Cadets at Sarasota Military Academy (SMA), a local public charter school, have formed organizations and planned events to recognize and honor Hispanic and Latino community, culture and heritage. The staff and high school cadets have planned a celebration on October 15 in recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began September 15 and ends October 15.
Sarasota Military Academy Prep middle school cadets and staff will host a celebration recognizing Hispanic Heritage month for cadets and families on October 18 from 6pm to 7:30pm.
“We are proud to celebrate our diverse culture every day at SMA, but we appreciate opportunities throughout the year to pay special attention to heritages that impact and strengthen the lives of our cadets and staff,” said SMA Colonel Christina Bowman, Sarasota Military Academy Executive Director of Schools. “We strive to ensure that each campus organization brings something unique to our SMA community and encourages cadets of all backgrounds to appreciate and understand the importance of unity, diversity and culture.”
The UnidosNow SMA high school chapter began last year through a partnership with UnidosNow, a local non-profit with a mission to elevate the quality of life of the growing Hispanic/Latino community through education, integration, and civic engagement. UnidosNow is currently located at the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center in Sarasota.
In September, high school cadets and staff founded a second organization: Aspiring Latinos Achieving Success (ALAS) in response to a need to engage Hispanic/Latino cadets, and their families, in order to overcome barriers and connect as a school community.
“Both groups, the SMA UnidosNow chapter and the newly-formed ALAS pilot club, have been helpful in providing cadets with access to information and resources to achieve success,” said Dr. Catherine Rodriguez, Sarasota Military Academy Assistant Head of School . “In our efforts to provide opportunities for engagement and connection within our Academy, our intention is to create a culture of lifelong learning and excellence in academics and decorum in response to a growing population of cadets from a variety of cultures.”
To learn more about Sarasota Military Academy, visit http://www.sarasotamilitaryacademy.org/.
About Sarasota Military Academy
Founded in 2002, Sarasota Military Academy (SMA) is a public charter school and college preparatory academy with two campuses located in Sarasota, Florida. Combining extraordinary academics with the highest military principles of camaraderie, focus, leadership, integrity, compassion, poise, honor and respect, SMA’s mission is to graduate young men and women who will confidently define their personal and unique goals for success in a multi-cultural and globalized world. Sarasota Military Academy High School is located at 801 N. Orange Avenue and Sarasota Military Academy Prep Middle School, is located at 3101 Bethel Lane. To learn more about SMA, visit http://www.sarasotamilitaryacademy.org/.