Donated Microscopes Provide New Opportunities for Cadets
Cadets in Missouri Military Academy's science classes may notice some of the equipment they use has been upgraded. After MMA alumnus Ben Jones, '50, of O'Fallon, Missouri contributed a generous donation to the school's science department, students will now have access to new microscopes that Biology teacher MAJ Mike Pemberton plans to use in many future lessons and labs.
"Our old microscopes had seen a lot of wear and tear to the point where they were hardly usable anymore. The new ones have features that will allow us to do things we couldn't do before in labs," Pemberton said. "We're very appreciative."
MAJ Mike Pemberton assists Cadet Jacob Ziegler '15 with operating one of the new microscopes.
Pemberton has wasted no time in showing off the new equipment. His Biology I Honors class used them yesterday for a lab about the biological processes of meiosis and mitosis.
Jones contributed the funds for the microscopes, and he requested the money be used specifically for that purpose.
"I worked in a business where we had to keep up to date with equipment and technology," he said. "I felt it was necessary to help the science classes out and bring their equipment up to date. Things change with each generation."
This is not the first time Jones has worked to upgrade MMA technology. He donated a computer to the school in 1975 - the first one at MMA.