All Missouri Military Academy cadets served organizations throughout Mexico and surrounding communities Sept. 11 as part of the Academy’s fall 2026 Community Service Day.

The corps of cadets volunteered at the Missouri Veterans Home, The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri in Columbia, Mexico Area YMCA, Hickory Ridge Orchard, The Oaks Golf Course, Williams Family Center, City of Mexico Parks and Recreation, Audrain County Historical Society and other community organizations.

Service projects included packing and sorting food, landscaping, clearing trees and brush, completing maintenance projects and spending time with veterans and children.

Community service is part of the educational program at Missouri Military Academy. MMA cadets contribute approximately 8,000 hours of service each year. Every high school cadet completes at least 16 hours annually, while every middle school cadet completes at least eight hours.

The Academy-wide Community Service Day gives cadets an opportunity to put classroom skills into practice through teamwork, communication and problem-solving. Ranae Clement, academic dean at MMA, said the shared experience also helps cadets build empathy and recognize their responsibility to others.

“Through service, cadets learn to take responsibility for something larger than themselves,” Clement said. “They see how their skills and actions can make a meaningful difference for others and their community.”

Community service is a component of MMA’s 360° Education, delivered through the Academy’s military educational model. This approach combines academics with leadership, character and social development in a structured environment. Service projects give cadets opportunities to work alongside classmates, faculty and community partners while putting leadership, personal responsibility and selfless service into practice.

MMA holds an Academy-wide Community Service Day once each semester, in addition to service opportunities throughout the school year