Lyman Ward Military Academy (LWMA) is a private military school located in Camp Hill, Alabama for boys in grades 6-12.
History
Lyman Ward Military Academy - 22 Pushup Challenge - Lyman Ward Military Academy in Camp Hill, Alabama was established in 1898. Alabama's Military Prep School. Follow us on Twitter: @lyman_ward Visit our website: www.lwma.org.
The Academy was founded by Dr. Lyman Ward in 1898 as a non-profit, non-denominational, all-male institution for the rural youth of Alabama.The school is located about 20 miles from Auburn. The original purpose was to provide a secondary education for those with the ability to learn, the willingness to work and in turn better themselves. In 1901, the State of Alabama granted Ward a charter incorporating the school with the name, The Southern Industrial Institute, Inc.
In 1948, Ward's passing led to the establishment of a military department. The school then changed its name to Lyman Ward Military Academy in honor of its founder. At this time, the school also ended its elementary and co-ed programs.
In 1966, the school became a member of the JROTC program, and is currently assigned a retired officer and NCO by the Department of Army.
In 1972, the school received its first accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools which it maintains to this day.
Campus
LWMA is located on 300 acres (1.2Â km2) and boasts two athletic fields, a parade field, two 5-acre (20,000Â m2) lakes (Lake Mary & Lake Ann), double tennis courts, three dormitories, a dining hall, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, indoor and outdoor rifle ranges, supply building, JROTC building, infirmary, administration building, and canteen. The historic Tallapoosa Hall is wood. In addition, there is a library with a technology center and a large auditorium.
In August 2006, lightning struck and destroyed the Dixon All-Faith Chapel.
In October 2007, Tallapoosa Hall was added to the register of Alabama's Historic Landmarks by the Alabama Historical Commission. The AHC certificate is currently displayed in Tallapoosa Hall's reception room.
Admissions
The Academy accepts middle school and high school students preparing for college, as-well-as other career fields. Many of these applicants are attempting to improve their academic standing and study habits. Applications for admissions are accepted year-round. New cadets are admitted in August and January of each year, at the beginning of each academic semester. Late admissions are considered and often accepted. All applicants are reviewed by the Admissions Office and approved by the Admissions Committee, composed of representatives from the Academic Department and Military Department.
Tuition
The fees for the full year are $19,500. This covers room, board, tuition, lab fees, haircuts, laundry and dry cleaning, and library fees. It does not cover the cost of uniforms or personal spending money. The uniforms cost for first year cadets is $2,500.00 including sales tax. For returning students who have their uniforms, the uniform charge is $500. The $250 application fee is used for registration administration and is non-refundable. Early enrollment and returning student discounts are deductible from the room, board and tuition fees. Students from Alabama are also eligible for a discount. The Academy accepts students on a year-round basis, however a major enrollment period occurs in January. The fees for late-enrolling students are prorated based on the date of enrollment.
Academics
LWMA is on the Semester System (Block Schedule) with the normal student load for grades 9-12 consisting of seven courses per year. Class periods are 90 minutes long which allows for more discussion, review, and class work. This also gives the teacher the opportunity to work with each student individually as needed.
In keeping with the requirements of the State of Alabama, students are required to have four years of English, Math, History and Science. Other courses are offered as electives. Qualified sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible to take Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes. It is possible for a student to earn 6 to 8 credits per year. A student must have 24 credits to graduate.
Junior High School (grades 6-8) is also on the Semester System. Courses are taken for the full school year and are split into 45 minute classes. The usual class load is seven classes.
Cadet life
Band
The Lyman Ward Band program provides students with the opportunity to take band classes designed to improved their individual and ensemble performing skills . Bandmember's perform for parades, dedications, and civic events each year. Past performances by the Lyman Ward Band include participation in the Talladega 500(1980â€"1990), Mardis Gras(1980â€"1986), the National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham, Alabama(1980â€"2012), the Peanut Festival in Dothan, Alabama(1980â€"1990), as well as several command performances for the Governor of Alabama including the 2006 Inaugural Parade. The Band also often performs at Christmas parades in Opelika and Alexander City.
Each year band members have the opportunity to participate in off-campus festivals and compete for individual awards. One such event would be the Alabama Bandmasters Solo and Ensemble contest in April. former Lyman Ward band members have also been selected to the Auburn University ,Montevallo,and Birmingham Southern Honor Bands that perform in February each year.
Students who have no instrumental experience may choose to enroll in the Beginning Band class. This class is mainly composed of 6th and 7th grade students who are trained in the basics of band instrument performance. These students also learn to read music and instrument care as they progress toward performing in a marching or concert band.
Homecoming
Each year, Homecoming activities are held throughout the designated weekend. Special activities include a Homecoming Court with the crowning of the Homecoming Queen at the Friday night Football game.
Intramurals
Intramural softball season is held every year during the spring. Teams are led by the faculty and military staff and competition is open to all cadets.
A very competitive atmosphere surrounds the fun that naturally occurs when faculty, staff and cadets compete together. Each team takes great pride in its effort to acquire the title of "Spring Softball Champions".
Rifle Team
The Rifle Team is open to all cadets 9-12th grade who have a strong desire to compete on a high school level with air rifles. Currently the Rifle Team shoots in the sportier division and competes with Daisy 853 air rifles. The rifle team competes in the Alabama Northeast Area JROTC Rifle League. The league is recognized and uses the National Rifle Association rules for air rifles. The teams compete in a 3-position league which consists of the prone, kneeling, and standing positions from 33 feet (10Â m). The team competes every year in the Auburn University War Eagle Invitational where schools from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida compete for two days in the air rifle competitions. In 2006, the team came in 3rd at the War Eagle Invitational.
Currently, there are two rifle teams, Team A & Team B, consisting of five shooters per team. The teams practice after school Monday through Thursday.
Color Guard
The Color Guard is open to all cadets from 9th to 12th grade.Currently the Color Guard competes in the Armed Color Guard Category and competes each year in different JROTC competitions around the state. The Color Guard performs at a variety of activities on campus including Posting the Colors at all home sporting events, all promotion ceremonies, and scrub graduations. The Color Guard is known in the community for Posting the Colors at the Pearson Elementary school in Alexander City for Veterans Day and at the Dadeville Elementary School Veterans Day Program.
The Color Guard also carries the colors at all on and off campus parades.
Athletics
Football
Football has long been considered the favorite sport at LWMA. The Rangers compete as a member of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) in the AAA classification. LWMA currently only fields a Varsity team. The Rangers compete against private schools who are members of the AISA. All home football games have been broadcast live on the Academy's website by the Multimedia Club since 2010.
Basketball
Basketball has been a vital part of the LWMA athletic program for decades. Interscholastic games were played in the Tallapoosa Hall gymnasium from 1930 until 1973, when a new gymnasium was constructed on the north end of campus. The Tallapoosa Hall venue is used today for junior school practice.
Presently, the Academy fields two teams - at the varsity (Senior School) level and one at the Junior Varsity (Junior School)level. The varsity teams are composed of student athletes in grades 9-12; the Junior Varsity program is designed for student athletes in grades 6-8. All teams play a full interscholastic schedule.
The varsity teams play a competitive 18-20 game schedule, with games beginning in mid-November and ending in early February. The Rangers compete against private schools as a Class AAA member of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA). The Junior Varsity team plays a 10-12 game schedule.
Basketball practice begins in mid-to-late October and is open to all interested students. Typically, 40 young men participate in one of the Academy's two teams as players, managers, and scorekeepers. The basketball program affords a great opportunity for participation at each athlete's level of playing ability. In the last five years, LWMA basketball players have received scholarship offers from such institutions as Atlanta Christian College and Montreat College in North Carolina.
The team has been coached by Mr. Jeff Damron, who has one state championship at the AISA level as head coach at Springwood School (Lanett, Alabama). Currently, the coach is Fred Bridges.
Soccer
Lyman Ward has a great tradition in soccer, dating back many years. Lyman Ward was one of the first two high schools in the State of Alabama to field an interscholastic soccer team. In recent history, LWMA was crowned as state champions in 2010 (AISA) with a 12-1-0 record and Area Champs in 2009. All home soccer games have been broadcast live on the Academy's website by the Multimedia Club since 2011.
Baseball
Baseball has been a Varsity sport at the Academy since the Spring of 2010. A new on-campus baseball field was scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2014 baseball season. LWMA competes as a Class AA member of the Alabama Independent School Association.
References
- Lyman Ward Military School Information
- http://www.LWAlumni.org - Official Alumni Website
- Alumni Message Boards
- [1] - Official Parent Support Group Website
- Historical Marker Database - Lyman Ward Military Academy