Army and Navy Academy‘s history and mission were recently the subject of “Army and Navy Academy Celebrates Long History,” by The Coast News writer, Christina Macone-Greene.
Touching on Army and Navy longevity and success, school president Stephen Bliss told Macone-Greene:
“We produce young men, by and large, that go to college and become upstanding citizens.”
While 90% of Army and Navy graduates go on to four year colleges or universities, a small percentage- ten percent or less elect a military career. Even outside of a military career alumni understand and carry the lessons of the school’s military structure through their lives.
Army and Navy alumnus and trustee chair Jack Wyatt tells Macone-Green of his school experience:
“The academy prepared me to be a better person…I learned a lot of discipline, self-esteem and self- confidence. And lifelong friendships were made.”(TCN)
Of the benefits of military structure and organization, Bliss explains:
“We use this model as a means of focusing the students on what it is that they’re here to do because we get a lot of kids for one reason or another who are not performing up to their expectations…And when they get it, the vast majority of them are really able to perform at a better level than they were before — I think we are doing these kids a great service…
…“Our mission statement says to educate and develop good character in young men and that’s what we do.”(TCN)
While only a small percentage of alumni elect a military career, Army and Navy does count among its alumni ranks, General William H. Crouch ’59 who retired in 1998 with a rank of General of the Army. Crouch served as Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
Other notable alumni:
Uchenna Agu ’82 who, with wife Joyce, won the $1 million prize in the seventh season of CBS’s hit reality series “The Amazing Race.”
Matt Hensley ’89: skateboarder, musician and restaurateur.
Marc McClure ’75: Actor, played the role of cub reporter Jimmie Olson in all four Superman movies.
