History Stories

Albert Diaz, J.D. and A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr., J.D. visited several sections of the U.S. Constitutional History class March 17 and spoke with cadets regarding their work, the shape of the federal judiciary, the function of the Fourth Circuit, and their individual career paths.

Eight VMI commissioning cadets toured Greece during spring furlough through the Olmsted Foundation’s Undergraduate Program. Led by faculty, they explored historical sites, studied military and cultural history, and gained global leadership insights through a fully immersive, academic experience.

Alexis Gonzalez ’25, a history major, is dedicated to helping others, a passion that led her to become an EMT and pursue a future in emergency management. Her resilience, teamwork, and service-oriented mindset have made her a standout cadet, earning the respect of her professors and classmates.

Ten cadets and three history professors visited Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas recently as part of a joint venture between the VMI chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society, the Department of History (DoH), and VMI’s John A. Adams ’71 Center.

Robert G. Parkinson, Ph.D., award winning historian of the American Revolution and author, will address the bewilderment, chaos, disorder and complexities during the American Revolution, and highlight individual stories of the nation’s founding.

A group of VMI cadets recently journeyed to the China Folk House Retreat in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, where they immersed themselves in traditional Chinese culture.

Community is something Patrick Kiernan ’25 values in his life. It’s one of the reasons he chose to go to Virginia Military Institute and also a big part as to why he’s on the cross country team.

With movements like Black Lives Matter and events of January 6, 2021, Michael “Bane” London ’25 had one question — what makes American’s gather like this to get their message across and how far back does it go?

Riley Malone ’25, a history major at Virginia Military Institute is examining the government policy on service members, and how their First Amendment rights have changed from 1900 to the present in his 10-week SURI project titled, “True Faith and Allegiance: The First Amendment in the Military.”

Eight 1st Class commissioning cadets at Virginia Military Institute, along with their faculty leadership team, toured Japan during spring furlough as part of the Olmsted Foundation’s Undergraduate Program which offers overseas travel and cultural immersion opportunities to senior military college students.

Cadet Chris Cocoris ‘23 remembers growing up listening to stories about his great-uncle George Cocoris. They were passed down to his father since his great-uncle had passed before Cocoris was born. George joined the Greek resistance to oppose the Axis occupation in 1941 Greece, Cocoris said.

Col. M. Houston Johnson V, and his father M. Houston “Mac” Johnson IV have taken multiple treks all over the U.S. and to many international locations. They make annual trips to Mount Rogers, the highest natural point in Virginia, making this year’s trek their 32nd.

Cadets participated in the annual three-day Appalachia Regional Model Arab League debate recently at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. MAL helps prepare students to be knowledgeable, well-trained, and effective citizens as well as civic and public affairs activists.

In his senior thesis “Unearthed Contributors: African-Americans at Virginia Military Institute, 1839-1851,” Christopher M. Hulbert ’22 argues that enslaved African-Americans and free people of color in Rockbridge County were equally influential as Smith and Preston.