General Walter E. Boomer, USMC, Retired
• Major General William H. Gill, USA, Retired
• Harlan Crow, real estate developer
• Joel Shankle, 1956 Summer Olympics Bronze Medalist in the 110 Hurdles
• VADM John Stufflebeem, USN, Retired

References

1. Randolph-Macon Academy. "R-MA President and Board of Trustees". Rma.edu. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
2. Virginia Association of Independent Schools. "Randolph-Macon Academy". Vais.org. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
4. wcrnews (2010-02-26). "Former R-MA president Turner dies, remembered as financial savior, mentor". WFC Report. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
5. "The CLDP & College Readiness At Our College Prep School". College-Prep Boarding School and Military Academy in Virginia | Randolph-Macon Academy. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-06.

External links

• Official website

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