Parents Seek Schooling Alternative for Children

Lyman Ward Military Academy Provides Solid Foundation in a Changing Society

Camp Hill, Alabama, July 14, 2008 – While much has changed in the U.S. educational system, including an influx of problems, concerns and negative influences within some public school systems, the concept of the military boarding school remains solid, providing a stable foundation often necessary for today’s youth

“While the perception of the military boarding school has changed dramatically during the past 50 years, the core principles of providing young men with an opportunity to succeed remains the same,” says Col. (Retired) Bill Jenrette, President of Camp Hill, Alabama-based Lyman Ward Military Academy (LWMA).

LWMA is one of less than 50 military boarding schools nationally, educating young men from grades 6-12. The Academy, founded in 1898, has watched as social and cultural influences have changed the way public and private schools function.

“Two perceptions exist about military boarding schools, that they are elite organizations for the wealthy, or that their function only serves to discipline young
men who have gone down the wrong path,” says Jenrette. “Actually, our Academy is comprised of Cadets from a cross-section of society, including a diversity of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, and less than 10 percent of our Cadets come from military families,” says Jenrette.

LWMA, like other military boarding schools, is designed to not only educate, but teach traditional values such as leadership, time management, respect, civics, and accountability. Cadets are encouraged to pursue their interests, and Lyman Ward Cadets are fortunate to have a 300-acre campus, complete with hiking/biking trails, fishing ponds and shooting range. Sports, such as football, soccer and basketball are also offered, and the Academy competes on the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) level. Additionally, the Academy’s JROTC program is distinguished among the top 5 percent in the nation, and has done so for the past 35 years.

“Parents come to us because they are seeking an educational alternative that will provide a safe environment for their sons, a place where he is surrounded by positive influences, from school administrators, to instructors to peers,” says Joe Watson, of LWMA.

“Many parents feel that public schools are not meeting the needs of their sons, and look to institutions such as Lyman Ward as a cost-effective alternative to private schooling,” says Watson. He added that when Lyman Ward Military Academy was founded in 1898, a high school education was the means to an end, and that it now is the means to a beginning

Based in Camp Hill, Alabama, and founded as the Southern Industrial Institute, LWMA is dedicated to providing secondary education for those with the ability to learn and the willingness to work. Accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), it boasts an enrollment of approximately 80 Cadets, and for the past five years enjoys a 100 percent Cadet college acceptance rate. For more information, or for a list of recruiting events, visit LWMA online at www.lwma.org.


Media Contact:
Bob Bartels
334-332-0025
bob@b2ideas.com