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: Maximus Ankrah ’26 

• VMI Class: 2026  
• Major: Biology, with a Psychology Minor
• Hometown: Dumfries, Virginia
• Club Sport: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 
• Commissioning Plans: U.S. Air Force
• Other Clubs/Societies/Activities: VMI Class President of 2026, Emergency Medical Technician, Former Cadre Instructor   

The choice of attending Virginia Military Institute was a chance for Maximus Ankrah ’26 to obtain a clean slate.

"Every accomplishment and accolade I could achieve was earned, not given; I really wanted to deserve what was given to me,” he explained.

The biology major also serves as the president of the VMI Class of 2026, an emergency medical technician (EMT), and a former cadre instructor. Ankrah chose biology because he wants to be a medical doctor in the U.S. Air Force, which he is commissioning into.

“The biology department has been excellent, and I've enjoyed the extensive curriculum,” he said. “I want to go through the medical route. Hopefully go across the world, do humanitarian work, and help out those in need. My family is from Ghana, so I want to go to a developing country like Ghana and be able to help other kids, help other parents, help other people."

It comes down to the people, Ankrah said. There are struggles that come with attending VMI, but he says the people he’s encountered and formed bonds with have made it worth it.

"I've met some of the most admirable and motivating people at VMI, and it’s my friends here, my brother rats, that keep me going every day,” he said. “What I enjoy most about VMI is it's not the place necessarily, but the people. There are some amazing people who I would never have come across if I didn't choose to come to VMI. Lots of hardworking people, lots of compassionate people in whatever field it is that they decide to do. It definitely pushes me to be better. I'm always constantly looking for the next best thing; what I can do to improve from yesterday. "

Ankrah’s experience at VMI can be compared to work in a laboratory, he said.

"The mistakes, the successes, the wins, and losses; VMI is a place where you learn so much about yourself and other people that it forces you to mature as a person,” he commented. “It reveals your potential, and it's up to you to make the most of it.”

He said it’s helped him grow in the realization that he’s bound to fail — except he’s failing forward.

“It's the challenges you face at VMI that help you build resilience, grit, and integrity.”

His time at VMI will translate into his future seamlessly.

“Academically, it will translate into giving my absolute best and knowing that I did everything honorably and to the best of my knowledge,” he said. “Leadership-wise, influencing people is achieved through trust and reputation; your example is your most effective tool. Lastly, knowing I attended the hardest school in the nation gives me pride and confidence that I can overcome anything life throws at me.”

He’s done some difficult things and overcome challenges that others may not see, but that shared suffering and battling adversity make Ankrah proud to be a VMI cadet.

"This place is difficult, but if you justify the space you occupy, prove why you belong here, and buy into the system, you'll get so much more out of VMI than you expect,” he stated.

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE