In a rag to riches-type story, a team of VMI cadets went into the Commonwealth Challenge with a prototype made from a desk drawer and came out with a third-place prize.

Since its inception in 1839, VMI has striven to inculcate the value of service in its cadets, but how much does VMI’s emphasis on service make a difference in cadets’ day-to-day behavior? When it comes to blood donations, it makes quite a bit of difference.

VMI’s Business Leadership Innovation Summit (BLIS) was held April 11-13 with the goal of spurring entrepreneurial thinking among cadets and connecting them with like-minded alumni already succeeding in the business world.

Col. Tinni Sen, professor of economics and business; Lt. Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, associate professor of economics and business; and Col. Howard Sanborn, professor of international studies led a summer trip to Europe, giving 12 cadets a chance to study and experience daily life in the EU.

Three and a half years ago, a group of faculty members and cadets began an innovative, interdisciplinary project to investigate the viability of recycling food scraps from Crozet Hall into compost.

Many Lexington residents may pay their city taxes but not know exactly where that money is going. Two VMI cadets have taken on the challenge of translating the city’s finances into an easy-to-read format for residents.