Maj. Aubrey Whitehead, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, volunteers as a senior mentor two hours each week at the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center (SVJC) in Staunton, Virginia.

Two Virginia Military Institute cadets, Josiah Farrell ’28 and Anderson Robles-Rodriguez ’28 have been awarded Gilman Scholarships for study abroad this summer. Both will participate in the Taiwan Huayu BEST Program and study Mandarin Chinese at the National Chengchi University in Taipei.

During VMI’s Honors Week, Earl Filgo ’25 presented his thesis exploring how international rivalries impact global cooperation on climate change. A future U.S. Army military intelligence officer, Filgo combined national security, diplomacy, and environmental concerns in his research.

Jonah Jurak's '25 firsthand experience observing public attitudes toward Morocco’s monarchy led him to explore how quasi-democratic systems function in autocratic regimes.

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.

Delilah Martindale ’25 researched for her honors thesis, “Preventing Suicide: The Effect of Visibility on Mental Health Infrastructure.” She chose the subject of suicide prevention in order to merge her major in international studies with her minor in psychology.

VMI alumnus and retired Army colonel Michael Obadal ’96 has been nominated to serve as Army undersecretary. If confirmed, the role would see Obadal become the chief management officer of the Army and the force’s No. 2 civilian official.

Since picking up lacrosse at age 5, Cole Jones ’26 has been drawn to the sport’s blend of physicality and speed — a pace that mirrors his packed schedule of academics, ROTC, and cadet duties. Jones credits the structure and camaraderie at VMI for teaching him how to prioritize.

Scott Streff ’25 arrived at the Virginia Military Institute with dreams of playing lacrosse and seeking a future in the U.S. Army. While his initial goal was athletics, his journey evolved into something far greater, driven by personal growth, academic achievement, and a deepened sense of purpose.

Ryan Peterson ’25 has learned how to compartmentalize and focus. He said it’s something that his time at VMI has helped frame for him. The international studies major explained that the rigors of academics and playing a Division I sport makes it so he must focus on one task at a time.