Issue No.143 | 12.19.2024

A Holiday Message from the President

Dear Army and Navy Academy Family,

As the holiday season allows us to reflect, I am filled with gratitude and admiration for the remarkable community we share. This time of year offers a wonderful opportunity to consider the blessings of the past year and the collective achievements of our Cadets, faculty, staff, and families.

First and foremost, to the parents and guardians of our Cadets: thank you for entrusting us with the profound responsibility of guiding and educating your young men. Your faith in our mission inspires us daily to foster an environment where boys mature into virtuous young men. The partnership we share with you is the cornerstone of the transformative experiences we offer at the Academy.

To our exceptional faculty and staff: your tireless dedication to the Academy’s mission continues to make an enduring impact. Each lesson taught, each moment of mentorship, and every effort behind the scenes, contribute to a community where Cadets are challenged, supported, and empowered to achieve their potential. Your commitment is the heart of this institution, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

As I walk across campus and witness the Cadets’ perseverance, camaraderie, and growth, I am reminded of the incredible journey we are on together. This year, our Cadets have achieved milestones both big and small—in academics, athletics, and leadership—and have upheld the values that define the Army and Navy Academy. They continue to inspire us with their resilience and determination, and it is a privilege to see them evolve into their best selves.

The holiday season is also a time to celebrate traditions that connect us to something greater than ourselves. Whether it is through our time-honored ceremonies, the cheerful sounds of the Atkinson Warrior Band on campus, or moments shared with family and friends, these traditions remind us of the strength and unity of our Academy family.

As we look toward the new year, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we will continue to build on the strong foundation of the Academy, always guided by our mission to forge virtuous young men for life. The education that starts at the Academy is meant to be the foundation, not just for a prosperous college career, but for a life well lived. It forms here at the Army and Navy Academy. 

May this holiday season bring peace, joy, and warmth to your homes. From my family to yours, I extend heartfelt wishes for a blessed holiday and a prosperous new year. Thank you for being an essential part of the Army and Navy Academy’s story. It is an honor to serve with all of you.

With gratitude and warm regards,

Barry Shreiar
President
Army and Navy Academy

Warrior Basketball sits at 6 and 3, heading into Thursday's game at HOME vs Vincent Memorial at 5:00 pm.  Junior wrestler Tristen Hoag heads to Reno, NV, to compete in the Reno Tournament of Champions from Dec 20-22. "Dubbed the "Toughest Tournament in the USA", the RTOC brings in some of the toughest high school and collegiate wrestlers in the country to compete for individual and team titles. High school wrestlers compete for a chance at High School All American status."

Senior Nehemiah Brunson Jr. will be competing on Saturday at 12:00 pm at Mira Mesa High School in the Alex Spanos All-Star Classic.  This is a North San Diego vs. South San Diego competition, and winners earn bragging rights for the year. Warrior Soccer lost a close game, 1 to 3, to Guajome Park on Monday. After the break, they'll start league play. The Esports and Surf teams also kick off their seasons in January.

Warrior Varsity Ice Hockey player Gus Miraco was recognized as one of the top hockey players on the West Coast with an invitation to the North American Hockey League Junior Prospect Camp which is being held in May 2025.

Club Rugby's first match will be on January 10, 2025.  The opponent is TBD.  If you are interested in joining the team, email Coach Brunson.

As a reminder, the Academy will be on a break after final exams conclude on Wednesday, December 18th. Your son's final grades will be visible in Aeries by Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Once the final grades have been posted, you may view his report card by following the steps below. 

• Login to your Aeries Parent Portal.
• Select the "Grades" tab from the left menu on your Dashboard.
• Select the "Grades" page from the dropdown menu.

For Aeries support, to request a hard-copy report card, or to request a transcript, please email Registrar@armyandnavyacademy.org.

You may also opt-in to receive weekly automated email notifications from Aeries regarding your son's academic progress by clicking on the "Modify" link in the text box located on the bottom right corner of your Aeries Parent Portal Dashboard:

You may also opt-in to be alerted by Aeries when your son has a missing assignment by clicking on the "You may do so here on the Gradebooks Alerts page" link in the "Gradebook Alerts" section located on the top right of your Aeries Parent Portal Dashboard:

If you are interested in purchasing yearbook photos of your Cadet, view and select them using the embedded link.  If your son is unhappy with his photo or if he was unable to sit for his photo during our first session in the fall, a makeup session will be scheduled in February.  

Over consecutive weekends, December 7 and December 14, ANA participated in the speech and debate tournaments against other local high school teams. Our team, Anshul Bhide, Jackson Schauer, David Alspach, George Cobos, Justus Sanders, and Zaid Jasser, performed very well in their events and were widely complimented on their talent, respect, and uniformity. Congratulations, gentlemen, on your efforts and success! Thank you to all those who supported our club and the tournament: John Schauer (ANAPA President), Jessica Scherr (club advisor), Megan Hludzinski (faculty), and Saumitra Bhide (ANA parent). We look forward to reporting more success stories from future competitions. 

This week, we celebrated Cadet Lance Germani at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Rising Star breakfast.  Several times a year, high school seniors from schools in the Carlsbad community are recognized for "demonstrating character, integrity, love of learning, involvement in school and community, and the ability to overcome challenging life circumstances without compromising their education."

Lance was joined (in order) by Cory Hughes (Lead Counselor), Roland Miraco (Commandant of Cadets),  Mr. and Mrs. Germani, his brother, Sean, and Dr. Zary (Dean of Academics) for the event.  Congratulations Lance!  The recognition is well deserved!

We recently said goodbye to a fallen colleague, Martin Richardson Davis, who worked at Army and Navy Academy as a JROTC instructor from 1996 until 2018.  Martin grew up in Compton, CA, and became a police officer before entering the US Army where he served for 20 years, before coming to ANA.  Martin is remembered by Cadets, staff, and faculty for his personal discipline, mentorship to the Corps and dedication as a cross-country coach.  His son, Mathew, graduated the Academy in the class of 2020.  

The Annual Gala is Saturday, March 22, 2025, during Warrior Family Weekend.  Gala Committee members are busy planning a memorable evening and are actively seeking sponsorships and auction items.  If you are interested in supporting the event, please email Assistant Director of Advancement Simone Brown.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• Dec 18, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 - Winter break, Campus closed
• Jan 6, 2025 - Cadets return to campus by 8:00 pm.  Second semester classes begin for returning Cadets on Jan 7, 2025, and for new Cadets on Jan 10, 2025.

In addition to our social media channels including Flickr where we store our Cadet captured photos,  you can find professional photography of Army and Navy Academy's major events and sports coverage in the embedded links.

To stay up to date on ANAPA conversations and events, join the ANAPA Facebook group here.