TMI Cadet Wins National Fitness Challenge

Online, March 22, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Samantha Cox, a junior at TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas, won several awards in the Knight-Fox Challenge, a 36-hour fitness competition at Marion Military Institute, a military junior college in Marion, Ala.

Cox, age 16, earned the top female award for her Army Physical Fitness Texas score, the President's Award for Excellence and the Cadetship award during a Feb. 26 ceremony at Marion. The awards include a total of $2,250 in scholarship funds.

At TMI, Cox is a first sergeant in the Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets, where she also serves in the color guard and is a member of the PT (physical training) platoon. She plays varsity volleyball, soccer and softball and has been a member of the rifle team.

"I was not at all surprised that Samantha was recognized by the cadre at Marion for exceeding the standards for physical fitness," said TMI Commandant Maj. Douglas McVey.

She plans a career as a military officer and will attend seminars at the U.S. Air Force and Naval academies this summer.

The Knight-Fox Challenge includes a Military Drill down, Warrior's Challenge including rope-bridge, cross-country, relay, rappelling, paintball and combat water survival, as well as a fitness competition including one-minute push-ups, sit-ups and a one-mile run. The program was designed to identify, evaluate and recruit high school juniors and seniors who aspire to be commissioned in the U.S. Armed Forces; attend one of the five U.S. Service Academies; or for those who want to know that Marion Military Institute is the right fit for their college career.