San Marcos Baptist Academy

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SAN MARCOS BAPTIST ACADEMY

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Faciendos

Established: 1907
Type: Baptist, Private, Co-ed,Military,Boarding
President: Victor H. Schmidt
Principal: Bob Bryant
Faculty: 40
Staff: 35
Students: 240
Location: San Marcos, Texas, USA
Campus: Suburban, 50 acres
Sports: 12 sports
Colors: Laurel Purple and Windsor Green
Nickname: Battlin Bears
Mascot: Bears
Affiliations: TAPPS
Website: http://www.smba.org

San Marcos Baptist Academy (also known as San Marcos Academy, The Academy at San Marcos, SMBA or simply S.M.A.) is a coed prep school Baptist institution that is a part of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention with a membership in the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools. The Academy was founded in 1907 and, today, is regarded as one of the leading schools in the Southern United States. Its mission is one of academic excellence, together with a strong code of morality and personal integrity in a caring Christian environment, it also focuses on the special needs of those students with learning disabilities and/or behaviorial issues. It receives day students in grades 7-12 and boarding students in grades 7-12, and enrollment (in 2006) is 240, comprising 210 in the Upper School and 30 in the Middle School. The school is located in San Marcos, Texas, south of Austin, and north of San Antonio.

San Marcos Academy is one of the oldest boarding schools in the State of Texas, and was established in 1907 by Baptists of central Texas. The Academy's first president was James Milton Carroll.

The Academy traditionally educated its students for Harvard and Yale, but over the years has had students matriculate at a wide range of colleges and universities. Including all of the Ivy League, Duke, USC, Wake Forest, William & Mary, UVA, University of Richmond, Baylor, SMU, Rice, Furman, Stetson, Mercer, Vanderbilt, Union University, Georgetown, and all four service academies.

Since 2000, Academy graduates have attended: UT Austin, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Texas State University, Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, The Art Institute of Houston, Our Lady of the Lake University, Schreiner College, Southwestern University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Michigan State University, Texas A&M, Regis University, Purdue University, University of Hawaii, University of North Texas, Texas Tech University, University of Houston, Culinary Institute of America, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, North Carolina State University, The Citadel, University of Dallas, Bakersfield College, Carleton College, Concordia University, Keio University of Japan, Kilgore College, Smith College, University of Rochester, University of Tennessee, Louisiana State University, Texas Women's University, UTESM-Monterrey, Savannah College of Art and Design, Southwestern Adventist University, University of the Incarnate Word, Stephen F. Austin State University, Sterling College, St. Edward's University, Angelo State University, Drew University (located in New Jersey), Sam Houston State University, University of Iowa, and Parson's University.

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[edit] History

After an organization drive that began in 1905, the Southwest Texas Baptist Conference established the school in 1907 by matching $25,000 raised by citizens of San Marcos. James Milton Carroll, a leader of the founding campaign, served the Academy as its first president. The school enrolled an entering class of 200 students on September 24, 1908. Carroll resigned in 1911; the Academy's original building, granted a state historical marker in 1970, became known as Carroll Hall. Thomas Green Harris succeeded Carroll, and the Christian Education Program of the Baptist General Convention of Texas began administrative oversight in 1911.

After the United States entered World War I in 1917, the federal government granted the Academy a junior unit of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Since that time all male students have served in the corps of cadets, and those in grades nine through twelve are formally enrolled in the army Junior ROTC program. Girls have also participated in military training on an optional basis. By 1936 the Academy's physical plant had increased to twelve buildings on a fifty-six-acre site valued at $400,000. Students in grades one through twelve studied general academic courses as well as fine arts and business subjects. In 1968 more than 500 students in grades three through twelve attended the Academy; in 1986 the enrollment was 240 boys in grades six through twelve and 120 girls in grades nine through twelve. The Academy has had students from a number of other states and foreign nations. Most Academy students reside in dormitories on campus and attend mandatory chapel services on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Since the school's beginning, the Academy has accepted students from all religious faiths. Students of both sexes have competed in athletic events against other private schools.

The Academy is a member of the Texas Association of Private Schools and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Texas Education Agency, and the accrediting commission of the Texas Association of Baptist Schools. A fifteen-member board of trustees selected by the Baptist General Convention of Texas continues to govern the Academy.

Thirty-five full-time and twelve part-time teachers composed the faculty in 1993; three administrators supervised Academy operations. That year the endowment of the academy exceeded $3 million, and the institution's assets exceeded $15 million. After selling its original site and buildings to Southwest Texas State University in 1979, the Academy moved to its present 200-acre site.

[edit] Alma mater

Green and Purple of the Laurel, bind us though we part.
Keep the spirit ever with you, deep within your heart.
Men and women of tomorrow, we’ll be proud of you.
The lives you now are building will be strong and true.
There’ll be echoes in your memory of cadets out on parade.
And of students in the chapel with their heads bowed as they prayed.
Fellowship is given those who come from far and near.
To these hallow’d halls of learning which we hold so dear.
Blessed are the lessons learned, and through the years may we
Be ever true to you, San Marcos Academy.

[edit] School mascot and colors

The official mascot of SMBA is the bear: the boys sports teams are referred to as “Bears” and the girls teams as “Lady Bears”. The school colors are derived from the mountain laurel and are forest green and purple.

[edit] Student Government

2007 - 2008 Student Council:
President: Kevin Yang
Vice President: Hayden Lyon
Secretary: Hannah Slack
Treasurer: Chase Jones
Religious Coordinator: Yo han Hong
Student Activities Coordinator: Anastasia Parish
Senior Class President: Ed Estrada

The Vice President of Student Council also serves as the President of the Student Senate system. Meetings are held weekly to discuss each aspect of life at San Marcos Baptist Academy from dorm life to academics. The Vice President of Student Senate and the Presidents of each class are also invited to attend to add perspective and diversity to the meetings.

[edit] Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (J.R.O.T.C)

Senior Army Instructor: LTC ( Retired ) Larry Revell
Army Instructor: 1SG ( Retired ) Mark M. Moore

2007-2008 Cadet Chain of Command
Battalion Commander: Cadet Major Chase Jones
Battalion Executive Officer: Cadet Captain Kevin Yang
Alpha Company Commander: Cadet Captain Ed Estrada
Bravo Company Commander: Cadet Captain Nathan Grosch

[edit] Tuition

Tuition to San Marcos Baptist Academy for the 2007 - 2008 school year is $23,815 for boarding students ($25,815 for international students) and $7,473 for day students grades 9-12 and $7,045 for day students in grades 7 and 8, not including optional and mandatory fees. The Academy offers need-based financial aid.