Southern Preparatory Academy

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Southern Preparatory Academy
Tallapoosa Hall at Lyman Ward Military Academy.jpg
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
174 Ward Circle

Camp Hill
,
Alabama
36850

United States
Coordinates32°48′10″N 85°39′39″W / 32.8029°N 85.6607°W / 32.8029; -85.6607Coordinates: 32°48′10″N 85°39′39″W / 32.8029°N 85.6607°W / 32.8029; -85.6607
Information
TypeMilitary
Established1898
PresidentLieutenant Colonel (United States) Jarred Norrell
U.S. Army (Ret.)
DeanMark Morgan
CommandantMajor (United States) Steve Mayer
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Staff15
Faculty14
Grades6-12
Number of students93
Color(s)Navy blue and metallic gold
AthleticsFootball, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, Cross Country
Athletics conferenceAlabama Independent School Association (Division 2-A)
MascotRangers
AffiliationsSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools

Alabama Independent School Association

Southern Association of Independent Schools
Websitesouthernprepacademy.org

Southern Preparatory Academy (Southern Prep) is a private military school located in Camp Hill, Alabama for boys in grades 6-12. The Academy emphasizes academic achievement, leadership, and character development. It was formerly known as Lyman Ward Military Academy.

History[]

The Academy was founded by Dr. Lyman Ward in 1898 as a non-profit, non-denominational, 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.

In 2019, Lyman Ward Military Academy changed its name to Southern Preparatory Academy, retaining the military department.

Campus[]

Southern Prep is located on 300 acres (1.2 km2) on land, and contains two athletic fields, a parade field, two 5-acre (20,000 m2) lakes (Lake Mary & Lake Ann), double tennis courts, three dormitories, an administration building, a dining hall, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, indoor and outdoor rifle ranges, supply building, JROTC building, infirmary, administration building, library, auditorium, chapel, and canteen. The historic Tallapoosa Hall is constructed of wood.

In August 2006, lightning struck and destroyed the Dixon All-Faith Chapel. It was rebuilt in 2014.

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, including trade school and the military. 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. Mid-term 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 $24,645. 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[]

Southern Prep is on the Semester System (Block Schedule) with the a student load for grades 9-12 consisting of eight 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. Students take final exams for their first four classes of the year before winter break, and begin their next four classes in the second semester.

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 . Band members have performed for parades, dedications, and civic events each year. Past performances by the Lyman Ward Band include participation in the Talladega 500(1980–1990), Mardis Gras(1980–1986), the in Birmingham, Alabama(1980–2012), the Peanut Festival in Dothan, Alabama(1980–1990), as well as several command performances for the Governor of Alabama including the 2006 Inaugural Parade. The Band also often performed at Christmas parades in Opelika and Alexander City.

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.

Drill Team[]

The Drill Team is open to all cadets 9-12th grade, and competes in several state and national competitions throughout the school year. Drill Team consists of 16 cadets and is led by one cadet, assigned as Drill Team Commander. The Drill Team is taught and supervised by the Commandant.

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 (10 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.

Sword Drill[]

The Sword Drill Team contains 16 cadets, as well as a deputy commander and a commander. Sword Drill is open to all cadets 9th-11th grade. Sword Drill members sacrifice their nightly free time for several months to learn the Sword Drill Performance, which is passed down by the cadets from year to year, with no staff or faculty involvement. The Sword Drill Team performs only once, at the end of the year on Military Day. The Sword Drill Performance is a fifteen-minute silent drill performance, where members perform a memorized routine with no verbal commands. Sword Drill is the most prestigious activity on campus, with traditions being kept as close secrets by members.

Athletics[]

Football[]

Football has long been considered the favorite sport at Southern Prep. The Rangers compete as a member of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) in the AAA classification. Southern Prep currently fields a Varsity and Junior Varsity team. The Rangers compete against private schools who are members of the AISA. At home games, a cannon is fired for each touchdown scored by the Rangers.

Basketball[]

Basketball has been a vital part of the Southern Prep 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).[1] 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.

Soccer[]

Southern Prep has a great tradition in soccer, dating back many years. It was one of the first two high schools in the State of Alabama to field an interscholastic soccer team. In recent history, Southern Prep 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. Southern Prep competes as a Class AA member of the Alabama Independent School Association.

Cross Country[]

Southern Prep has a very strong Varsity and Junior Varsity cross country team. Southern Prep participates in the AISA league. Members practice on 1 mile, 3k, and 5k trails on campus.

References[]

  1. ^ "Lyman Ward hoops cracks AISA top-10 - The Alexander City Outlook". The Alexander City Outlook. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
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