Sanford Naval Academy

The Sanford Naval Academy (SNA), was established in 1963 by The Bernard Macfadden Foundation at the facility now known as the Junior School. The first year's operation included grades 6th through 9th with a total enrollment of 72 students.

Because of the expansion of SNA, the entire school operation was moved to the present Senior School location in September of 1965.

The Senior School complex was purchased from the New York Giants when their franchise was moved to Los Angeles. The facility was originally a resort hotel-motel complex called the Mayfair Inn.

In September of 1967, the school operation was divided with grades 6th,7th, and 8th moving to its present location and grades 9th thru 12th remaining at the Senior School's location.

In addition to numerous internal building modifications, two buildings have been added to the Senior School complex; the Bernard Macfadden Gymnasium and the renovated Boat House.

The first Senior Class of 25 midshipmen graduated in June of 1967.

In 1973, there was a new and welcome change to SNA, that was the year SNA allowed young women to attend the academy.

Once completed graduation, many of the midshipmen and women went on to further their education through scholarship programs or through their own efforts.

The years at SNA have been years of great growth and progress. We have seen The Sanford Naval Academy grow from the dream of one man, Mr. Joseph P. Wiegers, to a respected and highly accredited institution. Classrooms where teaching, studying medicine, law, psychology, architecture and engineering on the graduate level, emerged.

We have seen the physical growth of SNA from a small complex of buildings to a two-campus nucleus from which, in years to come, a preparatory school second to none in the United States would evolve.

Most of all, they have seen people. The dedicated teachers who were part of the hardest, intellectual and moral pillars of our faculty. The brilliant teachers who brought their expertise to sharpen and heighten our academic disciplines.

In the past years, the students who have gone forth, have said how deep is their gratitude, for the teaching staff who dealt with its' students, with affection and honesty.

All have said, teachers and students alike, that being a part of SNA, has been an exciting and a rewarding experience that none will ever forget.