Riverside Prep Academy... This is for all those in favor of keeping our school's name: Riverside MILITARY Academy. Whether you are Alumni, a current cadet, former or current faculty, or a family member or friend of Riverside, this is for you. Unfortunately, we believe that a change of name will cause faculty to leave and Alumni to become completely uninvolved.

The truth is that these efforts will most likely not yield any real results. This move to be a "preparatory" school is a long term goal that will eventually replace the military structure that is currently fading. In time, Riverside will be a completely different school with different values, focuses, and leaders. The best we can do is curb this progression.

Many of you have recently said that it does not matter to you how the school proceeds and that the RMA that you know and cherish has already disappeared. You would rather focus on your own past experiences when you attended. We would ask you to sign the petition for us, your friends and brothers. If you truly don't care how RMA manages itself, please sign the petition for us. We believe that Riverside can still be that place for boys and their parents who seek the structure that only a military school can offer. For many, as we're sure you can remember, Riverside is a last resort for those who hate discipline and authority but need it more than anything in the world.

For those of you who have denounced your support and donations from RMA: Don't give up so easily! We have heard the school is struggling and in debt. They say the name change is a response to bring the student body numbers up. Whether you believe that or not, nonetheless it is important to notice that the school needs help. We may expect that part of this downturn is due to internal leadership, but there were also many parents that pulled their sons out during the pandemic.

So what are we to do? In this time of need, how do we respond? We hope that this may be the wake up call that was needed. It is time to gather our resources together and promote change for good. Sign this petition as a starting point. Gather as many signatures as you can. Call/Email your Class President. Call/Email the President's Office. Call in the Alumni's response to the Gainesville Times for a story. Attend the State of the Academy on October 15th on campus at 10 AM EST. Attend the Zoom call on October 19th at 7 PM EST. Let your voice be heard.

In addition, as we prevent the name change, start forming think tanks and committees to brainstorm ways to help market Riverside Military Academy. If we care enough about our school to keep our values, we need to have solutions to these problems. There are a lack of families interested in allowing their young men to attend Riverside. Let us find a way to change that. Let us also request to have Alumni representation to be a guide to the school and the Board of Trustees so that we can be informed with school struggles and proposed changes. These things should NOT be decided and dropped on us before going into Homecoming weekend. That is wrong and unfair.

Thank you all.