Oak Ridge Military Academy
Encyclopedia
Oak Ridge Military Academy (ORMA) is a college-preparatory military school in northwestern Guilford County, North Carolina
. The academy is located within the town limits of Oak Ridge, North Carolina
, which is named after the school. It is seven miles north of the Piedmont Triad International Airport
and Interstate 40
, and is approximately eight miles northwest of Greensboro, North Carolina's third-largest city.
s in North Carolina, boasting business and humanities departments, literary and debating societies, and sports teams which regularly played Wake Forest College (University), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, and Trinity College (later Duke University
) in football and baseball. Several of the academy's baseball players went on to play in the major leagues. Despite the school's public name, women were admitted as students during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. During the First World War the Junior Reserve Officer Training Program (JROTC) was admitted to the campus. In 1929 Oak Ridge officially became an all-male military secondary school. From 1929-1967 Oak Ridge was a junior college
as well as a military school. During the Second World War 127 of the academy's alumni were awarded a Purple Heart
during the conflict, while another 27 alumni earned the Silver Star
. In 1972 Oak Ridge became the first military high school in the United States to admit female cadets. The Academy is the third-oldest military school in the United States still in operation.
. Oak Ridge is the official military school of North Carolina, as designated by the state legislature in 1991. Oak Ridge is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS), and it was first accredited by SACS in 1899. ORMA is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS), and the Association of Military Schools and Colleges of the United States (AMSCUS). It is the only active military school to have won the National High School Drill Team Championship (1996). David Johnson, an educator, is currently the Academy's President.
List of where Oak Ridge Military Academy Graduates Go
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The academy is located within the town limits of Oak Ridge, North Carolina
Oak Ridge, North Carolina
Oak Ridge is a town in northwestern Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,988 at the 2000 census. As of 2010, the US Census Bureau indicated that the population had risen to 6,185 . The Oak Ridge Military Academy, a private, coed, college-preparatory military boarding...
, which is named after the school. It is seven miles north of the Piedmont Triad International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport is an airport just west of Greensboro, serving Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem as well as the entire Piedmont Triad Region in North Carolina. The airport has 3 runways; the third opened January 27, 2010 for traffic. The airport is located just off...
and Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
, and is approximately eight miles northwest of Greensboro, North Carolina's third-largest city.
History
Oak Ridge was established in 1852 by the Society of Friends (Quakers) as a "finishing school" for boys. From 1875 to 1914 Oak Ridge was led by two brothers, Professors J. Allen Holt and Martin Holt. Under their leadership the "Oak Ridge Male Institute" became one of the best prep schoolUniversity-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
s in North Carolina, boasting business and humanities departments, literary and debating societies, and sports teams which regularly played Wake Forest College (University), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, and Trinity College (later Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
) in football and baseball. Several of the academy's baseball players went on to play in the major leagues. Despite the school's public name, women were admitted as students during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. During the First World War the Junior Reserve Officer Training Program (JROTC) was admitted to the campus. In 1929 Oak Ridge officially became an all-male military secondary school. From 1929-1967 Oak Ridge was a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
as well as a military school. During the Second World War 127 of the academy's alumni were awarded a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
during the conflict, while another 27 alumni earned the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
. In 1972 Oak Ridge became the first military high school in the United States to admit female cadets. The Academy is the third-oldest military school in the United States still in operation.
Oak Ridge Today
Since 1972 Oak Ridge has been a private, coeducational, college-preparatory military boarding school. The Academy is divided into a middle school (grades 6-8), and a high school (grades 9-12). The corps of cadets are divided into several companies: Alpha, Bravo,and Charlie as well as a battalion staff. The middle schoolers make up Charlie Company; Alpha is made up of juniors and seniors; Bravo has freshman and sophomores. The cadet battalion commander for the 2010-2011 school year is Cadet Lt. Colonel Ki-Seong Cho, from South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Oak Ridge is the official military school of North Carolina, as designated by the state legislature in 1991. Oak Ridge is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
(SACS), and it was first accredited by SACS in 1899. ORMA is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS), and the Association of Military Schools and Colleges of the United States (AMSCUS). It is the only active military school to have won the National High School Drill Team Championship (1996). David Johnson, an educator, is currently the Academy's President.
Notable alumni
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Jr.* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
(1974 - ), popular race-car driver for NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, has 18 NASCAR wins and 137 Top-10 finishes. - Alvin Paul KitchinAlvin Paul KitchinAlvin Paul Kitchin was a U.S. Congressional representative from North Carolina.Kitchin was born in Scotland Neck, North Carolina on September 13, 1908, the grandson of William H. Kitchin and the nephew of two congressmen...
- (1908–1983)- Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Congressman from North Carolina in the Eighty-fifth, Eighty-sixth, and Eighty-seventh Congresses (January 3, 1957-January 3, 1963).
Source and External Link
List of where Oak Ridge Military Academy Graduates Go