The 135th Missouri Military Academy (MMA) Corps of Cadets celebrated commencement on Saturday, May 18,  at 10 a.m. in Centennial Gymtorium on the MMA campus. This year, the class of 37 seniors and three post-grads has been offered more than $4.9 million in college scholarships and plan to attend such schools as the University of Notre Dame, Virginia Military Institute, Loyola University Chicago, University of Missouri, Baylor University, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School. Every member of the Class of 2024 has achieved college acceptance.

MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret), congratulated the class on their achievements and reminded them that their MMA education has been about more than academics.

“You graduate today with more than a high school diploma. You have MMA’s core values to guide you on life’s journey,” Geraci said. “It is through serving others, in some capacity, that you will have the greatest chance of finding purpose, happiness and success. Our best leaders seek to serve others. All of you have the capacity to be that type of servant leader.”

He reminded graduates that they are equipped with the ability to overcome diversity, the power of self-discipline and the MMA brotherhood — “a bond of love, trust and friendship” — to help them achieve their life’s goals.

During the commencement ceremony, Cadet Gabriel Iglesias from Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador, was recognized as valedictorian. Cadet Brayden Phelps from Temple, Texas, was recognized as salutatorian. The 2024 Abbott-Albright Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching was presented to science instructor Eric Evertson.

MMA commandant COL Rick L. Grabowski, USMC (Ret), delivered the commencement address. A combat veteran with service in Iraq, he joined the MMA staff in 2016, following a distinguished 35-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In his address to the graduates, Grabowski emphasized the difference between the education they have received at MMA and what other schools provide: the skills MMA has given them, the resiliency, accountability, self-discipline, and core values of courage, leadership, selfless service, respect and more.

“These intangible, hard life skills that you are going to be taking with you today are what will help you to become the masters of your fate,” he said.

“Remember who you are and remember and where you came from, both from your homes and from here at Missouri Military Academy,” Grabowki encouraged the class. “I’m not going to wish you the best of luck because you don't need it … You are going to go out there and make us proud.”

Following MMA tradition, the corps conducted their final formation on MMA’s front campus after the commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18.