<p>I attended an Air Force Academy Summer Seminar Mixer yesterday in Orlando. I was able to talk to several different ALO’s in the area, parents of former and current cadets, and people in charge of admissions for Florida. I was impressed with how much I learned from a crowded room in a disney hotel about the Academy. I am glad I drove an hour and a half to go, and I would strongly encourage others to go to one in their area if invited.</p>
<p>I've never heard of an "Air Force Academy Mixer." Where did you hear about it?</p>
<p>I am fairly certain we had no such thing in our area. There was an "Appointees Luncheon" and a family picnic but no mixer. That's a good idea. I have thought that the Service Academies should band together and "go on the road," putting on college-fair type displays, just service related (maybe add ROTC's). That might even attract a lot of attention to USMMA, which gets short shrift around here, unfortunately.</p>
<p>My area offered something like this for all service academies. They brought in ALO's from each and past graduates along with local congressman representitives who were in charge of the nominations.</p>
<p>They do something like that each year here in Raleigh, NC. Usually around Feb I think. Here is the announcement from last years</p>
<p>Interested in attending one of the Service Academies [West Point/Annapolis/Air Force Academy/Coast Guard/Merchant Marine]? An All Service Academy Information Evening has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 19, from 7:30-9:30 PM in the theatre at Cardinal Gibbons High School. The evening will start with a formal presentation by each Academy Representative followed by a Q&A in the cafeteria where refreshments will be served. The program is designed to help inform prospective candidates about the opportunities that are offered at the Academies and the requirements that are necessary for admission.</p>
<p>Virginia (especially Senator Warner's office) goes all out for Academy Day. They bring the director of admissions, guidence counselors, and at least two cadets (or midshipman, respectively) from each academy to the Marine Museam on our side of D.C. USAFA had an entire "sea of blue" because they had at least ten people from the academy, every ALO from the state, and cadets. I was great to see. Really helpful in decision making too.</p>
<p>Plus they have the congressman and senators, plus their directors of selection there.</p>
<p>I was really, really impressed.</p>