Message from Mr. William R. Floyd, Jr., '63; Chairman of the Board and Acting President, VFMA&C

Dear VFMA&C Community,

It is my distinct pleasure to announce on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Valley Forge Military Academy Foundation that Colonel David R. Gray, USA, PhD, has been appointed President of Valley Forge Military Academy & College. He is an experienced educator both in the classroom and in educational leadership positions. Colonel Gray brings with him an immense experience in both the military and in education. He has taught as an assistant professor of military history at United States Military Academy, adjunct professor of history at University Maryland (European Division), US Army Federal Executive Fellow at Brookings Institute, and West Point's Chair and Professor of Officership. He is currently the Director of Policy, Strategic Planning, and Assessments at West Point. Many of our alumni had the opportunity to meet COL and Mrs. Gray over alumni weekend, as they joined them for the Regimental Review parade on Saturday, the 50th reunion reception, and the formal dinner that evening. Please join me in welcoming Colonel Gray and his family, who will officially arrive at VFMA&C and assume duties on July 20.

Alumni Weekend was, as always, a tremendous success. We enjoyed welcoming so many alumni with their families and friends, to campus at the end of April. I want to especially thank Walter Matlack '76, Alumni Weekend Chairman; Ms. Laurel Burchfield, the 50th reunion group who returned in record numbers, the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Development Department, Facilities, Commandant's Department and the 82nd Corps of Cadets who worked so hard to effectively orchestrate the memorable weekend tradition that is Alumni Weekend.

Parents Weekend would not be successful without the outstanding leadership of Lini Stevens and the Parents Association for all of their hard work and careful planning to make the weekend special for our parents and their cadets. Thank you for your continued commitment to the VFMA&C Corps of Cadets and their families!

On Friday, May 14 we held both the U.S. Army Early Commissioning Program ceremony as well as College graduation. Thank you to all our graduating men and women who are leaving us now fully prepared to contribute to the betterment of our world as true leaders. We hope that they have learned as much from us as we have learned from them. Although their energy and spirit will be missed, their many valuable contributions create a legacy that will forever remain a part of College life. We certainly hope they will remain connected and involved with Valley Forge through the Office of Alumni Relations.

In a few short weeks, final exams will begin for our Academy and Middle School cadets, and we will witness yet another semester and academic year draw to a close. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all - our staff, faculty, cadet leaders, parents, alumni and friends - for the tireless work of providing an atmosphere of responsible learning to our varied group of students.

Soon we will host the Middle School Promotion Ceremony on Friday, June 4, and the Academy graduation on Saturday, June 5. Let it be a time of happiness and excitement as we celebrate the achievements of our many talented young Academy cadets.

I hope that everyone has a safe and relaxing summer and we look forward to seeing many of you back here in the fall.

Regards,

William R. Floyd, Jr., '63
Chairman of the Board and Acting President, VFMA&C

Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS

VFMA&C Foundation Trustees Appoint New President

The Board of Trustees of the Valley Forge Military Academy Foundation appointed Colonel David R. Gray, USA, PhD, as President of Valley Forge Military Academy & College.

Colonel Gray is an infantry officer who has performed a variety of command and staff duties in the United States and overseas. He has led progressively larger size units, culminating in command of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He has served as an operations officer and strategist on the Joint Staff and Department of Army Staff in Washington D.C. Colonel Gray has participated in both peacekeeping and combat operations in Haiti, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Colonel Gray is a 1980 Distinguished Military Graduate of Western Illinois University where he majored in History. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the US Army War College. He has earned several advanced degrees including a master's in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and a masters and Doctorate in military history from The Ohio State University. Among his many educational achievements and awards, he has earned the Omar N. Bradley Research Fellowship in Military History, the Federal Executive Fellowship at Brookings Institute in Washington DC, the Excellence in Teaching Award from the USMA Department of History, and the Phi Kappa Phi Academic Excellence Award.

COL Gray and his wife Karen will join the Valley Forge team this summer following his retirement from a distinguished 30 year military career. The Gray's have three children: Captain Stephanie Bankson of Fort Lewis, Washington; Ms. Jennifer Gray of Hope Mills, North Carolina; and Ms. Megan Gray of Columbus, Ohio. Their son-in-law Captain Nate Bankson also resides at Fort Lewis, Washington.

"I am very honored and privileged to be selected to lead Valley Forge-an institution with a rich history of developing citizens and leaders of great character," Colonel Gray remarked. "Karen and I are excited by this great opportunity to continue to make a difference in shaping our country's future. We look forward to joining the Valley Forge and Wayne community!"

Back to Top

Wes Moore '96 / '98C speaks at VFMA&C

On May 8, VFMA&C welcomed Wes Moore '96 / '98C to campus to speak to the Corps of Cadets, parents, grandparents, alumni, special guests and even a group of 8th grade students from Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby School District, at a special parade arranged in his honor.

Wes spoke about his book, and about how his life could have gone in a very different direction if his mother, Joy Moore, had not made the decision with her parents to send Wes to Valley Forge Military Academy beginning in the 8th grade. The first couple of weeks were extremely challenging for Wes, and until he was convinced by his mom to give it a genuine chance "because so many people sacrificed for him" he finally realized that this was a chance for him to do great things, brought about by an opportunity that his family provided him.

Wes told the audience that he looks back on his time at Valley Forge fondly. It is his VFMA&C class ring that he wears - not Johns Hopkins, not Oxford, but VFMA&C. He told the Corps about how he often looks down at that ring on his right hand and acknowledges that if he made it at Valley Forge; he has the strength and perseverance to do anything he sets his mind to.

Wes' book, The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates, debuted at #5 on the New York Times best seller list earlier that morning. Wes took the time to sign books for over 300 people who attended the sale and signing event following the parade.

Thank you so much, Wes, for your commitment and dedication to your alma mater. And we send your family an extra special "thank you" for spending their weekend with us as well, it was a pleasure to have you all here!

Back to Top

Alumni Weekend

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's alumni weekend. We had a record turnout of alumni from a wide range of class years, from 1930 to 2009. The weekend included a mix of traditional and new events, including a band concert honoring COL Feltham's first VFMA&C band and a tailgate featuring equestrian and drill team demonstrations.

Many alumni were honored during the weekend, including our Outstanding Alumnus recipients Gordon Hanscom '62, '64C and Walter Matlack, '76 for their work on the AABOD as Regiment Committee Chair and Homecoming Committee Chair respectively. The Distinguished Alumnus was awarded to Robert Bacine '60 for his commitment to VFMA&C as a Board of Trustee member and his success in his career. Col James Doyle received the George Washington Award.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors also held their nominations over alumni weekend. A great thank you to outgoing chairman, Niles Dally '63 for his dedication to the Alumni Association and we are happy to welcome Gene Banco '63C as the new chairman and Al Heyer '69 as the new president. Congratulations to all the new and returning AABOD members.

The Alumni Association looks forward to planning another great event for next year. If you'd like to participate, either as an official class representative, contributor to the Silent Auction or volunteer, please contact us now at alumni@vfmac.edu.

Photos of the weekend are available to purchase at this link: http://www.vfmac.edu/About/PhotosandMultimedia.aspx

Back to Top

VFMA&C Regimental Staff Unit

The Regimental Academic Staff Unit (RAS) was established on November 16, 2009 with Cadet First Lieutenant Martin Butler as the Cadet Commanding Officer, otherwise known as the Academic Officer. This strictly cadet-run organization was created in order to provide more direct-support tutoring throughout the campus with distinct military order to ensure efficiency. Currently, the RAS is composed of twenty-seven college cadets that branch off to tutor over five-hundred cadets, regardless of race, age, or academic level because they believe that all cadets should have the same, indiscriminant opportunities as others. Their mission is to improve the academic standard of middle school, high school, and college cadets on campus to ensure that, to the best of their ability, no one sets a premature limit to their vast opportunities for life.

With that in mind, they willingly give up half hour periods during study time, between 1930 and 2200 to assist in tutoring to accommodate the tutee's schedule while maintaining their own grades. As a result of their tireless efforts, the RAS has managed to help improve comprehension among the majority of their tutees, as seen in their grades. In addition to aiding in their grades, they also tune their guidance to match, if not surpass, the standards of their desired schools following. For the comfort of their tutees, they use a similar technique in matching them with a tutor with an appropriate or matching personality. Of the twenty-seven cadets in the organization, there are cadet non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and acting NCOs (hold the rank but not the position) that are selected to operate and represent each company. With the school's support, the Regimental Academic Staff will do its best to guide the corps to a promising future. They will not give up on others.

As a side quest, the Regimental Academic Staff Unit strives to develop leaders from their tutors. They take note of their potential leadership qualities and challenge them for greater development. They specifically concentrate on the following qualities: dedication, personal values, and tact. In the end, as a reward for their great successes, they select the top six Regimental Academic Staff Unit tutors in addition to their Academic NCOs to receive the Cadet Achievement Ribbon presented at the end of each college school year.

All of this could not be achieved without the dedication of the initial tutors that stood by Cadet Butler to create this organization: c/SFC Justin Hannah (Executive Officer), c/SSGT Benjamin Derathe ("G" Company), c/SSGT Elizabeth Jennings ("H" Company), c/SSGT Timothy Tinker (Band Company), c/SGT Moussa Asfour ("I" Company), c/SSGT Carlos Vinals ("A" and "B" Company), and c/SSGT Boubacar Tounkara ("C" Company).

Back to Top

Middle States Association Updates

Valley Forge Military College Middle States update (May 2010)
All of the Middle States Self-Study working groups have submitted revised drafts of their respective chapters of the self-study report. These revised chapter submissions are currently under review. Upon completion of this review, feedback and suggestions will be discussed with the working group Chairs. As the College moves forward with the self-study report, these discussions will be used to guide the development, expansion, and refinement of subsequent chapter drafts.

Academy Middle States Communication (May 2010)
Currently the Planning Committee in the Academy is in the process of collecting data that will become the framework for our Plan for Growth and Improvement. Assessments, surveys, and statistics are being collected from all across our campus to determine the status quo of our student body in terms of academics, character, leadership, and physical development. This data will serve as a benchmark to assess our progress toward reaching our objectives over the next seven years.

Back to Top

VFMC Graduation, Commissioning and Pinning Ceremonies
SROTC Commissioning Ceremony

On 14 May 2010, 22 Second Lieutenants from the Valley Forge Military College Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program (ECP) entered the ranks of the U.S Army. Attending this special event were several military and community dignitaries including the chairman of the Board of Trustees and Acting President, Mr. William R. Floyd, Jr. '63; and special guest speaker and 1984 Valley Forge Military College alumnus, Colonel Walter T. Lord, Deputy Commanding Officer of the 28th Infantry Division, PA Army National Guard.

In addition, the families and guests of the new lieutenants, as well as the faculty, staff, and the Corps of Cadets, were on hand to witness the commissioning ceremony.

After recognizing the support that families, friends, faculty, and staff have provided to the new lieutenants during their studies at Valley Forge, COL Lord went on to outline the accomplishments of the commissioning class of 2010 and reminded everyone in attendance that as officers, they will never stop learning. They are to learn from every leader they work with. "You will all make mistakes. Great leaders learn from them, adapt and never make them again," said COL Lord. "When you make a mistake - and yes, you will make a mistake - admit it, take full responsibility for it, and begin to fix it immediately. Face it head on, and don't try to cover it up or place blame on anyone else. That is the making of a great leader." COL Lord also impressed upon the new officers to make sure they are working under the same conditions as their soldiers, and never forget the importance of family, they are the greatest source of support.

Following the commissioning ceremony, the new officers, families, and friends adjourned to Eisenhower Hall for a reception, the pinning ceremony, and the traditional exchanging of "first salutes." The day was a great beginning to a future full of challenges, adventures, and new accomplishments.

Congratulations, and thank you, to each of the newly commissioned U.S. Army Second Lieutenants!

Back to Top

College Graduation Ceremony

On May 14, 2010 the Valley Forge Military College Class of 2010 crossed over to the other side to join to the Long Line of Gray as the newest members of the Alumni Association.

Guest speaker, Brigadier General Randy Cubero, USAF (Ret.) spoke of the film, "Bell, Book and Candle" as it pertained to their lives at Valley Forge, and beyond.

"The Bell" symbolizes ringing of the bell to announce their accomplishments, commencement being their greatest accomplishment thus far.

"The Book" represents the book of truth, and Brigadier General Cubero spoke of five specific truths to signify how graduating from Valley Forge Military College will fit into their lives. They are: 1. to be of sound mind and sound body; 2. education, to follow through and to never stop learning; 3. to have stars to reach for, because the tragedy in life is not having goals to reach for, and to challenge yourself to continue setting higher goals; 4. values; because the true measure of a person is how you help another person, and for this you must know your values; and finally 5. leadership; a combination of the four other truths, VFMC is a leadership experience that trained you to be future leaders.

Finally, "The Candle" is hope; it is what our expectations are for you beyond Valley Forge. Brigadier General Cubero researched the many VFMC alumni and came up with a role model who the Class of 2010 should emulate - Wes Moore '96 / '98C. He is the modern role model for this graduating class because of his success and the choices he made during his life that helped guide him, and allowed him to achieve his success.

Valedictorian Thomas Bradshaw addressed the Class of 2010 telling them to be thankful of the many things that helped them reach graduation. "Be thankful for your families," said Cadet Bradshaw. "And although many of you may not agree, be thankful for the plebe system, for it taught us to deal with difficult situations, and the way we dealt with those situations will be useful for us throughout our lives. Be thankful for our friends, the bond created at Valley Forge is stronger than any other bond of friendship you will have. Thank you to Valley Forge for giving us the opportunity to lead, which is why this place is so unique. And most importantly, thank you to the education we received at Valley Forge Military College - it represents a great reputation, and the professors we had were amazing."

Once again we congratulate the Valley Forge Military College Class of 2010 for their strength and perseverance; we are proud of your accomplishments and look forward with you to great things in your future!

Back to Top

Cadets attend the annual Versailles Foundation Benefit Dinner in NYC on April 28, 2010.

Continuing the tradition of Valley Forge cadets supporting the prestigious annual Versailles Foundation dinner in New York City, CSM Rik Thornton lead a contingent of cadets to the very grand Pierre Hotel on April 28, 2010 to add military flair to the pageantry. This year the cadets had the privilege and honor of performing for His Royal Highness the Prince Jean d' Orleans Dauphin of France the Duke de Vendome and her Royal Highness the Duchess de Vendome. The whole event was hosted by Mrs. Barbara de Portago, the President of the Foundation and the proud mother of 1LT Russell Grant '05C, a former cadet in E Battery.

The occasion was a huge success and the cadets conducted themselves with professionalism and decorum throughout the event. Many duties had to be rehearsed and performed to ensure that the evening went without a hitch. This ranged from an Honor Guard of Cadets to meet and greet the patrons; Academy Cadets who, after a quick lesson by Mrs. de Portago on charm and etiquette, were selected to serve as escorts to unaccompanied female guests. Obviously, this challenge was met with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and anticipation. Fourteen College cadets, mainly comprised of Prepsters, were selected to dine with the dinner guests; this included Cadet Jena Presley who had the privilege of dining with and entertaining the Prince throughout the proceedings. (Tremendous bragging rights!) In addition, the Color Guard presented the National Colors and school flag along with the French National Flag "Les Couleurs." The Regimental Band provided background music and the Heralds played various fanfares to ensure that Valley Forge Military Academy & College put on a good show.

The whole day was tremendous fun and all of the cadets came away with a great experience and good memories, not to mention the gourmet chocolate provided by Mrs. de Portago and her staff.

Special thanks go to both CPO Paul Green and Bandmaster Phil Evans who ensured that the event went without a hitch and that everything was conducted with precise military procession and professionalism.

Back to Top

VFMC Prospective Students attend "Welcoming Day"

On May 2, Valley Forge Military College conducted its annual Welcoming Day. Almost 70 members of the incoming class of 2012 participated with an additional 150 proud parents and friends. The rising cadets learned the rudiments of Valley Forge, Drill and Ceremonies. They then participated in their first chapel service and their first parade. Rep Barrar appointed Zachaeus Luke Eger as the first ever Legislative Appointment from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Cadet Eger was awarded his certificate from Rep. Drucker at the Welcoming Day Parade.

Back to Top

VFMC Cadet Jacob Fields receives the National Defense Industrial Association Award

On April 23, Cadet Jacob Field received the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) award, medal and $500 stipend at the Union League in Philadelphia. "Each year, the ROTC units [AF, Naval and Army] from local colleges and universities nominate one Cadet or Midshipman each to receive the NDIA ROTC Award. These awards are given annually by the Delaware Valley Chapter for outstanding performance in officer training, for maintaining a high standard in academic achievement and leadership, and for displaying exceptional interest in all matters pertaining to defense preparedness and national security."

Back to Top

College Cadets Volunteer as Elwyn Escorts

Continuing a ten year tradition, College cadets arrived at the Media campus of Elwyn, on Wednesday afternoon, April 14, to escort adult attendees to the spring gala dinner dance. As vans and buses arrived, five cadets, freshmen John Bridges and Cody Helman, joined by sophomores Ryan Maloney, Eric McKnight, and Harvey Schmidt, assisted in guiding more than 250 adults, some in wheel chairs and walkers, down curving walkways and into the colorfully transformed gymnasium.

Elwyn, established in 1852, on the 400 acre suburban campus, has expanded to serve people of all ages, providing residential services, educational programs, rehabilitation and vocational services, and employment services. Nationally recognized for its groundbreaking programs for children and adults with special needs, Elwyn today has sites across PA, as well as New Jersey, Delaware, California, and Florida.

Back to Top

VFMC Spanish class creates children's books in Spanish

Last month, LT Maria Berthet, Assistant Professor of Spanish, worked with her SPANISH 102 class to create children's books in Spanish. They spent an hour at the center where they read several books in Spanish. Later, they wrote the short stories and edited them in class. Finally, they created the books and on April 13 and Cadets Andrell Barnes, Katherine Dahl, Vincent Lombardozzi, and Broades Sample delivered the books at the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington, Delaware. We spent an hour at the center in which cadets read several books to three and four year old children.

Back to Top

Dr. Celso Research Activities (Spring 2010)

VFMC Associate Professor Dr. Anthony Celso published this spring "Phase IV Operations in the War on Terror: Comparing Iraq and Afghanistan in Orbis: A Journal of World Affairs (Spring 2010) associated with the Foreign Policy Research Association of Philadelphia. His article compares and contrast counter insurgency policy success in Iraq since 2007 with prospects for successful implementation of U.S. policy in Afghanistan. Dr. Celso is also scheduled on September 9, 2010 to organize a workshop on home grown terrorism in Spain for the University of Tubingen in Germany. Dr. Celso will organize and chair a panel discussion on Basque and Islamic terrorism for the University of Tubingen Radicalization in Western Societies: Preventing Home Grown Terrorism conference in Tubingen, Germany September 8-9, 2010.

Back to Top

2009-2010 Phi Theta Kappa members

Please join us in congratulating the current Phi Theta Kappa Members, inducted on May 14, 2010. Coordinated through Phi Theta Kappa advisor, Dr. Anthony Celso, the following cadets have met the requirements of a minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA and good moral character.

Back to Top

VFMA&C Iron Squad Challenge

On May 1, 2010 SROTC program at Valley Forge held their first Iron Squad Challenge. They had ten College teams and six Academy high school teams competing. Each team had six cadets but only five cadets competed in each event. The events included: Military Push - Up, Sit - Up, Liter Carry, Water Can Relay, Obstacle Course, and a Relay Race. The winners were:

Back to Top

Cadet Robert Callahan spends a semester in Shanghai, China

Every once in awhile a VFMA cadet meets all the criteria for graduation required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education well in advance of graduation dates. Often the student elects to march on - continuing his education at the collegiate level. In this case, Cadet Callahan met all but two course requirements, wanted to graduate with his class, and had an opportunity to spend a semester at our partner school, The Golden Apple, in Shanghai, China. Below is an excerpt from Cadet Callahan's "learning laboratory" summary that demonstrates the values earned through his four-year experience on campus and his one year journey in co-curricular education.

Reflections on a Cadet's Education
By: Robert Callahan

    What defines a cadet's education? Is it defined by the number of hours he spends in Freeman Auditorium for study hall or Guidon classes, by the amount of credits he must earn to graduate, or by the diploma he receives at graduation? All of these things defined my education, but my education has not been limited to what I have experienced on campus or what I have learned in a classroom. Instead, my education is as broad as the whole world and as narrow as a set of seats on a Greyhound Bus.

     I spent September, October, and November of 2009 at the Shanghai Gold Apple Bilingual School in the People's Republic of China. While there I studied Chinese and various electives such as Japanese, Movie Appreciation, and Gym, but I also learned from my fellow international students, who hailed from countries such as Italy, Kazakhstan, France, Korea, Indonesia, Brazil, and Japan, and the actual Chinese Students. By interacting with the international students, I experienced the differences between the American Personality and the European Personality and learned about the Chinese stress on discipline and family honor.

Back to Top

VFMA Cadet Graham Lucas receives the distinguished Crawford Medal

Valley Forge Military Academy recently announced that Cadet Graham Lucas has received the distinguished Crawford Medal for the 2009-2010 academic year. Cadet Lucas is an excellent student who is a star both academically and as the quarterback for the high school football team.

The Crawford Medal was established in 2009 and is presented annually in the spring to a current cadet as he finishes his second year/junior class in the Academy. It is presented to a cadet that has a financial need and one that must be of high academic performance - he must maintain an 88 or better average. The cadet must also exhibit a commitment to VF's five cornerstones of Academic Excellence, Character Development, Personal Motivation, Physical Development and Leadership. The medal is presented by Dan '67 and Ruth Ann Crawford and includes a scholarship for his graduating year based on need.

COL John Ford, VFMA Headmaster, said, "The Crawford Medal continually recognizes that cadets at Valley Forge have the resources to become great leaders, and it provides cadets the means to tap into those resources. It is not just about providing an education, but teaching our cadets to use their environment to compass their own success."

Cadet Lucas' physical conditioning trainer and long time family friend, Peter Ross from Valley Forge Military Academy, had this to say: "Graham is a hard worker in the gym and is constantly trying to improve his athleticism. He is eager to learn and is always willing to lend a hand. Graham is an extremely "coachable" athlete because of his hunger to excel and will be an asset to any team that is fortunate enough to recruit him. Having known Graham since sixth grade, I am very proud of his accomplishments, leadership abilities and maturity."

Back to Top

Author, Jerry Spinelli, speaks to VFMA Cadets

On April 22, Newberry winning author Jerry Spinelli came to VFMA for a return visit and book talk. Mr. Spinelli writes books especially geared towards adolescents including Maniac Magee, Loser, Crash, Space Station Seventh Grade, and many more. The cadets spoke clearly and respectfully when asking Mr. Spinelli questions about books he's written and why he decided to become an author. Mr. Spinelli shared entertaining stories with each response. Mr. Spinelli's most powerful messages were to "write what you care about" and make sure that "you touch the reader."

Back to Top

VFMA Middle School Cadets visit preschool in Wayne, PA

From April 28-30, the 8th and 9th grade cadets walked to Lane Montessori School in Wayne to read to the preschool children. LT Scholl took all three groups as a service project. Major Wood, LT Bechtel, Mrs. Ford, and Mrs. Lentz were chaperones on the trips. The young men chose books beforehand and read their amazing stories to the enthusiastic young listeners. Major Wood joined in on the fun and read Horton Hears a Who!,, a favorite Dr. Seuss book. Some of the cadets were able to work on puzzles with the children and some of the cadets even went outside on the playground with the kids.

Back to Top

Alumni Regiments: Updates and New Events

The VFMA&C Alumni Regiment movement is growing each month with more regions hosting events ranging from casual to formal. These highlights reflect the dedication, passion and talent of our alumni to gather their classmates for opportunities to network, socialize and reminisce about their days at Valley Forge. If you would like to host an event or start a regiment, contact the Alumni Relations Office at 610-989-1341.

Back to Top

Alumni Class Notes

The Alumni Relations Office is proud of the accomplishments of our alumni. If you have news to share with the school and your classmates, let us know at Alumni@vfmac.edu.

Back to Top

Philadelphia Eagle Jeremiah Trotter to Host Youth Football Camp

Wayne, PA., April 30, 2010 - - Football players will have the opportunity this summer to learn individual and team football techniques from Philadelphia Eagles players during the Jeremiah Trotter Football Camp June 23-26. The camp, which offers overnight and day camp options, will be held at Valley Forge Military Academy, in Wayne, PA and will feature Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and four-time Pro Bowler Jeremiah Trotter.

The camp is designed for players ages 7 to 18 and will feature daily instruction, lectures and demonstrations by Trotter and/or members of the Philadelphia Eagles. The college and high school coaches on staff will ensure individual and team instruction on both offense and defense. Football newcomers and seasoned players alike will also experience teamwork, self-discipline, selecting the correct role models and how to attain their sports and life potential. Even though this is not an "autograph camp," members of the Eagles will be available for autographs.

"The goal of the camp and instructors is to maximize the potential of each young player while giving them an experience they will never forget," says Trotter.

Nicknamed "The Axeman," Trotter became only the fourth linebacker in Eagles history to earn four Pro Bowl selections. Prior to resigning with the Eagles in 2009, he started 117 games in the prior ten seasons and recorded a total of 1184 tackles, posting 100 or more tackles in seven of those seasons. Trotter came out of retirement in 2009 to start at middle linebacker for the Eagles, and his 11 tackles against the Giants helped them earn a playoff berth.

Football players can obtain more information and request a camp brochure by calling 1-800-555-0801, or by visiting www.footballcamps.com. Space in the camp is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

ABOUT SPORTS INTERNATIONAL - Sports International organizes football camps headlined by current and former professional football players. Sports International has provided youth football players across the United States with the opportunity to learn from the professionals with the finest football camps around for over 25 years. Find out more by visiting online at www.footballcamps.com.

Back to Top

Monthly Credit Card Donations

A great way to make a difference...monthly credit card donations! Recently introduced to the Valley Forge Military Academy & College community, this option for giving is quickly becoming a preferred method. It's easy, convenient, and makes an immediate impact! If you have questions about setting up your monthly credit card donation, please contact Denis Spizuoco at 610-989-1342 or dspizuoco@vfmac.edu.

Back to Top

Alumni in the Middle East

VFMA&C would like to recognize alumni who have served, or are presently serving in the military. We also want to recognize the thousands of Government and contract civilians who serve in these war zones as well, often facing the same great dangers than our friends in uniform.

Richard Brown '04C
Capt Richard Brown '04C is presently serving a 9 month deployment in Afghanistan with his unit C Co / 172 Infantry (Mountain).

Back to Top

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Back to Top

Spread the Word
To add your name to the electronic mailing list, please contact Jen Myers at 610-989-1345 or jmyers@vfmac.edu with your full name, class year (if applicable) and e-mail address.

Back to Top

ADDITIONAL LINKS

• VFMA&C Main homepage
• Valley Forge Military College homepage
• Valley Forge Military Academy homepage
• Alumni Information
• Academy Parents
• College Parents
• Apply online

Back to Top