New Mexico Military Institute facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Mexico Military InstituteNMMI
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Statue in Bronco Plaza
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| Address | |
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101 West College Blvd.
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United States
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| Coordinates | 33°24′36″N 104°31′29″W / 33.409896°N 104.524698°W |
| Information | |
| School type | High School & Junior College (Military) |
| Motto | Duty, Honor, Achievement |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Non-denominational |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Founder | Joseph C. Lea, Robert S. Goss |
| NCES District ID | 350225000984 |
| Grades | High School (9-12), Junior College (Freshman-Sophomore) |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Age range | 13-23 |
| Number of students | 914 |
| Average class size | 15 |
| Campus size | 300 acres (1.2 km2) |
| Campus type | City |
| Color(s) | Scarlet and Black |
| Nickname | The Old Post |
| Team name | Broncos (college), Colts (high school) |
| Accreditation | AdvancED Commission |
| President/Superintendent | Brigadier General Voris McBurnette (U.S. Army Ret.) |
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New Mexico Military Institute Historic District
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Roughly bounded by Nineteenth and N. Main Sts., College Blvd. and Kentucky Ave., Roswell, New Mexico |
| Area | 64 acres (26 ha) |
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | I.H. Rapp, et al. |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Roswell New Mexico MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000907 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 7, 1987 |
The New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) is a special kind of school. It is a public military junior college and high school located in Roswell, New Mexico. NMMI was started in 1891.
This school is run by the State of New Mexico. It has a special group called the Board of Regents. This group reports to the Governor of New Mexico. NMMI is in downtown Roswell. Each year, almost 1,000 students, called cadets, attend the high school and junior college programs.
NMMI is the only state-supported military college in the western United States. Many famous people who served in the military or worked in big companies have graduated from NMMI.
The school has a program called the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program. About 30 cadets each year become U.S. Army second lieutenants through this program. Also, nearly 100 cadets go on to one of the five United States Service academies every year.
NMMI has a Cadet Honor Code. Cadets voted for this code in 1921. It says, "A Cadet Will Not Lie, Cheat, or Steal, Nor Tolerate Those Who Do." Cadets themselves help make sure everyone follows this code. The school's sports teams are the Broncos for the junior college and the Colts for the high school. Their school colors are scarlet (red) and black.
History of NMMI
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How NMMI Started
Colonel Robert S. Goss and Captain Joseph C. Lea founded NMMI in 1891. It was first called the Goss Military Institute. It started with 38 students. The government of the New Mexico territory officially recognized it in 1893. They then renamed it NMMI.
However, the government did not give the school money. Because of this, the school had to close on March 29, 1895. This day was known as "Bad Friday." Later, in 1894–1895, a bill was passed to give the school money. James J. Hagerman, a local rancher, gave 40 acres of land. This land is where the school is located today. NMMI reopened in the fall of 1898.
NMMI in Wars and Beyond
Hundreds of NMMI graduates served in World War I and World War II. One famous graduate was John C. Morgan, who received the Medal of Honor. Another was Conrad Hilton, who started the Hilton Hotels chain.
In 1948, NMMI added a four-year college program. But they stopped this program in 1956.
The school became fully coeducational in 1977. This means both boys and girls could attend as cadets. Before that, some girls attended as day students from 1891 to 1898.
Recent Leadership Changes
Brigadier General (retired) Voris W. McBurnette became the new superintendent on June 6, 2024.
NMMI Campus
The land for the campus was given to the school by James J. Hagerman. The main student living area, called barracks, is named after him. All the buildings at NMMI are built in a similar style. This style is called Gothic Revival. They are made of light brown bricks.
The school's design and how it is set up were inspired by the Virginia Military Institute. The NMMI campus is a special historical area. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Life as a Cadet
How Cadets are Organized
Cadets at NMMI are part of a group called the Corps of Cadets. This group is set up like a cavalry regiment. It has a Headquarters Troop, which includes the Marching Band. The regiment has three squadrons, and each squadron has four or five troops.
Cadets are grouped into classes from 6th Class (like 9th grade high school) to 1st Class (like a college sophomore). Cadets earn their way up based on their hard work. The school is a military boarding school. This means all classes, meals, and training happen on campus.
Cadet Ranks and Rules
When cadets first arrive, they are called New Cadets, or RATs. High school and college cadets are RATs for one semester. After that, they are called yearlings. After one year, they are called Old Cadets.
Cadets can also earn ranks in Junior or Senior Army ROTC. Since the fall of 2022, JROTC ranks and Corps ranks are combined. Also, since fall 2022, college and high school cadets live in separate barracks. These ranks decide a cadet's special permissions and power. They also shape how cadets interact at the school.
The rules for cadets are written in a book called the "Blue Book." If a cadet breaks a small rule, they might get a simple correction or a punishment like push-ups. Cadets who get too many demerits might be put on disciplinary probation. If cadets do not do well in their classes, they might be put on academic probation. Cadets can usually only leave campus on weekends, holidays, or when their families visit.
All cadets live on campus in one of the two barracks buildings. Colonel Thomas Tate is the commandant and dean of students. He leads a team that helps guide the cadet leaders. He is also in charge of cadet life at the Institute.
NMMI Athletics
Sports Facilities
NMMI has many sports facilities. These include the Cahoon Armory, which was recently updated. There is also the Stapp Parade Field, which is used for soccer. Other facilities are the Godfrey Athletic Center, NMMI Ballpark, and NMMI Football Field. They also have the Gene Hardman Memorial Tennis Courts, the NMMI Golf Course, and an Outdoor Fitness Factory. There is also a Sports Medicine Facility for injuries.
Jose Barron has been the NMMI Athletic Director since July 2014. He was named the NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year in April 2022.
Junior College Sports
The junior college sports teams are called the Broncos. The football team plays in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. This conference includes six schools from Texas and one from Oklahoma.
Football Success
From 2021 to 2023, the head coach was NMMI graduate Kurt Taufa'asau. He used to play in the NFL. The Broncos won the 2021 NJCAA National football championship game. This game was shown on national TV. After that season, Coach Taufa'asau was named Coach of the Year by several groups. He left NMMI in early 2024 to coach at New Mexico Highlands University. Oliver Soukup became the new NMMI head football coach in June 2024.
Other College Sports
All other NMMI college sports teams play in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. The women's college volleyball team, coached by Shelby Fortchner, was second in the nation in the 2021-2022 season. NMMI also has college golf, tennis, cross country, baseball, and basketball teams. These teams also compete under the Bronco name.
High School Sports
The high school sports teams are called the Colts. They compete in different groups and areas in the NMAA. High school sports include football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, swimming and diving, golf, basketball, baseball, cross country, and track and field. They play against other high schools in New Mexico.
Notable NMMI Alumni
Many successful people have graduated from NMMI. Here are a few examples:
Arts & Entertainment
- Peter Hurd, a famous artist.
- Owen Wilson, an actor.
Authors
- Paul Horgan, an author who won the Pulitzer Prize twice.
- G. Harry Stine, a science fiction writer and a pioneer in model rocketry.
Business Leaders
- Conrad Hilton, who founded the Hilton Hotel chain.
Journalism
- Sam Donaldson, a well-known news anchor.
Military Leaders
- John C. Morgan, a pilot and Medal of Honor winner from World War II.
Politics and Law
- Anthony Principi, who was the fourth United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
- Frank D. White, a former governor of Arkansas.
Sports Stars
- Roger Staubach, a famous football player who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Diego Pavia, a college football player.
See also
In Spanish: Instituto Militar de Nuevo México para niños
- New Mexico Military Institute Summer Camp, Main Building
