A US Military Tradition.
Chicago Military Academy Challenge Coins
The first comprehensive military academy for high schoolers in the city of Chicago, the Chicago Military Academy (CMA) at Bronzeville is built upon the Eighth Regiment Armory, former headquarters of the “Fighting Eighth” Illinois National Guard Regiment. The school honors the traditions of the veterans who once walked its halls by providing a world-class education employing a military structure that focuses students on academic achievement and taking personal responsibility for themselves. Students at Chicago Military Academy are required to take part in JROTC classes at the public 4-year school with the goal of promoting self-discipline, developing leadership, promoting academic success, and improving the physical fitness of its student body.
As a military academy with a mandatory JROTC component, the Chicago Military Academy also practices one of the most respected traditions of the military by commissioning custom challenge coins both within the school’s JROTC program and through its other academic programs. Challenge coins are used in the military to recognize exceptional servicemembers who perform above the call of duty, and they are also used as a way to maintain unit solidarity and group morale with soldiers in the same unit. Within JROTC programs, challenge coins are another means to involve students in the disciplined cultures of military academies and help promote excellence within the student body.
At Signature Coins, we are industry experts in the design and creation of custom challenge coins. Regardless of whether a client has an existing design, they want to bring to life or they have no idea where to start designing a challenge coin, our team of professionals stands ready to lend their expertise. Having worked in the industry for over a decade, we are ready to help our clients at every stage of the design process.
History of the Chicago Military Academy
The building now used to educate and train the youth of Chicago was once used to house the 8th Infantry when it was built in 1915. The 8th infantry was most famed for fighting in the Poncho Villa campaign as an “All Black” force of soldiers and officers from the State of Illinois. Considered a historical landmark by the government, their armory building would be renovated into the Chicago Military Academy in 1999 due to support from the city of Chicago through the “Bronzeville Committee.”
The Bronzeville Committee worked hand in hand with former Senator Carol Moseley-Braun who helped secure $10 million to bring Chicago’s first comprehensive military high school academy to life. Then and today, the school uses a disciplined curriculum designed to build leadership skills and prepare them for more a advanced college education. Every student at Chicago Military Academy has the distinction of being a JROTC cadet, trained as disciplined leaders who are educated through a rigorous standards-based curriculum.
Challenge coins from the Chicago Military Academy represent a culmination of historical honor and academic excellence. They are given to both faculty and student attending Chicago Military Academy, either in recognition of academic success or for exceptional performance.
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Challenge Coin Examples
Designing a Challenge Coin in 3 Easy Steps
Challenge coins at Chicago Military Academy are either awarded to students who perform exceptionally in their academic pursuits or the coins are commissioned classwide as a form of group solidarity between members of a graduating class. Signature Coin’s process for creating a challenge coin follows a simple and straightforward three-step process with live representatives working with clients every step of the way.
Customizing your coin with unique embellishments and designs is a simple process. Visit our design page for a full list of the many options available to clients for modifying and customizing their coins. Additionally, clients can expect us to work tirelessly to include any unique colors, slogans, mottos, insignias, or symbols that are relevant to their organization. For example, a coin we design for the Chicago Military Academy might include the school’s green and gold color scheme, feature an image of the school’s eagle mascot, and include the school’s motto, “Pride and Respect.”
The final look of a challenge coin is guaranteed to be precise to your specifications.
Step One: Get Your Free Preliminary Estimate and Quote
Our quote form makes it easy for you to provide us with all the necessary details and options for your coins. Simply fill in the information We also work to integrate any ideas, artwork, logos, and text you may send into the final design. An experienced staff of graphic artists works one to one to create designs based on any information provided and we’re capable of customizing just about every inch of a challenge coin with unique embellishments or designs to make each coin truly unique.
Step Two: Proofing and Ordering Your Challenge Coin
Once all of the information is submitted through our quote form, our team immediately works on developing a free digital color proof of your written description or sketch, and return a finalized price quote for your project back to you usually within 24 to 48 hours. If some aspect of a design fails to satisfy a client, that’s no problem. We offer free unlimited revisions on all of our orders, allowing clients to change a design or come up with new design elements until a coin’s design completely satisfies.
Step Three: Receiving Your Finished Coins
We don’t begin production until we receive final approval from a client, but once we do, we immediately start production and have it delivered usually within 14 business days via FREE UPS Priority Air shipping.
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Signature Coins Services
Signature Coins has been a leading provider of unique custom challenge coins for over 15 years. Partnering with us means partnering with a company with overwhelming experience and knowledge that creates consistent high-quality products for all of our clients. We keep clients updated throughout the entire design process so they always know what stage of production their order is in. With a team including military veterans, we understand how important these products are to their recipients and perform our best effort to make sure our clients are completely satisfied with our products.
Trust us to bring your unit quality challenge coins, reliable service, and a name you can trust at Signature Coins.
Our services include:
- Free Artwork and Quote for All Orders
- Free Unlimited Revisions for All Designs
- Free UPS Priority shipping for All Orders
- Mold and Setup for Orders Over 300
- 100% Guarantee on Quality and Workmanship