LEXINGTON, Va. May 19, 2025 — A stormy week surrendered to a warm morning under a blue sky May 17 as Virginia Military Institute held its commencement ceremony in Cameron Hall and conferred degrees on the Class of 2025.  

The Regimental Band played “Pomp and Circumstance” as over 300 cadets marched into the arena to the cheers and applause of thousands of family members, friends, and supporters. 

In his final commencement speech as VMI superintendent, Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85 welcomed the assembly, and noted that the great personal achievement of graduating from VMI is not reached alone, but with the help of family, friends, faculty, staff, and coaches who encouraged, guided, and sustained the cadets.  

Wins shared that when the class of 2025 matriculated, the world was emerging from the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike so many other colleges, VMI returned to completely in-person classes that fall semester, although many safety protocols were maintained.   

“Your first year was also my first full year as superintendent. In many ways we have grown together. I challenged you when we first met to own the narrative about VMI and the Corps of Cadets and maintain a commitment to honor and integrity in everything you do. You rose to the challenge magnificently.”  

He reminded the class of their Ring Figure celebration in November 2023 both because of what it represented and because of the dense smoke and poor air quality that had shrouded Lexington from the Matts Creek Fire in neighboring Bedford County. 

Wins told the cadets that when they met their rats last August, they ran a Rat Line focused on professionalism and purpose. “You have proven to be excellent mentors and have positively influenced the next generation of cadets.”

He encouraged them as they begin their next journey to remember that every decision or challenge they undertake can be successfully navigated by applying basic principles of leadership: character, courage, and commitment. “The character you developed over the past four years is a hallmark of our education program and part of our mission. You will find that your character will breed trust in others and trust is a key to every relationship. It took courage to select VMI and endure our unique form of education. When faced with mental, physical, and social pressures you didn’t quit.  Stay committed. You understand the brother rat spirit. Be the leader who others look to for strength and encouragement.” 

Wins challenged them to serve the people around them. “At its very foundation, leadership is about serving. Class of 2025, the open road now awaits you. I wish you my sincerest congratulations and the brightest future possible,” he concluded. Wins then introduced Jonah Jurack ’25, peer-elected valedictorian.  

VMI No Ordinary College 

Jurak stated that VMI is no ordinary college, and its unique characteristics are what attracted the Class of 2025 to come to Lexington for their college education. Jurak recalled their memories as rats on Matriculation Day.

“We were herded like sheep into barracks. When the drums sounded and the upperclassmen slow-marched into New Barracks, our new reality came into focus.” He stated that those early memories are just a fraction of what sets VMI and its graduates apart from their peers. In addition are the values, the bonds of brotherhood, and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. The Honor Code was instilled in them, and they soon understood the gravity of succumbing to temptation. “VMI boasts the strongest honor system in the nation, maintaining a single-sanctioned, swift, and fair gavel of justice. This ideal will help inform our decisions as military officers or as business leaders.” 

Jurack also said that VMI taught them the importance of shared suffering. “We strained as rats together, we contracted COVID together, and most importantly, we broke out of the Rat Line together. If one of us failed to uphold the standards of cadets, we would all suffer the consequences. But without shared suffering, there can be no brotherhood that will last a lifetime.” 

In closing, Jurack asked his brother rats to reflect on their four years at VMI. “What lessons did you learn? How did you grow as a man or woman of character? How can you translate these lessons into your upcoming careers? I ask you to uphold VMI’s legacy and ideals, strive for excellence, and live an exceptional life defined by honor. Don’t be ordinary! ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’” 

The son of Peter James “PJ” and Kaaren Jurack from Manassas, Virginia, Jurack finished as a distinguished graduate with institute honors, a designation for cadets with at least a 3.5 GPA and completed a cross-disciplinary honors curriculum. He majored in international studies with minors in Arabic, Spanish, and national security. He held rank, serving as Echo Company commander, was prosecutor on the honor court, and the Blue Ridge Battalion commander for Army ROTC. He was the cadet in charge for the Navigators Bible Study, a tutor for the Miller Academic Center, a tour guide for the VMI Museum, and a member of multiple honor societies. He commissioned into the Army infantry.  

Cadets Foundations of Character Built on Rock 

Turner Gallo ’25, president of the Class of 2025, also shared farewell remarks to his brother rats.

He spoke on the tools the VMI system provides, which remind him of the biblical passage in the Book of Matthew, chapter seven.

“Four years of struggle, hardship, and choosing the hard right over the easy wrong, have allowed for the very foundations of our character to be built on solid rock. I don’t doubt that when the rain comes down, the rivers rise, and the winds blow, those who chose the easier path will quickly crumble under the burden of the weight they may be asked to carry.” He reflected that the VMI system breaks rats down and builds them back up to become cadets with humility, grit, tenacity, and integrity. 

Gallo compared the characteristics of a successful VMI cadet to those of the characters in Howard Pyle’s classic tale, “The Story of King Arthur and His Knights.” “An ordinary boy named Arthur had his moment of assay — the testing of metal to determine its quality — as he drew with both hands a gleaming sword from a stone and became one of the greatest kings old England ever had, leading with a sense of decency, civility, respect, and honor. Each of us at VMI has been assayed every day for four years, and the quality of our mettle has been determined. You’re all men and women of grit, integrity, and courage, and it has been my distinct honor to spend these past four years with you,” he concluded. He then introduced commencement speaker, Gen. Darren McDew ’82, former commander of the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.  

Decide to be Better Tomorrow Than Today 

McDew, who is a retired four-star general and VMI alumnus, served as regimental commander when he was a 1st Class cadet. He was also Wins’ uncle dyke, a term given to the roommate of a rat’s dyke, or mentor. McDew’s charm and easy demeanor was immediately apparent with his good-natured ribbing and self-effacing humor.

“I have been warned to be poignant and be gone, but no one gave me a time limit. I am, in fact, a retired four-star with time on my hands,” he joked to the amusement of the audience. In thanking the faculty and staff for all they do for the cadets he quipped, “You take the lumps of coal—who try to remain lumps of coal—and put pressure on them to make them diamonds.” 

When he offered serious words he wanted to ensure the cadets remember, he paused his speech and made eye contact with each of them.

“This is a turbulent time. It wasn’t easy when you started this journey. It wasn’t easy in the middle of this journey, and we’re going to cast you out of the nest. You think you’re going to zoom away from here, but we’re casting you out. But only to do good, to be the example.” He reminded them of the large class ring they all wear on their fingers, a physical representation of the merits of VMI, merits that not everyone admires or respects. “Here’s your challenge. You can’t hide from it, as big as that monster is. You now have to live up to the unlimited promise and potential that you possess. For four years, you have been given the most wonderful and glorious leadership laboratory known to mankind. That’s a wonderful gift, especially if you take full advantage of it. Your generation is full of people who love celebrity, but you have a set of indisputable qualities that are in high demand but extremely short supply. Don’t waste them.”  

McDew closed by offering the cadets three words: “Beware. Decide. Be. Life tests are coming. They look like moral dilemmas. Beware, someone is going to challenge you. Decide right now the type of person you’re going to be in crunch time. Be that person every day, you can’t wait until you feel like it. You have to decide on every single day that you’re going to be better tomorrow than you are today.”    

With more than 3,300 flight hours and decades of operational leadership, McDew is now retired from active duty. He continues to champion ethical leadership, integrity, and opportunity through his service on the boards of Abbott, USAA, GE Aerospace, Parsons Corporation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the Manns Horne Youth Foundation. 

Awards Bestowed 

Three awards are traditionally given at VMI’s May commencement exercises. The First Jackson-Hope Medal for highest attainment in scholarship, accompanied by the Commander Harry Millard Mason Academic Proficiency Award, went to Gabriel Patrick Williams ’25, an international studies major from Ashland, Virginia. 

Receiving the Second Jackson-Hope Medal, for second highest attainment in scholarship, accompanied by the Colonel Sterling Murray Heflin 1916 Academic Proficiency Award, was James Andrew Boynewicz ’25, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who majored in biology. 

Courtney Nicole Novotny ’25, a biology major from Reading, Pennsylvania, received the Society of the Cincinnati Medal, for efficiency of service and excellence of character, accompanied by the Richard J. Marshall and Sumter L. Lowry Awards. 

Commencement concluded with a benediction offered by Col. John P. Casper ’04, chaplain, followed by Devin Auzenne ’26, the new regimental commander, relieving the Class of 2025 of their duties as they cheered and tossed their gloves in the air. 

Marianne Hause
VMI photos by H. Lockwood McLaughlin
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE