Testimonials / Results

We are writing to express our heartfelt thanks to all the staff at Valley Forge.  Our son is graduating in three weeks.  It is hard to believe that just two years ago on a very hot August day we left him after in-processing wondering if he would survive plebe training and receive his cap shield.  So much has transpired since then.  We left a son barely 18, just three months out of high school.  Much time past between his visits home but with each one we were amazed at the growth and maturity that had taken place.  He was taller, stronger, and more self-confident and was embracing the mission of the college.

He is now a leader in the regimental band as the 1st Lt.  One Sunday as the band lead the Corps onto the parade field and his name was announced we had a sense of pride and accomplishment that left a teary eye.  We had just left the chapel service with all its pomp and circumstance that leaves one with a sense of pride in being an American.  The sun was shining and the campus was bathed in its spring glory.  The Sunday chapel speaker had inspired us all and we noticed that our son wanted to keep his own copy of the bulletin.  We are grateful that there is an institution that values those things we as parents tried to instill in our children.

We are deeply indebted to many people at The Forge but especially Bandmaster WO2 Phil Evans; Master Sergeant Gillyard and the Tac Officers of the band; Dr. W. Best, advisor; Lini Stevens, Director of Parent Relations and all of the wonderful teachers our son had.  It is very apparent that Valley Forge has high expectations for its cadets, not only academically but morally as it enforces character development, personal motivation, leadership and physical development-the five capstones.  Most importantly we were impressed that above all, personal responsibility is demanded every day.  What better attribute can our young cadets take with them as they leave and go into the work force, the military, or to four-year institutions.

We will miss our trips to Valley Forge but leave knowing that our son and we chose the finest school to spend the first two years of college.  We are proud of what he accomplished, how far he came from that hot August day, and know that he will look back years from now and say that he is proud to be an alumnus of Valley Forge.

Respectfully,
Dr. and Mrs. Jose Hernandez
Parents of 1st Lt. Joseph Hernandez, Band

Today [March 24] is our son [First Captain] Kevin's 20th birthday and we wanted to express to everyone at VF how grateful we are to all the wonderful people at VF who have taught, mentored, raised, and influenced Kevin these past six years.

We sent him to Valley Forge a good boy of 14 and today he is a fine and excellent man of 20 years that has honor and the best character.

Words cannot express how proud we are of our son, and how grateful we are to Valley Forge.

Please forward this email to the BOT and all your staff because they have all had a part in contributing to the education of our son these past six years and we want them all to know how truly grateful we are and we wish them all to know that the best efforts of the employees at VF do work!

Our son is living proof that when a cadet chooses to follow the guidance of the principles of VF, a good boy/young man will always become an excellent leader with honor and courage of conviction to always do the right thing.

Thank you all for your dedication to the cadets of Valley Forge.  The work you all do is important and much appreciated.

With sincerest gratitude,

Marty and Tess Lanum, and Larry Fulmer
Parents of First Captain Kevin J. Fulmer ’08C

We have received your letter dated March 11, regarding our son´s Alejandro Roman plans for the future in regards to VFMAC.

We are very pleased to inform you that ours (and Alejandro´s) plans for the future include staying at VFMAC until graduation from High School next year, and then entering College at Valley Forge for two years until deciding where to complete his training in Laboratory Medicine.

Just a few comments we would like to add to our previous mail.  We are very happy with this decision.  It´s not only ours.  Our son Alejandro feels extremely stimulated at VFMAC. He was with us in Nicaragua for his spring break. In this first semester at the Academy we were able to notice a profound change in him.  Responsibility.  Hard work.  He has gained an incredibly amount of self-esteem, and a determination to achieve all his personal goals. He LIKES to be there.
  

We had heard of VF before, but never expected the quality of education and character building that our son is getting.  I have special words of commendation for all his teachers and especially, for Mr. Gillyard, whom Alejandro has told us has been a source guidance and advise for him. 

Very truly yours,

Jaime and Lorena Roman
Parents of Alejandro Roman-Arguello ’09

“I know I spoke you at the Recognition Ceremony but after having my son for an entire weekend, I needed to contact you again.

You were my first contact with the school, along with Dr. Anderson, and I just felt inclined to write to you. If you will kindly pass this on to her I would appreciate it.

I knew that my son needed discipline, structure and some guidance/direction to be shown how to reach his full potential. I knew that Tanner wasn’t a “bad boy” and that he was just in a tough place in his life and needed a change, needed structure and discipline.

I also knew that VF would be an experience he would benefit from. However, I am just amazed at the transformation in him in just 6 weeks. This “Plebe System” time for him was rough with getting injured twice by accident, and having a multitude of doctor visits, etc.

However, he seems to be unphased by all this and seems to have become stronger by making it through some challenging times when unexpected bumps in the roadway coming up along the way.

He walked taller, stood prouder and smiled longer. He has manners, and even insists on prayer before each meal to his siblings. He talked to his siblings about choices and consequences. He was respectful, he was polite, he was not easily agitated. He was strict about bedtime and he was up way too early for me on the weekend!

But the best part of Tanner is the pride he has in himself as well as VF. He is so proud to be there, so proud of the school and so proud to be a cadet.

Your staff is amazing, professional and courteous. Pat and the staff at the Health Center were absolute wonderful and kind to me and Tanner when he was hurt.
I realize they are doing their job, yet I feel everyone at VF goes above and beyond. They truly care and take pride in their jobs and the school. Mr. Frimmer and the teaching staff at the Middle School have been extremely helpful and informative, always answering my emails and questions.

Chief Green, SGT Prescott, CPT Fluck, and the tactical officers at Hocker Hall are simply the best. I feel safe knowing my son is in their hands.

On the way back to the school Sunday afternoon Tanner told me he wants to be a student at VF until he “can’t go there anymore.” He said “that would be about 2 years into college mom, then I would have to go somewhere else.” I told him I would keep him in school there and do whatever it takes to keep him there and help with the parents association if he does his part. He told me there is a lot he can do here and a lot of things you can achieve and become but you have to “work hard and earn it.” Earn it. .. I finally heard him say and he finally realizes that you have to earn things in life, they aren’t handed to you. My son never comprehended  the sayings “earn it” or “working hard” before.

Thank you Valley Forge, thank you Dr. Anderson and LTC Bowe for listening to a 13-year-old boy tell you about the wrong decisions he made during the first part of his school year and for taking a chance on him and enrolling him.”

Best regards,
Alyssa Rohrbaugh
Parent of Cadet Tanner Rohrbaugh

We visited Valley Forge on a campus tour when our son was a Junior in high school to take a look at the college. Our son was very enthusiastic about the fact the college offered the SROTC and Early Commissioning Program (ECP) through the U.S. Army. He was and still is very interested in pursuing a military career.

During the campus tour, he expressed interest in leaving public school to attend the Academy for his senior year in high school. His dad and I had reservations because our son had attended the same school district all his school life and would complete his senior year and graduate in a whole new environment. After much consideration, we agreed to let him enroll for his senior year with the stipulation if he changed his mind or it wasn’t what he anticipated, he would have to stay at Valley Forge and graduate.

My son is an average student. For the first time in his academic life, he had a fabulous senior year and accomplished more than he imagined he was capable of. He was no more than less than astounded at the commitment of the faculty and the availability of resources to enable students to succeed. Our son was awarded a SROTC/ECP scholarship to attend the two-year college program, along with a commitment to serve in the U.S. Army.

At the college level, the SROTC/ECP Program is one of Valley Forge’s most outstanding resources. It is run by a group of dedicated military leaders that are not only outstanding achievers from a military standpoint, but excellent teachers and role models for the cadets. In addition, for my son’s regular college courses, he experienced nothing but the most outstanding faculty who truly strive to see each student succeed. The level of dedication of the faculty is far superior than any "regular" college would offer.

My son graduated from the two-year college and was commissioned a second lieutenant last May. He transferred to Edinboro University where he is currently a history major and attached to a National Guard Unit. He still is in touch with many of his Valley Forge comrades and is still tapping on resources from some of the VF faculty. Now that he has transferred and is in the "regular" college life, he sees the value of what the school gave to him. My husband and I will always be grateful to the SROTC staff and the entire faculty and administration for seeing our son achieve what he set out to do. We believe our son is on the road to a successful future due to his Valley Forge experience.

Linda & George Smith
Parents of George Smith '06

Our son, Ryan, is a junior in the academy and has attended VFMA for the past two years. He came in as a mid-year in 9th grade. Upon his arrival, his academic achievement was below his potential. He also lacked in self-confidence and in his ability to do well academically. My husband and I knew he could do much better than he was in public school. We looked into VFMA, as it has a wonderful reputation for helping young men in the academy, reach their potential and beyond. Well, Ryan is on his way to becoming a well developed man who is achieving things he never dreamed he would be able to accomplish. Beginning this school year (2006) Ryan gave up three weeks of his summer vacation to go back to school for leadership training. That is something he would have never done before attending VFMA&C. He feels good about himself, self-confident and obtained officer rank. He is also doing very well academically and cares a great deal about his grades.

Needless to say, my husband and I are ecstatic about Ryan's progress and abilities. Ryan told us recently that "we made a good decision, I don't know where I would be today had I stayed in public school, I like it here and have made many great friends".

Barbara and Carl Grozinski
Parents of Ryan Grozinski '08