Camden Military Blog

2012 Baseball Season Wraps Up

2012-05-03T19:32:51Z

Baseball Season Wrap-up

Our season started off with a tournament at North Central where we went 2-2. We played pretty good baseball and played some pretty good competition. The next 8 games we lost. We had lost some of our confidence in our hitting and defense. Our pitching for the most part was consistent throughout the year. We as coaches made some changes right before spring break and picked up a big win against Lower Richland. We had 10 days off because of spring break and when the guys returned it was like a new found confidence. We won 2 more games and then had a tough loss to Cheraw where we were down 10-1 and made a great comeback only to lose 12-7. We played Lower Richland again and that was the best game. It was back and forth, and the game was tied going into the last at bat. We had runners on 1^st and 2^nd with 2 outs and got a walk-off base hit by Tyler Blakley. That scored Chase Huntley. We had some great pitching down the stretch by Zack Knisel, Blake Holmes, and Blakley. Seniors Knisel, Holmes, Dustin Hopkins, Bobby Semmler and Marshall Sheorn played key roles in the last part of the season. They were a big reason we had success late in the season. Over the course of the year, this team improved more than any team I have had the privilege to coach.

Coach Beckham

Tennis Season comes to an end…

2012-05-01T14:20:29Z

This year the Camden Military Academy Varsity Tennis Team finished their season with eight wins and three losses—the best season record for Spartan Tennis in at least eleven years. This season’s success can be attributed, not only to the depth of skill on the team, but to the overall maturity and professionalism of the players.

The most memorable match of the season was not one which CMA won, but one which we narrowly lost. Nonetheless, the level of play at the number one position was inspiring. Max Feinman, an eighth-grader was matched up against Governor’s School’s John Eisenhouer, a senior. Feinman battled the larger, stronger (bearded) adversary to a 6-all tie in the first set, and then lost the tiebreaker 5-7. He was down one set to love, but Feinman’s spirit was indomitable. Early in the second set, he called one of the coaches to the fence. “I know his weakness now,” Feinman told his coach.

That weakness was the larger player’s backhand. During the second set, Feinman picked apart his opponent’s weaker side, methodically winning the second set 6-2. He went on to demonstrate his superiority in the match by closing Eisenhouer out 10-0, fists pumping as supporters cheered him on. CMA went on to lose the overall match 3-4, but the team walked away with a moral victory. They had, through hard work and tenacity, almost beaten a team that would later in the season hand CMA the third of their three defeats (0-7). It should be noted that Spring Break had just ended the day before this second meeting, and that the Spartan team had no practices together in which to prepare.

Aside from the two losses to Governor’s School and one loss to Wilson Hall, the Spartans rolled easily through their other matches, winning none by less than a margin of two. This success was doubtlessly owing to the depth of skill of the bottom half of the ladder. While the initially ranked top five players recorded a respectable winning ratio of between .375 and .692, the bottom four boasted winning ratios of between .727 and .800.

This apparent disparity is a refreshing change from previous years when typically, members of the lower half of the team ladder had to be taught fundamentals of tennis. This year, every player in the lower ladder came to the team with experience in competitive play, with strong skills and hungry attitudes. These players consisted of Zack McWilliams, Zach Azari and Morgan Singletary, three virtually interchangeable competitors as well as Jung-Soo Kang, a player with the skills to compete at almost any level on the team. With such a strong bottom half, the team was sure to win as long as the top half carried its own weight, which it did, according to statistics, more than half of the time.

Another likely contributor to this season’s success on the courts was the coaching strategy. Three years ago, Coach Ghaffar was joined by his assistant, Coach Darby. The coaches’ different styles and skills were complimentary, with Coach Ghaffar concentrating on the mechanics of the players’ weakest shots, while Coach Darby dealt with physical conditioning, drills and team morale

Camden Military Golf

2012-04-30T14:01:23Z

The Camden Military Academy golf team had a fantastic season and finished 10-2. This year the team jumped out to a 7-1 start. Chris Chamberlain and Eric Jagosz lead the way in scoring this year. Payne Smith, Julian Crabtree and Spencer Smart also played well all season and contributed to the teams overall success.

Congrats Spartans!

From the Alumni and Development Dept.

2012-04-18T13:07:50Z

We are honoring Colonel James Bradin, USA (ret.) for his service to Camden Military Academy as President of the Camden-Carlisle Alumni Association and member of the Camden Military Academy Board of Trustees since 2004. Jim resigned from these positions in 2011. If you happen to be near Camden and would like to stop by the campus and thank Jim for all that he has done for both Carlisle and Camden, please feel free to join us. Details as follows:

You are Cordially Invited to

A Parade by the Corps of Cadets in Honor of

Colonel James W. Bradin, USA (Ret.)

At Camden Military Academy

Camden, South Carolina

On Sunday, the 22^ndof April 2012 at Four O’Clock P.M.

The Headmaster’s Charity Golf Tournament will be taking place on Monday, May 7, at the Camden Country Club. It is $100 per single player or $400 for a team of 4. We could use more Corporate Sponsors ($1,000.00) and Hole Sponsors ($500.00) and some raffle items. Corporate Sponsors are also entitled to a team of 4 with a $1,000.00 donation and your corporate name printed on a large banner, along with a sign at various holes. All proceeds go to the Annual Fund for Student Financial Assistance.

We are also continuing our Brick Campaign. For $150.00 you can have an engraved brick placed in front of the Dining Hall, Band and Staff, Academic Bldg, or A Company. If interested, contact me and I will tell you how to get an order form. We plan to lay the walkway in front of the Dining Hall first. Call me!

If you have any questions, please contact Glenda Porter at 800-948-6291 or 803-432-6001.

Cadets return from Spring Break…

2012-04-12T19:31:01Z

Our cadets returned from Spring break with tans and a renewed appreciation for home-cooked meals. Once at CMA they quickly jumped into a very active athletic and activity schedule. This week seven of our cadets are participating in a creative arts project sponsored by the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center and Claire Bryant and Friends. Our students will collaborate with selected local high school students and nine musicians from New York to create new musical works. These original songs and compositions will be produced, recorded, and shared in a performance by the students and artist facilitators. Next week cadets will have an opportunity to participate in a four session afternoon art class taught by a local art educator. On Friday, 27 April CMA will host Elliott Osowitt who will conduct an evening fellowship session which will be followed Saturday morning with a prayer breakfast and morning worship session. Finally, we look forward to honoring Col(R) Jim Braden during an afternoon parade on Sunday 22 April.

56 Cadets attend the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Retreat

2012-03-29T17:49:06Z

This past weekend, March 23-25, 56 cadets attended the Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s high school retreat at Garden City Beach, SC. The theme of this year’s retreat was “Game Changer—Make a Play” and the scripture was Acts 2:36. The featured speaker for the event was Ernest Smith of the Seacoast Church in Charleston, SC. Music was provided by Two Moon, a dynamic father/daughter ministry team, which energized and inspired the retreat attendees.

Words from a Cadet regarding the retreat weekend…

My experience at FCA was nothing short of incredible. I can truly say that the retreat was one of the best weekends of my life. I could’ve been on a Florida roller coaster with other cadets but instead I got the chance to worship God and make some much needed spiritual progress! The revival service on Saturday night was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever experienced. I’ll never forget my experience at Myrtle Beach last weekend. Thank you LTC Heflin for making this trip happen. My prayer is that all of the cadets that attended the retreat to remember a little sample of God’s love felt while at the retreat because I sure know that I will!

Cadets Attend Winter Jam Concert

2012-03-19T19:22:49Z

On March 9, 2012, LTC Heflin took 52 cadets to "Winter Jam". Winter Jam is an annual contemporary Christian concert held at The University of South Carolina. The Largest Annual Tour in Christian Music got even larger. The official line-up for Winter Jam 2012 was spectacular: Skillet, Sanctus Real, Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Newsong, Building 429 and Group 1 Crew. Before the concert, cadets had dinner at California Dreaming in Columbia. Helfin stated that on this night he watched thousands stand up and cheer for Jesus. The cadets had a great time.

Cadet views on concert:

"Winter Jam was an awesome experience. I loved every band and they were great. My favorite band was Skillet. I kept jumping, screaming and singing with everyone. It was a great time and I wish I could do it again." Vinny Forbes, Largo, FL Grade 7

"I enjoyed the Winter Jam. I had a wonderful time." Maxim Johnson, Parkton, MD Grade 7

"Winter Jam was a very fun time and an experience that I would love to do again. We had a good time clapping and singing along with the bands at the concert. Forbes and I ate great food, jumped up and down and praised Jesus." Hunter Gregory, North Augusta, SC Grade 7

"I liked the concert because it was about God and the band Skillet is my favorite band." Austin Martin, Florence, SC Grade 7

Pictures will be posted to our Facebook Page!

Supporting Camden…

2012-03-13T13:29:13Z

The Alumni Office wants to remind all who attended and/or graduated from Camden Military Academy, Camden Academy, or Carlisle Military School to contact the alumni office to update mailing, telephone and email addresses.

CMA held its 25th annual Excalibur Society Dinner on March 2, 2012 at the historic and elegant Springdale Hall Club in Camden. New and existing members who are donors of $1,000 in a fiscal year or more to CMA are invited. Once a member has reached a total giving of $10,000, they become Knight members. The next levels are the Bronze Knight ($25,000), Silver Knight ($50,000), and Gold Knight ($100,000). Our members are alumni, as well as parents and friends of CMA and this event is traditionally scheduled the first Friday in March each year. CMA cadets are selected as valets and/or escorts, the CMA jazz ensemble provides the entertainment, and the Battalion Commander is the main speaker. Awards to new members on each level are also given during the evening. To become a member of the Excalibur Society, please contact the development or alumni office. All gifts are tax deductible.

Phase II of the Brick Campaign is underway and we encourage you to buy a brick to be placed within the walkways of the dining hall, Alpha and/or Band & Staff companies. For the person who has everything, it would be a lifetime gift in their honor or memory. The price is $150, which includes a mini-brick. (The dining hall will be the next walkway to be laid) The order form is availalble on this website.

The annual Headmaster's Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, May 7, 2012 at the Camden Country Club. Corporate and hole sponsors are welcomed, as well as team and individual golfers. It's a day a fun that includes a continental breakfast, grilled lunch on "the links", complimentary drinks, team protrait, supper cookout, and awards. You can read and/or download the brochure from the alumni newsletters link on the website. Please contact Glenda Porter if you can be a Corporate Sponsor ($1,000 or more donation) or Hole Sponsor ($500). We need new participants at these levels to join our banner of our longtime sponsors.

Building Bridges in Physical Science

2012-03-09T13:46:34Z

Captain Beckham’s Physical Science classes participated in a Popsicle stick bridge building project. The cadets were supplied with 150 Popsicle sticks, wood glue and a hot glue gun. They were to design a bridge that had a 3D design. Basically it had to look like a bridge and not a flat surface. The goal was to see which team could build a bridge to withstand the most weight. They used a bowling ball, a 25 lb. weight, and numerous books. The last challenge was if the bridge could hold up Captain Beckham. The winning team would be treated to lunch by Captain Beckham. Cap. Beckham was blown away with some of the bridge designs. Some of these kids could become great architects. The class watched videos to understand why bridges are built the way they are, with triangles and cables for suspension. The kids put a lot of thought in their projects and learned how to disperse weight throughout architectural designs. Winners for the lunch were teammates: Bobby Semmler (B/S), Zach McInernery (D), Patrick Redmon (B) and Jace Bagwell (B).

Cadet thoughts on the project:

When building the bridge, I realized the two main factors were hold and spreading of the weight. In my bridge I put hot glue in as many places as I could to keep it together. Then I focused on the spreading of weight. If weight is focused on one area, then that area will collapse. I think the main failure of my bridge was the giant unsecure poles. The poles led to an uneven distribution of weight causing my bridge to fall. Alex Bryant (A)

The Project was fun. We learned some of the basic concepts of engineering, the distribution of weight, and that triangles are an engineer’s best friend. The triangles have a structural rigidity unlike squares. It was a good learning experience for those who want to be architects and still a good learning experience for everyone. So I think we built bridges to learn shapes and how to use those properties in practical applications. Patrick Redmon (B)

For more pictures, please go to our Facebook page!

A Busy Spring

2012-03-08T01:19:26Z

Spring is a busy time of the year for cadets at Camden Military Academy. Cadets are playing Lacrosse, soccer, baseball, tennis and track. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays those cadets that are not members of an academy team play Frisbee football. In addition to sports we have a group of cadets involved in the county's Fine Arts Center production of Aladdin. Performances are scheduled for 8, 9, 10 and 11 March. Starting in April, Ms. Holly Stiles will offer art lessons for students of all ability levels. She teaches art at one of our local schools as well as the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center. Finally, the cadets are preparing for our spring parade season. Dress parades are scheduled for 4 PM on Sunday, March 11 and April 15 and 22. We have also scheduled a parade for Tuesday 20 March at 1 PM. Our final parade of the year will be the graduation parade scheduled for 9:30 AM 20 May.

Archaeological Society

2012-03-05T20:20:00Z

Camden Military Academy Archaeological Society will travel to the Johnson Kolb Site in the Great Pee Dee Heritage Preserve in Darlington County on Wednesday, March 7th. At the site (38da75), cadets will excavate artifacts from as early as 13,500 years old, from all the phases of American prehistory, from the early settlement of Johannes Kolb in 1730, and from slave dwellings of the 19th Century.

Upon arrival, CMAAS cadets will enjoy a tour of the site, now in its 15th year of excavation. Then Sean Taylor will give a demonstration of primitive tool and fire-making technologies. Following this, cadets will be divided into teams of three (an excavator, a screener and a recorder) and will excavate 50cm x 50cm units. As well as excavation, they will learn techniques for mapping, note taking and archaeological photography.

Tennis team to begin season…

2012-02-27T19:48:29Z

On Monday, January 27, the 2012 Camden Military Academy Tennis Team signed their contracts for the season. This promises to be one of the best tennis teams the school has fielded in ten years. The team includes: Max Feinman, an 8^thgrader ranked in the top five of North Carolina; Nestor Ruiz, a junior, an amazing athlete and dedicated player from San Juan, Puerto Rico; Landon Bartlett a senior from Statesville, NC, with biting ground strokes and a pounding serve; Conrad Coulter from Charlotte, NC, a rock solid competitor with an icy disposition; Alexandre Debaty from Brazil, another stalwart athlete with heavy topspin on both sides and a booming serve; William Kang, a fiery competitor from Myrtle Beach, SC, also sporting heavy spin on both sides; Zachary McWilliams, an up-and-coming freshman Floridian with smooth, consistent ground strokes; and Zachariah Azari, a senior veteran of the tennis program, from Hilton Head, SC, serving this year as the team captain. Overall, the team is more talented and more mature than most we’ve seen in previous years.

The season will entail thirteen matches, six away, six at home and one yet to be determined. All but the first home matches will be played at the courts on York Street in Camden (north on 521 from exit 98 on I-20; left on York St; courts on the right). Tennis coaches Ghaffar and Darby expect a very successful season, and spectators are welcome.

Varsity Basketball win against Soaring Eagle Christian Academy

2012-02-27T19:43:25Z

In their final game of the season, the varsity basketball team broke out of a scoring slump to defeat Soaring Eagle Christian Academy 58-34. In the first quarter, the Spartans jumped out to a 17-1 lead by using a full-courts press that created several baskets off turnovers. Solid defense, combined with good shot selection helped build and maintain the lead throughout the game. The Spartans were also able to create many easy lay-ups off their passing/cutting open post offense. Contributing offensively to the victory were: Omar Patterson-18pts, Temuulen Shikhtulga-16pts, Andrei Sujka-13 pts, Cody Owens-6pts, Ernest Perry-3pts and Patrick Mulligan-2pts. Congratulations on a great win!

CMA spotlights the ARTS

2012-02-24T16:00:01Z

Camden Military Academy now presents...ART!

This class offers lessons for all ages and ability levels. Each student will receive individualized instruction based upon his specific art and media interests. All supplies are included in the cost of the course. Class dates are April 18 & 24 and May 2 & 9. Cost of class is $120.00.

About the Educator...

Holly Stiles graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina in 2006 with a BFA in Art Education. Stiles has taught within the Fort Mill School District and is currently teaching at Lugoff-Elgin Middle School in Kershaw County. In her third year of teaching, she was named Teacher of the Year.

Stiles has served as the leader of her teaching team for two years, serves on the Kershaw County Teacher Forum, Lugoff-Elgin Middle School Leadership Council, and is the Fine Arts Center Coordinator for her school. She also helped establish the organization, The Cutting Edge, which is a Kershaw County School District teacher forum where art educators can come together to share ideas and address the needs for the arts within the surrounding communities. Stiles enjoys staying involved in the SC art community through the above activities, teaching private lessons, working with The SC Governor's School for the Arts, and attending conferences and gallery openings.

If you have any questions, contact LTC Armstrong at 800-948-6291. To sign up for the class, please contact LTC Heflin at 800-948-6291 or at academics@camdenmilitary.com.

CMA Archaeological Society

2012-02-23T15:30:19Z

On Friday, February, 10, Camden Military Academy Archaeological Society took a field trip to the Adamson Indian Mounds in Camden,S.C. Christopher Judge, a professor of archaeology at USC Lancaster, met the group of nine cadets with Major Ghaffar. Professor Judge explained the origin of the two mounds and their cultural significance. He lectured the students about the Mississippian Indian culture and about the effects of contact with early Spanish conquistadors. The Spanish came to Camden in 1540 and left very little archaeological evidence. Professor Judge told the cadets the stories of Juan Pardo, and of Hernando DeSoto and their travels through what is now South Carolina, and offered some possible explanations for teh mysterious absence of Spanish artifacts. The cadets attending the field trip were: Peed, Satterfield, Warters, Evans, Thompson, J, Hardee, Layne, J, Vogel, and Trznadel, A.

JV Basketball Win Against Hammond

2012-02-22T14:48:54Z

The JV Basketball team ended the season with a hard fought win against Hammond. CMA took the lead early in the first quarter by playing good defense. The game was tied by halftime at 10-10. CMA was leading again by the end of the third quarter. In the last quarter CMA made several good plays on offense and pushed out the lead by 12 points. Hammond came roaring back with a minute left in the game and cut the lead down to 3 points. Matt Zimmerman went to the line to shoot 2 free throws. Nothing but net on both shots and that sealed the win at 32-28. Players Brian DeSousa, Frank Caputo, Malik McGill, Robert Ward, Chris Chamberlain, Rob Kerrison, and Dequan Guyton contributed to our win. Congratulations to the JV Spartans on a great game!

Jr.High Basketball Win

2012-02-17T20:33:31Z

The Junior High BB team won their last game over Hammond School 34-16. Coach Beckham said, " It was a great team win. All 19 players got into the game. We executed our offense the best we had all season." The high scorers were: Andre Cooper and Jacob Case each with 7 points and Max Fineman with 6 points. Coach Beckham sais he was proud of the effort and hard work the players put forth this season.

CMA Archaeological Society

2012-02-15T21:00:44Z

Camden Military Academy Archaeological Society (CMAAS)

Led by Maj. Tariq Ghaffar

On Saturday, Feb.4, cadets traveled to Cayce, SC to help locate the 1750’s town of St John’s. Cadets arrived in the morning for a lecture by James Stewart, professional archaeologist. From the lecture they learned about the history of the lost town and Ft. Congaree (Site 38Lx319), the military post established to protect the deerskin trade with the Cherokees in 1718 and later St Johns. Though the town was never attacked in the 18^th Century, it was under threat from the French and the Choctaw Indians from the west. Cadets carefully listen to James Stewart whose master’s thesis is about the site.

Afterward, cadets were assigned professional archaeologists from whom they would learn about how to dig shovel tests and how to record and interpret data they recovered. Each two cadets accompanied one professional archaeologist, with the exception of Cadet Thompson, J. who was paired with Major Ghaffar.

At noon our cadets took their much deserved lunch break. While some reassessed the historical report they had been furnished at the CMAAS meeting the day before, others slaked their curiosity by exploring the banks of Congaree Creek.

After lunch, cadets returned to their work, each team digging shovel tests on an established grid at 30-meter intervals. Though the data they collected cannot be interpreted fully until the artifacts have all been washed and analyzed, some level of in-field interpretation is possible. For example, Cadets Vogel and Azari recovered a clay pipe in association with an arrow point and a piece of Cherokee pottery, indicating that they were most likely digging in the old Cherokee trading village.

What is Rolling Admissions?

2011-09-19T18:20:39Z

What is a “rolling admissions” policy??
Camden Military academy operates under a rolling admissions policy. There are other names for this policy such as “open” or “ongoing” enrollment. However, they all mean the same thing—the ability to enroll students at any time during the school year. CMA accepts students at the beginning of the year and any point thereafter. A student can wait until the second semester to begin school but we discourage waiting and will encourage a student to enroll as soon as possible to have as much time as possible to improve grades . Actually, it is also much easier to transfer to CMA sometime during the first semester because there is less confusion with credits transferring from the previous school. There is also a much less risk of falling behind in credits if the student transfers to CMA in the first semester.
Camden Military Academy will review applications at anytime for entrance into one of America’s best military boarding schools!!

Summer Programs 2011

2011-07-21T01:42:06Z

Camden Military Academy had near record enrollment in our 2011 summer programs. We had a number of students participating in credit recovery as well as tackling new subjects for the first time. A wide array of classes were offered and our high school students could earn 1 full academic cedit in as little as 2.5 weeks or 2 full credits in 5+ weeks. The middle school students enjoyed 1/2 day classes as well as fun "camp" activities in the afternoon. The summer student body was primarily public school or private day school students. However, a large number of these students have decided to return to Camden Military Academy for the school year!

A few additional stats regarding the summer programs...

13 states and 2 countries represented
largest adventure camp attendance ever
majority of students were 7 day boarders

Lacrosse Wins State Championship

2011-05-25T16:04:48Z

CMA Wins 2011 SCILL Championship

Saturday, May 7th saw the Spartans lacrosse team cap their most successful season in program history, with a 13-3 thrashing of Benedictine Military in the SCILL Championship game. The Spartans win capped an 8-3 season, a program best. The win saw four different Spartans tally scores, Ned Prezioso, Weston Hardee, and Chris Gratton with four goals apiece, Austin Marvin with one. Nate Kern saved 11 of 14 shots, and put forth a solid effort in the clearing game. The teams’ efforts throughout the season were rewarded with the first Championship in program history, and hopes are that the Spartans will continue their success in the years to come.

Graduation Sermon

2011-05-25T13:34:04Z

Camden Military Academy Commencement Sermon

May 22, 2011

LTC Chaplain Karen Diefendorf (Mother of Bradley Diefendorf, Class of 2011)

Congratulate the Graduates

INTRO:

I have sat through many Baccalaureate and Commencement addresses and I don’t think I remember any of them. And I know that most of you are sitting here wondering how long I’m going to talk. So, the one thing I want to do is just to give you a couple of illustrations or images that you might take with you, that you might remember. And I don’t have any chicken wings this morning (a reference to a sermon in chapel earlier this year)

My very favorite text for Baccalaureate or Commencement is from Jeremiah 12:5a. It is God’s response to Jeremiah who has been whining at God. He wanted to talk to God about God’s Justice. Now I’m thinking that if God decides something is just then I might not want to have a discussion but Jeremiah takes God on. And this was God’s response, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how will you compete with horses?”

I know something about running. The Army “suggested” that I run and I did. I’m not fast but I learned that I needed to keep on. The good thing about being a retiree recall is that I don’t have to run anymore… but they can still weigh me—takes all of the fun out of eating!

I’ve watched you run…Cross Country and Track; Soccer, LaCrosse, Football, Basketball, Tennis and Baseball players…all of you run. Running teaches you some things:

You learn DISCIPLINE from running. When you begin to feel the burn in your legs and your

lungs you have a choice---and you PUSH thru. Much of life is just about SHOWING UP. Show up and be ready for whatever comes at you.

You learn about ENDURANCE—don’t quit. Keep at it. I’ve often said to my son, “No one can take this from you, but you can give it away. You can give it away by making bad choices, by getting angry, by letting others get to you, by not believing in yourself.” Young men, there will always be someone else out there who is bigger, better, stronger, smarter but if you hang in there you will be amazed at what will happen if you just don’t quit.

II. Well what does it look like to Compete with Horses then?

ILLUS: I love horseracing. I suspect there are some folks here from Kentucky. I LOVE the Kentucky Derby and I had a new hat and was ready to go this year but instead I found myself at the LaCrosse championship!

Horses are fast. One of the things I’ve discovered is that even though I had a seat at the starting gate, when the horses took off out of the gate, they were so fast that I didn’t see who had what position; when they came around again toward the finish line they went by so quickly I couldn’t tell which horse it was! I always had to go home and watch it on TV to really see it.

So, how in the world are you going to compete with something that fast…in God’s words, If you raced with men on foot and they won, how on earth are you going to get very far with horses? It’s a classic comparison between the Infantry and Cavalry. No infantryman would ever take on the Cavalry by himself. So, never try to live this life Alone.

You didn’t get thru here to graduation alone—even if it looked it. Look around you. Your parents and family invested in you; they sacrificed for you. There was the Persistence of your Tacs, Staff, and Faculty who kept at you. There was the help of your friends. You can’t compete with horses by yourself. It takes TEAMWORK and you have to become a TEAM PLAYER. One of the leadership characteristics of a Team Player is being a SERVANT LEADER. You see, I don’t wear this rank in order to boss people around or give orders. The purpose for my rank is so that I can have the requisite power and authority to resource my subordinates to do their jobs, not the other way around. So, you lead from the Bottom Up, not the Top, Down.

III. I’m sorry to say that my generation, we adults may have done you a disservice. We’ve modeled for you a life that looks more like a footrace sometimes than a race with horses. Footraces reflect the “instant.” For instance, I was in a grocery store this morning and there on the shelf was Slim Fast because who’d buy Slim Slow? We’re the generation who has created ATMs…because who has time to wait for some person to be slow with our money. We have instant oats and instant grits down here in the south. And Fast Food…we get impatient if there are more than 3 cars or people ahead of us in line. Do you see how that smacks of a footrace?

Horse races are for the Long Haul. They require you to DEVELOP YOUR CHARACTER—traits like HONESTY, TRUST; Who you are is more important than what you do. Choose a GODLY LIFE; Be WISE about your COMPANIONS/FRIENDS—I’ve watched and I don’t think I’ve seen an exception. If you hang out with folks you think you can bring up to your level, invariably you fall to the negative influences. Do what you can for others who need your help, but you MUST surround yourself with friends who will encourage you to do what is right—choose a Godly Life. And LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS. Be good stewards of what you have and be content. Don’t expect or assume that others ought to bail you out when you have squandered your resources. Live within your means.

CONCL: There are a lot more “horses” out there but you don’t have to ever be alone. GOD is always there with you. All you have to do is ask. And if you aren’t sure that God exists, that’s OK…He knows He exists and He will still respond.

Again, Congratulations. I’m proud of you. I look forward to watching what God is going to do in and through your lives. All you have to do is be willing to get into the starting gate. An exciting race with the horses is about to begin!

Spartans are Conference CHAMPS!

2011-05-23T13:54:46Z

The Spartan Football Team finished the seaon with a 44-8 win over Prince Avenue Prep. The victory also earned the Spartans the 2010 CIAA conference championship. Both the offense and the defense were impressive. The offense gained 373 yards. The defense held Praince Ave. Prep to 98 yards on offense. Marlon Kelly was 12-17 for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns. Trey Dean had 9 catches for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns. Bruce Smith rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries and scored 1 touchdown. James Furr added another touchdown and rushed for 30 yards. Drew Goshorn also kicked a 30 yard field goal.

The defense was led by David Duncan with 19 total tackles. Drew Goshorn had 10 tackles, and Cody Owens added six more. Thomas Plumb forced two fumbles. The fumbles were recovered by Matt Browne and Ned Prezioso. Trey Dean intercepted 2 passes and knocked down two more. Patrick Stone, David Casie, and Nathan Kern each sacked the quarterback. Camden Military finishes the season with a 5-2 record.

Enrollment- Summer, Next Year, Re-enrollment

2011-03-17T13:45:46Z

The admissions office will be very busy over the next several months. The 3 summer programs, new applicants for next year, and re-enrollment of our current cadets for next year are all underway!

The summer programs offer a non-military setting either strictly for academics or a mixed academic/camp experience. Don’t wait too late to apply as we will accept the first 120 applicants!

New applications are being received daily. We have tremendous interest in the 2010-2011 school year. If you are interested, please complete the online application today!Also, we will be travelling the country to meet new and interested families. Please check our admissions open house schedule to see when we will be in a city near you!

Finally, re-enrollments have been mailed to our current cadets’ families. These applications can either be returned by mail, fax or email scan. Also, you can now re-enroll online by following this link http://camdenmilitary.com/student_parent_resources/reenroll/.

Please call or email with any questions. I look forward to another exciting enrollment season!!!

Basketball wins CIAA conference Championship

2011-03-08T14:44:13Z

The CMA basketball team finished their season Saturday by defeating Carolina Academy 81-64. With the victory the Spartans won the CIAA conference title. Bobby Gary led the scoring with 24 points. Giovanni Arrindell had 11 points and 13 assists. Steven Thomas had 17 points and Juwan Rorie scored 19 points. The CMA basketball team finished the 2010-2011 season with a record of 15-6.

Wrestling Wrap-up

2011-02-15T21:05:48Z

The 2010-2011 wrestling season has ended. Coaches Mark Dority and Tom Borowski guided the team to a 10-10 record. CMA wrestlers scored 82 wins versus 54 loses in head to head competition. The wrestlers were an inexperienced group for the most part, and kept getting better throughout the season. The most experienced wrestlers had sensational seasons. David Duncan was 22-2 and David Cassie was 21-3. Coach Dority had five wrestlers that were in middle school. With these athletes and the other returning wrestlers the CMA wrestling team is on very solid ground in the coming years.

Second Semester Enrollment

2011-02-01T15:26:21Z

Camden Military Academy had a tremendous second semester enrollment!! Over 40 students enrolled! Our total enrollment is now 280 cadets.

Before the recession, CMA had an admissions waiting list for the previous 4 years. However, beginning with the 2008-09 school year, total enrollment lagged due to the economy and the financial constraints of our families. During the downward trend in admissions, CMA did not cut any programs or increase classroom sizes. Thankfully, our Board of Trustees had the foresight to plan ahead and weather any financial storms that may have ensued due to the decreased enrollment.

I believe that the high number of second semester enrollments is a sign not only that the economy may be improving but that families recognize that there isn’t a more valuable investment than our children. Camden Military Academy has and always will provide one of America’s best educations in a structured environment.

CMA falls to East Clarendon

2010-09-20T17:41:20Z

The CMA football team lost to East Clarendon on Friday, 42-19. The Spartans cut East Clarendon's lead to only eight points by the end of the 3rd quarter, but could not contain East Clarendon's speed in the final quarter. Bruce Smith led CMA in rushing with 163 yards and a touchdown. Marlon Kelly had a 8 yard TD run. Kelly hit Steven Thomas for a 36 yard TD pass to end the Spartans scoring. CMA travels to play McBee on Friday at 7:30pm.

Spartans defeat Village Christian 52-12

2010-09-13T20:49:43Z

The CMA football team got off to a great start on Friday. CMA 52 Village Christian 12. The offense racked up over 500 yards. Marlon Kelly was 16 of 27 for 256 yards and 2 TD's. Bruce Smith has the ball 6 times for 128 yards and 3 rushing TD's. Trey Dean caught 7 passes for 94 yards and a TD. The defense also played well with David Duncan making 10 solo tackles. Cameron Warren had 3 tackles for loss.The defense held Village Christian to only 152 yards of total offense. Everybody who dressed for the game got to play. Friday CMA travels to play East Clarendon at 7:30pm

A New Year

2010-09-13T20:31:12Z

I would like to thank all of the students, parents and friends for their patience during registration. It was a busy day and your cooperation allowed us to start the academic year on a positive note. This year I have been especially pleased with the behavior of our young men. Being away from home, adjusting to a new environment and going to school can be trying under the best circumstances. When you think of what we ask our young men to accomplish during the first month of school you begin to understand why many look forward to their first furlough and a time to relax. Yes, we do ask a lot of the young men that attend Camden Military Academy. New boys are immediately exposed to a world of standards. Regardless of age they are expected to master the art “following”; a tough concept for young boys with their own ideas on how things should run. Uniforms, haircuts, making beds, being on time all coupled with homesickness make life interesting for both parents and faculty. Returning cadets find Camden Military Academy has increased expectations and additional leadership responsibilities. Parents of our leaders would laugh as they complain to their Tactical Officers about “young boys not listening – and refusing to clean their rooms”. All of these challenges provide a unique learning environment for your son and I hope that you are as impressed as I am with these boys experience as they are asked to accept responsibility – first for themselves and later for other cadets.

As the year continues we welcome your comments and suggestions. If there is something we can do immediately to improve the school please feel free to call me at (803) 432-6001 or 3889.

Thank you again for your great support!

Single Gender Education

2010-06-30T16:38:23Z

As I walked through campus earlier today, I realized how thankful I am that Camden Military Academy is all male. There is nothing wrong with girls but there is definitely a time in life for everything! With that being said, it is nice to see boys acting like boys and learning like boys. There are lots of hands on activities going on to hold a guy’s interest- not just “boring” lectures that last over an hour. I simply feel like that oftentimes boys are expected to “learn like girls” learn in the public school system which may stifle or bore a much more active boy. It’s also nice not to have the girls as a distraction. We all know that teenage boys’ minds will wander and they especially do if there is an attractive girl around!

In closing, I am very thankful that CMA has remained a very traditional, single gender military academy offering the opportunity for boys to be boys.

Re-enrollment

2010-06-30T16:37:00Z

I always get excited around this time every year because it is time to send out re-enrollment invitations to cadets in hopes of them returning next year. Each year, this is a time when the administration of reflects on the Corps of Cadets accomplishments this past school year. I get to see concrete evidence how far a young man has come whether it be academically or behaviorally since his enrollment at Camden. I also realize how valuable a service, not to mention a quality education, Camden Military Academy is providing these young men and appreciate that I was part of that process. For example, we have one 12th grade cadet who transferred to Camden in his sophomore year with a 2.0 GPA- his college choices were limited. However, today he stopped by to tell me that he got accepted into the University of South Carolina, his first choice school, and gave our teachers all of the credit for helping him improve his GPA and study skills. Another 9th grade student had some behavioral issues in public school because he was ADHD but with the individual attention and small classes here, he no longer “blends in the crowd” and has not received any demerits since Christmas vacation!!

I trust that if your son attends CMA, or if you attended yourself, that you have your own success story. If you would like to share them, I would like to hear them. Here’s looking ahead to next year- may it be another GREAT year!