Special to the Times-Journal

MARION — On Monday the 36th Superintendant of the Coast Guard Academy, Admiral J. Scott Burhoe visited Marion Military Institute (MMI) to give the featured address at the Service Academy Prep Convocation ceremony. The Coast Guard has been increasing its support for MMI over the past few years and looks to establish an even stronger relationship over the next few years as they bring more Coast Guard Prep students on campus.

“MMI has a terrific strategy and goal with a bunch of great students and staff members,” Admiral Burhoe said. “MMI really relates back to what we do at the Coast Guard Academy with its emphasis on academics and the development with the physical fitness department.”

The Convocation ceremony celebrates 95 cadets who joined the ranks of MMI in the fall of 2009 in order to receive appointments into the service academy of their choosing. The ceremony lasted 45 minutes and Admiral Burhoe spoke about the importance of schools like MMI and the high percentage of success that comes from the students who are a part of the SAP program.

“I look forward to the Naval Academy and believe that MMI has prepared me greatly for the challenges that Academy will present to me,” said Cadet Alexander Turitzin just before receiving his appointment to the Academy. “for any obstacle the Naval Academy presents to me I know. I will be better prepared because of the experience I had at MMI.”

Admiral Burhoe graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (better known as Virginia Tech) with a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology, and later earned a Master of Public Administration degree from The American University in Washington, D.C. Admiral Burhoe has been the superintendant of the Coast Guard Academy since January 5, 2007.