|
 The
New Mexico Military Institute is the nation's oldest state-supported
co-educational college preparatory military high school and junior
college, founded in 1891 in Roswell, New Mexico.
On
September 3, 1891 the Goss Military Academy was founded through the
efforts of Captain James C. Lea and Colonel Robert Goss. With an initial
enrollment of 28 students, including female students, the school was
the first in New Mexico to adopt military features. The original school
properties were located approximately one-half mile south of its current
location on North Hill in the vicinity of the former Chaves County Court
House.
The
Academy was later made a territorial school and received its current
title of New Mexico Military Institute in February 1893. Upon this new
founding, there were no moneys appropriated by the Territorial
Legislature and the Institute suspended operations for a period of two
years.
On
February 13, 1895 an appropriations bill was passed by the Territorial
Legislature that provided a bond issue and maintenance moneys contingent
on the provisioning of a 40-acre tract of land for the school. Shortly
afterwards, Mr. J.J. Hagerman deeded this sum of property on North Hill,
the Institute’s current location, and the school became a fully
recognized territorial entity under the Legislature.
A
new $12,000 physical plant was built that housed 105 male students
during school year 1896. At that time the curriculum consisted of as
many as eight years of academic work and students were organized into
two cadet companies.
In
1906, the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was introduced. In 1909,
the War Department designated the Institute as one of the ten
distinguished military schools in the nation, a distinction the
Institute has earned annually since. Being so designated enables the Institute to annually
nominate eight deserving cadets to attend the nation’s military
academies. Today, the
Institute sends approximately 80 cadets annually to attend the
nation’s service academies through its Service Academy Preparatory
Program, the largest of the five military junior colleges serving the
nation.
In
1915, the Institute took on its modern form when a junior college was
inaugurated. The Institute now had a four-year high school and a
two-year junior college and was quickly becoming recognized throughout
New Mexico and the nation as a pioneer in education and the development
of young people.
During World War I, the Institute sent 320 young men
to the defense of their nation. Of these young men, 163 served as
officers. Many of those who served received distinguished service
recognition and medals of high order.
In
1917, the Institute’s high school became a charter accredited school
of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. NMMI has since
remained the only state supported accredited college preparatory high
school and junior college in the United States.
During
World War II, Institute graduates saw service in every theater of the
war. Over 150 Institute
graduates gave the last full measure of devotion to their country.
Institute alumnus John "Red" Morgan was awarded the Medal of
Honor, and other alumni distinguished themselves in combat.
In
1948, the Institute inaugurated a four-year liberal arts program
offering bachelor degrees. The school specialized in preparing students
for government service. Many
NMMI graduates went on to distinguish themselves by their service to
their nation as military officers and civil servants.
In 1956, the four-year program was discontinued and the school
reverted back to a high school and junior college.
During
the Vietnam War the Institute again sent its sons off to conflict.
And, again Institute graduates gave of themselves for the nation.
In
1977, full-time female students were "re-enrolled" and their
numbers have steadily grown. Women now number about 20 percent of the
Corps’ total population. Of
that first group of women graduates, several went on to become members
of the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Military Institute and were among
that school’s first women graduates.
1998
saw another first, as the Corps of Cadets was led by its first woman
Regimental Commander, Heather Christensen of Roswell. Since then
two other women, Lindsey Schuda, of California, and Daniell Valerio, of
New Mexico, have served in the top cadet spot.
In
2003, the Institute appointed its first African-American to the position
of Regimental Commander, Cadet John White of Houston, Texas. In
2004 Luis Aranda was named as Regimental Commander, earning him the
honor of being the first RC from Mexico.
2004 provided another first as NMMI welcomed
its first Naval Flag Officer, Rear Admiral David R. Ellison, as
Superintendent. And, in January, 2005, NMMI welcomed back
Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, a 1975 graduate of the Institute,
as Commandant. |
