What truly defines Virginia Military Institute are the people. Cadets, faculty, and staff, both past and present, are what make it "No Ordinary College." I Am VMI will showcase the outstanding individuals who have accepted the challenges and embraced the spirit of VMI. Their perspectives provide authentic insights into life at the Institute and the value of this unique military college. 

I Am VMI: Devin Auzenne ’26 

• Name: Devin Auzenne  

• VMI Class: 2026  

• Major(s) (and minor if applicable): History, with a concentration in military history   

• Hometown: Opelousas, Louisiana   

• NCAA and/or Club Sports: Boxing (4th and 3rd Class years), aviation club (2nd Class year), and Jiu-Jitsu club  

• Post-Graduation Plans: Commission, U.S. Marine Corps 

• Other Clubs/Societies/Activities: Member of the Virginia History Society and Omicron Delta Kappa   

Devin Auzenne ’26 knew the ethics and maturity needed for the U.S. Marine Corps would best be fostered in a place like Virginia Military Institute. He also knew by attending the Institute, he would be prepared to lead in the Marine Corps. 

After watching a YouTube video by VMI labeled “Don’t Do Ordinary,” he instantly knew this was the college he wanted to attend. 

“I chose VMI because I wanted something different. I didn't want to do the regular college thing,” he explained. 

Going into his senior year of high school, he received a Marine Corps scholarship, which solidified his decision. He said he was looking for the right avenue to make him the best when it came time to commission after graduating.  

Auzenne has always had a deep appreciation for history. Thanks to an influential high school teacher, his eyes were opened to the analytical and argumentative sides of the subject, which spurred him to study it further. VMI’s deep history and historical site, along with an incredible faculty, pushed him to be a history major.  

“I really love history, and I know the program that we have here is really good, especially with getting a minor in military history," he said. "I wanted to delve deeper into that. When I go into the Marine Corps, I’ll have this knowledge of history, and with a deeper understanding of military history and it can really help me in my career.” 

He says the people he’s encountered at VMI are truly exceptional.  

“I also enjoy how unique each year’s challenges are. Overall, the ability to always have someone here to have your back is very special,” he explained.  

The experiences at VMI have helped him gain intangible skills he believes he couldn’t have thoroughly developed in any other environment.  

"Skills such as patience, time management, grit, and flexibility have allowed me to find ways to succeed in foreign environments,” he said. “My experience at VMI is adversity that is ever changing, opportunities that are once in a lifetime, bonds that can never break, and a great place to be from but not at.”    

His experience at VMI has also made him more self-aware. He’s able to understand who he is when under pressure or stress, and how to balance everything while still progressing forward.  

"It's helped me to understand how to take these experiences, try and do the best in the moment, and then reflect upon them, so that the next time something comes around, I'll be better for it,” he stated. “It's building this flexibility and this resilience in me that I don't think I could have received at any other college. Being resilient and also being able to think and make decisions on the fly is something I think is invaluable in the context of the military system.” 

These qualities will transfer to anything he chooses to do later in life.  

“My time at VMI will translate into me being more certain of who I am as a leader and a man,” he said. “When I graduate and commission into the Marine Corps, I am certain that because of my time at VMI, I will have an advantage compared to my peers.” 

Auzenne wants those outside the VMI world to know that the Institute is not just a school, but a community and a culture.  

"The end result of the VMI system is forged through the rigors of the regimental, class, and honor systems, but the extraordinary people are the defining factor that sets VMI apart,” he stated. “The illustrious history of VMI cadets and alumni, and, despite the differences in the times, the common experience we all share makes me proud to say that I am a VMI cadet.” 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE