Southern Preparatory Academy Report: Plowshares to Swords & Vice Versa

My February Alabama Gazette column https://www.alabamagazette.com/story/2026/02/01/opinion/winter-at-valley-forge-academy/9988.html 'kicked off' posting SoPrep Reports. Citing Valley Forge Military Academy closing in Pennsylvania leaves The Southern one of a dozen remaining prep schools with a Corps of Cadets (military) program in the nation. We're blessed to have this gem right here in Sweet Home Alabama, located at Camp Hill just off US Hwy 280 in East Central Alabama. In our current 'zeitgeist' the biggest surprise is how reluctant some are to publicly support https://southernprepacademy.org/ efforts to provide youth a path for a future military career with fellow non-military track students.

Accomplishments since coming to SoPrep (https://www.alabamagazette.com/story/2024/06/01/opinion/col-ramsby-southern-prep-academys-12th-president/3376.html) affirm and illustrate Col. Ramsby has exceeded expectations. The transformation is most apparent to those I've convinced to give SoPrep another look to witness the changes and return to the Academy's roots as an Agriculture and Industry School which morphed into a military academy, exemplifying the notion of 'plowshares into swords' and vice versa as Alumnus Maj. Bill Roughton has stressed these past years. Noteworthy early history includes George Washington Carver and Lyman Ward's connections through shared commitment to agricultural/industrial education in our region.

Historical correspondence between Carver and Ward dates back to the 1930s, working to improve farming practices, soil health, and livestock management for farmers across Alabama. Carver shared his Tuskegee Institute research with Ward, illustrating the swords/plowshares tradition. Booker T. Washington [famous for assisting in teaching brickmaking for Southern Industrial Institute construction] explicitly advocated industrial and agricultural training as a path out of poverty for the South's black population; Lyman Ward similarly championed this effort for whites - p. 43 of Jerri Beck's Their Country's Pride on the Academy's Centennial. Recent events foreshadow many more 'swords into plowshares' and vice versa cycles in our State and nation's future. Southern Prep is uniquely positioned to address that future and reconnect. Click on the youtube.com film to see how The Southern is moving forward in this tradition

Mark your April 24, 2026 calendar to attend The Southern's Scholarship Banquet [https://southernprepacademy.org/scholarship-banquet/] at the Marriott Grand National in Opelika, then head to Camp Hill April 25th [10:00am - 3:00pm] for a Banner Day at The Southern's Campus! Bring family, friends, and neighbors to (re)explore the beautiful campus, meet faculty, staff, and students, and enjoy a fun-filled day which include the following events:

● 5K Run (8am)

● Classic Car Cruise In

● Arts and Crafts Vendor Fair

● Wrestling Tournament

● JROTC Raider Competition

● Summer Camp Showcase

● Food Trucks

● Campus Open House

For More Information contact:

Sierra Vickrey: 256-827-9556: sierra.vickrey@southernprepacademy.org

http://www.southernprepacademy.org/rangerfest

I wholeheartedly applaud Col. Ramsby's efforts shepherding The Southern to be a 'collector' for JROTC in East Alabama without apology. I unapologetically relish seeing JROTC students sitting in the same classroom with civilian students - some who may have never interacted with someone in uniform prior as I witnessed with my ROTC students at AU. If you want to support this noble endeavor helping SoPrep [https://southernprepacademy.org/giving-funds/] getting through this difficult winter of transition, now is the time in the Spirit of the winter endured at Valley Forge. A crucial moment of great suffering and sacrifice, many historians consider Valley Forge the birth of our professional military, which morphed into a force stronger and united to defeat the greatest military of the era that fought hegemonic mercantilism sucking the marrow out of a people longing for liberty.

The Southern continues that Spirit of sacrifice... striving to regain and maintain Liberty by teaching our youth well with our support. Alabama Gazette readers include many who venerate our veterans and military history, filled with honour and sacrifice. The Southern is a way to support future generations by donating money, time, and even getting their children/grandchildren to consider SoPrep. Last year's top graduate is at West Point and The Southern is mentoring a student planning to attend the US Naval Academy, Deo volente.