NOTE: his class will get together periodically over the summer to really flesh out the intracies of building the computer, including the purchasing of parts. 

There's no greater satisfication and consternation than building your own computer. We are going to take the summer and do it right! If you are here in Nashville for at least six total weeks of June and July, then we'll get together over a few evenings and weekends to get the job done. 

This class will teach you the basics of designing and building terrain for a variety of board and wargames. We'll use a host of tools from simple handtools to highly sophisticated, large laser cutting devices. The design process is vital because each piece must be designed in a larger plan and work seemlessly therein. It's a fantastic hobby, and it's great to get started early in life on this one.  

Photo: MBA's National Championship Mock Trial Team with Nikil Misra (graduating senior & newly named Jefferson Scholar at UVA) laying down the law!  

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Your registration in this class is finalized when the head coach of the MBA Mock Trial Team, Mr. Wade Cowan [ wadebcowan@aol.com ], responds back to you. He's getting notification of your enrollment. Also, this course is only open to boys enrolled at MBA as it will engage strategic decisions for future competitions. 

Equally Important: This is a two-week class; each week operates Mon.-Fri. on the dates and times provided here. You are to attend all sessions, and if you must miss one, then please write to Mr. Cowan about this [address above] to get this ironed WELL before the class begins. Okay, here's the description:

Wade Cowan (the coach with the most state titles in Tennessee mock trial competition and numerous decades of experience) is returning to teach the boys here once again in Mock Trial this summer.  If you want to practice your mock trial skills, or learn if this is an extra curricular activity for you then sign up! 

Not everybody who wants to be on the Mock Trial Team gets on the team--they are now winning national championships afterall. However, attending this class for two week is a pretty good way to get better and get noticed! 

And finally, you might find that some requirements for the Law Merit Badge or even the Communications Merit Badge can be met by this class. Also, you might want to take a good look at Public Speaking because there appears to be some crossover there as well. If you have designs on obtaining these merit badges then work with Mr. Cowan WELL BEFORE the class takes place to see how many requirements you can meet! 

In recent years there's been a large uptick in the Board Gaming hobby to emulate and improve a truly famous game: Goomhaven (2017). Many considered this be "Dungeon & Dragons" in a box. It shot to #1 on the most comprehensive ranking site for over 100K games. It stayed there for years. Gloomhaven kept a lot of the fighting of role playing games intact and forced a three-dimensional perspect role playing games largely lack. Most importantly, this game doesn't require a game master. Everyone is a player with the game run by a tight AI algorithm. This genre of board games, and there now MANY, actually began sometime ago. We are going back what is largely considered the first fully fleshed out version: Heroquest from the 1980s. It's been re-released with updated, well, everything! We have many more to choose from if the students want to switch up the game mid-week. 

Thinking about getting a 3D printer, but don't know where to start?  Then taking this class is a good idea. We'll go through the basics of how to set up a 3D printer. Look at affordable, creative, and fun ways of using it. Finally, we'll do some post-production on our creations to really make them pop! 

If you have taken this course before, please know it's the same content. Last year's classes had double waitlists, so it's newcomers only.

This experiential, non-performance-based course would explore songwriting, recording, storytelling, and music history through workshops, talks with music industry practicioners, guided reflection, and supervised visits to iconic Nashville music sites such as the Ryman Auditorium, Historic RCA Studio B. Students would engage with a professional songwriter and recording engineer, create original written work, and participate in a simple group recording, all while developing skills in critical listening, collaboration, and cultural literacy.

Thinking about getting a 3D printer, but don't know where to start?  Then taking this class is a good idea. We'll go through the basics of how to set up a 3D printer. Look at affordable, creative, and fun ways of using it. Finally, we'll do some post-production on our creations to really make them pop! 

If you have taken this course before, please know it's the same content. Last year's classes had double waitlists, so it's newcomers only.

The total number of students who have taken this class is now very close to one hundred. Yet, it's this summer will only be the third time we've done it here at MBA. Suffice to say: it's popular and it's back! Now, if you took this class last year, note that there's an advanced class just for you and your fellow classmates from last year. 

This class is popular because of the outstanding teaching and keen insight of it's teacher, Mr. Brooks Tate who runs a stock market simulator for about a month after the class ends so the students can put their knowledge to work. The top three performers earn cash prizes in the form of Amazon gift cards. The top prize will be $250 once more! There are two stipulations:You must be a high school student and be present for the full four classes to qualify for the game. 

Students will learn how the stock market works overall and several different investment strategies. More importantly for you long-term financial health, each day will also include it's own topic concerning financial responsibility like, what is a credit rating and how is calculated, student loans, buying a car or house, understanding checking and savings accounts, compound interest, and what a good savings rate should be for ideal outcomes later in life.

There's a good chance that much of this material could satiate requirements for the American Business Merit Badge or even better, the Personal Management Merit Badge. If that interests you, let Mr. Tate know this WELL ahead of time.