News

Virginia Military Institute welcomes guest speaker, retired U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Christopher C. Spence—part of the first wave of American forces on the ground in Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks 24 years ago.

Former Special Forces Horse Soldier to Speak at VMI

September 3, 2025

Virginia Military Institute welcomes guest speaker, retired U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Christopher C. Spence — part of the first wave of American forces on the ground in Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks 24 years ago.

Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners demonstrate how to prepare soil for successful planting at the Jackson House Museum.

Jackson House Museum Offers Kitchen Garden Workshop

September 2, 2025

Interested in growing fruits and vegetables in your backyard or on your windowsill? The Jackson House Museum will conduct a hands-on Kitchen Garden Workshop Sunday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. led by Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners. 

Mayling Simpson, Ph.D., author of “Lives Guided by Honor: How VMI Shaped the Class of 1968.”

VMI Museum to Host Book Signing

September 1, 2025

The Virginia Military Institute Museum will host a talk and book signing by Mayling Simpson, Ph.D., author of “Lives Guided by Honor: How VMI Shaped the Class of 1968,” on Friday, Sept. 12, at 3:15 p.m.

Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl speaks during an intercollegiate debate on immigration in late September.

VMI Invites Community to Discuss Economic & Community Development

August 28, 2025

Virginia Military Institute’s Civil Discourse Initiative and its local college partners invite the greater Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County community to participate in a facilitated conversation on economic and community development Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in VMI’s Marshall Hall.

The VMI Community Theatre will hold auditions for its fall show, “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency,” Monday, Sept. 8; Tuesday, Sept. 9; Wednesday, Sept. 10; and Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7:45 p.m. in Gillis Theater.

VMI Community Theatre to Hold Auditions

August 25, 2025

The VMI Community Theatre will hold auditions for its fall show, “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency,” Monday, Sept. 8; Tuesday, Sept. 9; Wednesday, Sept. 10; and Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7:45 p.m. in Gillis Theater.

Carly Fiorina, businesswoman and politician, will address the Corps of Cadets and faculty at the academic convocation at Virginia Military Institute.

Former Presidential Candidate to Speak at VMI Convocation

August 20, 2025

Carly Fiorina, businesswoman and politician, will address the Corps of Cadets and faculty at the academic convocation at Virginia Military Institute on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 10:30 a.m. in Cameron Hall on Main Street. The event is free and open to the public.

VMI freshmen, known as rats, follow cadet command and march from Cameron Hall to Barracks to officially begin months of training known as the Rat Line.

VMI Welcomes New Class of Rats: Matriculants Embrace Hardships Over Comfort

August 16, 2025

Matriculation Day was held Saturday, Aug. 16, beginning the Rat Line for the new academic year. Even the weather—which had been unpredictable throughout the week—predictably offered a humid day of oppressive temperatures. This year marks the 186th year of the Institute.

Lt. Gen David J. Furness

Furness Named VMI’s 16th Superintendent

August 15, 2025

The Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors appointed retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Furness ’87 as the Institute’s 16th superintendent, the chief executive officer of the Institute. 

Devin Auzenne ’26 accepts the VMI flag from Maj. Gen Cedric T. Wins ’85, ceremoniously transferring leadership of the Corps to him. –VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

Meet the 186th Regimental Leadership of VMI

August 12, 2025

As the start of a new academic year and Matriculation draw nearer, meet the Class of 2026 leadership announced this past spring.

Mattie Quesenberry Smith takes her oath of office administered by Jenna Moon, deputy secretary of the Commonwealth, as Smith’s daughter, Emma Smith, holds the bible.

Poet Laureate Launches Project Supporting Vets

August 7, 2025

Virginia’s poet laureate, VMI instructor Mattie Quesenberry Smith, Ph.D., has launched “Perseverance and Resilience,” a statewide poetry initiative supporting veterans’ health and well-being through workshops, a poetry contest, and public celebrations.