The Marching Elites Association
Background and Highlights
History: The Marching Elites Drill Team was established in 1994 as an outgrowth of the Hampton "Golden Elites" (founded in 1989) and the Machen Elementary School Drill Team (established in 1991). The Hampton "Golden Elites", composed primarily of students enrolled at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, Hampton, Virginia, were the first middle-high school disabled (deaf and blind) drill team to win a National Championship at a Drill Meet in Florida competing against non-disabled children.
Mission: The mission of the "Marching Elites" is to develop and enhance the leadership skills of school age children using military style training and a variety of marching proficiency skills, to heighten and nurture the self-esteem, self-confidence, and self­-discipline of our membership, composed of the community's able and disabled school age children. Our goal is to develop and promote the talents of these youngsters through an intensive, comprehensive, and practical application of military and para-military training methods, basic and advance individual/team drill tactics, and special drill movements. This comprehensive, creative, performance-based program provides each participant with a positive alternative to the use of alcohol, drugs, and destructive behavior. The Marching Elites Association is committed to the belief that "It takes a whole village to raise a child."
Organization: The Marching Elites Association (MEA) is a volunteer run, youth based, academically centered, community supported 501(C) 3 not-for-profit organization. The MEA is committed to providing quality educational and specialized leadership training programs for participating able and disabled youth, motivating them to maximum performance levels in their school and community. MEA members are divided into a number of performing drill teams from elementary through high school. The drill teams routinely perform together; however, the Drill Teams are often featured individually at multiple sites, or in same day performances.
Major Accomplishments: The Marching Elites Drill Team has achieved national acclaim by winning the "Best Drill Unit" and the "Grand Marshal's Award" in a number of National parades. They have given widely acclaimed performances at NCAA basketball games in Virginia and North Carolina. Feature performances are given annually during the NBA pre­season and regular season nationwide. The WNBA and NFL routinely extend yearly invitations to the "Elites" requesting crowd-pleasing performances. The "Elites" have also performed in Orlando, Florida at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, and have won awards in many major national parades including Pennsylvania's Thanksgiving Parade, and Chicago's Field's Jingle Elf Parade. The Marching Elites performed internationally for the first time at Niagara Falls, in Canada in 2000. In March 2001, the Marching Elites captured First Place in the annual "Cherry Blossom" parade in Washington, D.C. The Marching Elites "XO" Drill Team traveled to New York City in January 2002 to tape a show at the famous "Apollo Theater." The performance was aired on "Showtime at the Apollo", on national television, March 16, 2002. The entire Marching Elite ensemble of five Drill Teams performed in January 2002 at the Inaugural Parade of Virginia Governor Mark Warner, in Richmond, Virginia, also shown on national television. At Governor Warner's request, the MEA "XO" Drill Team presented a "special performance" at the Governor's "Open House" at the Richmond Capitol, much to the pleasure of Governor Warner and his invited guests. MEA Drill Teams also performed at the two-day Annual "Step Show" at Fluvanna High School, in Fluvanna County, Virginia.
Funding: The Marching Elites Association is a not for profit 501(C) (3) organization. Funding for daily operations and youth development activities is provided through various local project contracts, national grants, and contributions. AmeriCorps- VISTA, and America's Promise, Corporation for National Service, are key partner agencies for the association.
Programs: The Marching Elites fulfills its mission through the implementation of unique, innovative programs, conducted by a dedicated staff, community volunteers, and board members. The Drill Teams, the Elite Motivational, Optimistic, Opportunity, Training program (MOOT), the Tutorial program, Mentoring, the Computer Technology program, and Summer Camp, are 6 of the comprehensive, enterprising programs that the Marching Elites have developed to date, designed to nurture and develop excellence and leadership in today's youth. These are life learning programs conducted in a safe, nurturing environment, and conducted by a trained, dedicated, caring staff. The National Expansion Project, currently projected to replicate MEA programs in 10 Eastern States gives credence to the high quality and credibility of these programs. The Marching Elites Association, building on its living legacy of excellence, aims to replicate these productive programs nationwide in the future, and will continue to broaden its scope on the way to becoming "the premier youth organization dedicated to building positive leaders in the new millennium."