News

Gov. Ralph Northam ’81 addresses the VMI Corps of Cadets in Cameron Hall on the evening of Nov. 15.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Northam ’81 Addresses Corps of Cadets

Just between Founders Day and Ring Figure, two signature events at VMI, Gov. Ralph Northam ’81 visited post on the evening of Nov. 15. Northam joined faculty, staff, and the entire Corps of Cadets in Cameron Hall, where he addressed the audience.

Maj Gen Cedric Wins '85 with VMI logo over post photo

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins '85 interview with Ian Shapira, Washington Post - Nov. 15, 2021

Following the speech to the Corps of Cadets by Gov. Ralph Northam '81, Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins '85, VMI superintendent, sat down for an interview with Mr. Ian Shapira from the Washington Post.

The frame of the Chessie Nature Trail footbridge arches almost halfway across South River as of Oct. 14.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

High-Profile Projects Move Forward

Exciting construction projects continue to move forward for VMI, which is certainly no secret to those driving on Route 11 through post. The Corps Physical Training Facility Phase III, the Aquatic Center, is a $44 million project that began in December 2020 with one more year of work scheduled.

Ma

VMI Celebrates Founders Day

Virginia Military Institute celebrated the 182nd anniversary of the Institute’s founding on a mild Nov. 11. The day was filled with pageantry, athleticism, and gratitude.

Members of the VMI Cadet Battery fire M2A1 (later M101A1) 105mm howitzers in preparation for Founders Day.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

VMI's Oldest Operating Cadet Organization - The Cadet Battery

The Cadet Battery has existed since 1848, except for a small period between the end of the Civil War and 1875, making it the oldest operating organization at VMI beyond the Corps itself.

Col. Matt Swenty answers a question from Braden Kerr ’23 in Swenty’s civil engineering lab.—VMI Photo by Mary Price.

CE Labs Show Breadth of Engineering

This academic year, 2nd Class cadets majoring in civil and environmental engineering (CEE) are the first to experience lab classes purposely designed to teach engineering as it’s encountered in the real world and make better use of the academic day.

Christina Skaggs ’22

Cadet Selected for Highly Competitive U.S. Navy Service Assignment

Christina Skaggs ’22, an English major from Manassas, Virginia, is one of less than 10 Class of ’22 Naval ROTC midshipmen across the nation selected to serve as a Surface Warfare Information Professional Officer (SWO-IP).

Peay scholarship recipients pose with Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins '85, superintendent, Brig. Gen. Robert “Bob” Moreschi, dean of the faculty & deputy superintendent for academics, and former BOV member, retired Air Force Gen. John Jumper '66.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Private Support Makes Peay Scholarships Possible: “The biggest thing that has ever happened”

Named for the Institute’s 14th superintendent, Gen. J. H. Binford Peay III ’62, the Peay Merit Scholarships are designed to reward excellence across all three domains of the VMI experience—academics, athletics, and the military—by providing selected cadets with a full-ride scholarship.

Retired Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia speaking at 12th Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference. VMI photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin

Only Living Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal of Honor Recipient Brings Message to VMI

Retired Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia brought inspirational words on the value of service above self to Gillis Theater in Marshall Hall. His talk concluded VMI’s 12th Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference. Bellavia is VMI’s 2021 H. B. Johnson Jr. ’26 Distinguished Lecture Series speaker.

Cadets participating in table discussion

Leadership Conference Focuses on Citizen-Leaders

The 12th annual VMI Leadership and Ethics Conference, “Evolving Civic Leadership: Citizenship and Social Responsibility” brought more than 160 participants and several universities from across the nation to the table to talk about current hot-button topics and hear from inspirational speakers.

VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders