Welcome back to another edition of the Weekly Warrior newsletter. This has been an incredible week celebrating Rising Star Cadets, recognizing academic achievements, traveling to Boston for Harvard Model Congress, and winning awards at the 47th Military School Band and Choir Festival. Our Spring sports teams have also started their seasons strong!
Read on for more information about all the happenings at ANA!
Thank you for being part of our Warrior family!
Congratulations to Ethan Shahdadi, Army and Navy Academy’s Carlsbad Chamber Rising Star of the Month!
Recognized on February 25, 2025, this honor celebrates high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional leadership, integrity, and commitment to their school and community.
As Battalion Commander, Ethan leads by example, inspiring his peers through academic excellence and dedication to service. A Dean’s List and Honor Roll student, he balances a rigorous AP course load while serving as President of Harvard Model Congress, an Honor Council member, and Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook.
Faculty and staff praised Ethan for his strong moral character, commitment to excellence, and ability to lead with sincerity and passion. His impact on Army and Navy Academy is undeniable, and we look forward to seeing all he will accomplish in the future!
Pictured below on the left (L-R) are Kevan Clark, Assistant Commandant for Administration and Logistics, Cami Correa, ANA Counselor, Ethan Shahdadi, and Dr. Patrizia Zary, Dean of Academics. In the image on the right (L-R), is Ethan and Bret Schanzenbach, Carlsbad Chamber CEO.
Harvard Model Congress 2025: A Resounding Success!
Our Cadets made their mark at Harvard Model Congress 2025 in Boston, immersing themselves in high-stakes debates, legislative sessions, and crisis simulations from February 19-24, 2025. From leading peaceful protests, to tackling Supreme Court cases and national security challenges, they demonstrated leadership, intellect, and resilience. They were chaperoned by faculty members, Philip Zamora and Olivia Johnson.
Notable Achievements:
Casey Teemer earned the prestigious "Gavel" award for excellence in the FBI committee.
Ian Wiatrak & Daniel Fan received honorable mentions for their exemplary contributions in the National Security Council and the Senate Homeland Security Committee, respectively.
In the legislative area:
Lucas Levine: Passed meaningful legislation on criminal justice reform.
Oscar Fang: Advanced bankruptcy reform initiatives.
Mohammed Jasser: Secured funding and developed plans to combat fentanyl cartels.
Fangjing Zhou: Worked on updating trade policies.
Tiger Fan: Focused on improving U.S.-China relations.
In the judicial branch:
Lance Germani and Ethan Shahdadi presented compelling arguments before the Supreme Court.
The team of Porter Lynch, Andranik Kulidjian, Matteo Nyembwe, Andy Pandjeris, Johnny Zhang, and VincentSze showcased their legal acumen in district courts, delivering performances reminiscent of "Law and Order."
On the political front:
Wyatt Shigley: Collaborated with the Democratic National Committee to outline a framework for the 2028 General Election.
Logan Rogers and Gabriel Panczuk: Represented France in the United Nations, engaging in international diplomacy.
Valentin Albouze: Served with HMC Media, conducting interviews and producing content for the conference newspaper.
A unique highlight this year was Agustin Ramirez's participation in a surprise committee, a first for HMC. He was tasked with creating a coalition government between the Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter universe and the elected officials of the non-magical world, showcasing creativity and adaptability.
Beyond the conference, they explored Boston’s historic landmarks, visited Harvard, MIT, and Boston College, and even caught a Bruins game. Throughout the trip, their respect, discipline, and enthusiasm earned praise from conference organizers and fellow delegates. We are incredibly proud of our Cadets for their outstanding performance!
A Weekend of Music and Excellence at the Military School Band & Choir Festival
Last weekend, Army and Navy Academy proudly hosted the 47th Military School Band and Choir Festival, bringing together 99 Cadets from eight military academies across the country. Our Atkinson Warrior Band performed alongside musicians from Fork Union Military Academy, Hargrave Military Academy, Missouri Military Institute, New Mexico Military Institute, Norwich University, Randolph-Macon Academy, and Valley Forge Military Academy and College, creating a powerful showcase of talent and teamwork.
The festival concluded with a concert, where our Cadets' dedication and preparation shined. Their outstanding performances earned them the prestigious Ronald L. Horton Award, recognizing them as the best-prepared high school ensemble with the highest mean audition score on chair placement auditions.
Join us in celebrating the following Cadets for their hard work and musical excellence:
Flute – Leonard Maeshiro, Jiaje Li
Clarinet – Ryan Kang, Ziteng Chen
Alto Sax – Shijie Rong
French Horn – Andrew Pedersen
Percussion (Mallets) – Victor Zhang
Percussion (Rhythm) – Kaish Reynolds
Trombone – William Jin
Tuba – Tristan Samoa
Trumpet – Marvin Wilson, Ezekial Garrett, Wentian Chen, William Chen
Master of Ceremonies – Ray Kim
Relive the performance and watch the full concert here: Watch Now
A huge congratulations to all the Cadets who made this festival an unforgettable experience!
Deans List and Honor Roll Recipients Celebrated
On Wednesday, February 26, we celebrated Academy Cadets who earned spots on the Dean's List and Honor Roll. If you missed the Grading Period 4 Award Ceremony live, the recorded live stream is available on our YouTube channel here. All GP ceremonies are Cadet-captured. Find the complete list of Award Winners here.
Spring Break Travel Reminder
To ensure Cadets maximize their academic time, please schedule departures after Friday Formation on March 7. All boarding Cadets must return by 8:00 PM on March 16.
Warrior Athletics Update
Spring sports are in full swing as we close out the month! Here’s a look at how our Warriors are competing across the board:
Baseball: Warrior Baseball opened their season with a home victory against Orange Glen and looks to keep the momentum going as they host Coastal Academy this Friday, February 28 at 3:00 PM on Maffucci Field. Next week, they hit the road to face Crawford High School on Wednesday afternoon, March 5.
Volleyball: Our Warrior Volleyball season is off to a strong start! Led by Coach Duane and Coach Jo, the team has grown to over 20 Cadets and is gearing up for its debut matches next Tuesday and Thursday, March 4 and 6 before heading into spring break.
Lacrosse: Warrior Lacrosse is set to host Monta Vista under the lights at Duffield Sports Complex this Friday, February 28 at 6:00 PM. Can’t make it? Watch the game live at fan.hudl.com/anawarriors and cheer on our young team!
Tennis & Golf: Both teams are putting in the work during practice, and it’s already showing. Tennis will kick off competition on Monday, March 3 at El Camino High School, while Golf takes on a tournament on Monday and Tuesday, March 3 and 4, testing their skills against larger schools.
Rugby: A few of our Warrior Rugby Cadets are wrapping up their final regular-season match on Friday, February 28 at Oceanside High School before transitioning into club season, where they’ll welcome even more Cadets into the mix.
Track & Field: A special thank you to Cal State San Marcos for supporting our Warrior Track team by providing access to their top-tier facilities for training and development.
Please be advised that any medical appointments for your Cadet that occur during the school daymust be coordinated through the Health Center. This policy is in place to ensure proper accountability and to maintain accurate records of your Cadet’s whereabouts during school hours. Routing all medical appointments through the Health Center allows us to provide the necessary support, track attendance, and ensure the safety and well-being of all Cadets. School break periods are great times to schedule routine dental and medical appointments. Call providers early to ensure appointment availability.
Does your Cadet have prescription drug needs over the break? Email the health center as soon as possible at: health@armyandnavyacademy.org. Do not email individual nurses, please.
For all health center correspondence, email health@armyandnavyacademy.org. We appreciate your cooperation in following this protocol.
Don't miss the weekend fun!
Alex De Los Santos, our Program Activity Manager, plans activities for Cadets every weekend - some on campus and some off campus. Take a look at the February and March schedules.
Details for this week's activities are:
Friday, Feb. 28th
1400-1700 Beach
1400-2200 Rec. Hall
1830-2200 Ice Skating
1900-2100 Zombie Tag
Saturday, March 1st
0800-1700 Beach
0800-2200 Rec. Hall (continental breakfast served 0800-1030)
1230-1500 Cadets Choice
1730-2200 SD Clippers vs Indiana
1800-2200 Movie Run
Sunday, March 2nd
0800-1700 Beach
0800-2000 Rec. Hall (continental breakfast served 0800-1030)
The weekend activity calendar is always posted on the website here, under Residential Life.
Warrior Family Weekend - We Need Your Support!
Warrior Family Weekend is just around the corner—March 21-23, 2025! This exciting event brings together alumni, parents, and supporters for a weekend of tradition, camaraderie, and celebration.
From the Jon Higgins Annual Golf Tournament & Gala to the Military Review, Awards Ceremony, and Alumni Softball Game, there’s something for everyone. But we can’t do it alone!
We’re looking for sponsors, auction donations, and volunteers to help make this weekend a success. If you or your business can contribute, we’d love to hear from you!
We launched an Events Newsletter last week—stay tuned for updates.
Let’s make Warrior Family Weekend unforgettable. Get involved today!
Need to connect on events?Please don't hesitate to reach out to Simone Brown, Assistant Director of Advancement, at (760) 547-5274 or sbrown@armyandnavyacademy.org
We can't wait to celebrate with you!
Join us for an exciting performance by the United States Marine Corps Battle Color Detachment, a 115-Marine unit from Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. on March 6 at 3:00 pm hosted on Maffucci field. This spectacular event showcases the pride, professionalism, and esprit de corps of the United States Marine Corps in an unforgettable display of music, drill, and tradition. This FREE event is open to the community.
Volunteers: We’d love your support! Please coordinate with your JROTC instructor to sign up.
Led by Commandant Miraco, our team is open to Cadets, parents, alumni, and friends. ANA's color guard will be opening two races, the Masters and the Elite Invitational. Learn more about the event here. Let’s make this a race to remember!
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
Mar 1 - Robotics Team Competition
Mar 4 - JROTC Program of Accreditation (JPA) Inspection.
Mar 5 - Annual ANA Talent Show from 2:15-3:30 pm.
Mar 6 - USMC Battle Color Detachment at 3:00 pm on Maffucci Field.
Mar 7 - Speech and Debate Club Tournament
March 8-16 - Spring Break - no school.
Mar 21-23 - Warrior Family & Alumni Weekend. See the schedule on our website.
Mar 29 - Raider Competition
Help Us Share the Warrior Experience!
Your feedback makes a difference! If our Academy has impacted your life or your son’s journey, please take a moment to leave a review. Your words help others learn about the transformational experience we provide. Review us on Google,Yelp,Niche, orBoarding School Review today!
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. Watch our military reviews and parades on our YouTube channel and all HOME football and basketball games on Hudl.com. Stay in-the-know on ANA Athletics on Instagram at ArmyNavyAthletics.
Army and Navy Academy, 2605 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA, 888.762.2338
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