Clubs and Activities Archives - �鶹��ý��

Cadets Take Part in EMT Training

Laura Shapiro — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:55:03 +0000

While most college students leave campus immediately after final exams, 25 �鶹��ý�� cadets chose to spend 4 ½ additional weeks on post to learn how to be emergency medical technicians (EMT). Emergency Medical Service (EMS) at �鶹��ý��is responsible for providing emergency medical care to the Corps of Cadets, staff, faculty, and visitors on and around post, and is a certified non-transport EMS agency that can handle 911 calls on post. The cadets who are certified EMTs are vital to the Institute and part of the regimental system. They are on duty during Corps parades, at all athletic games and competitions, and throughout rat training.

According to Donnie McBrayer, �鶹��ý��EMS advisor, EMT summer instruction is contracted with Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC). The costs of the course, room, and board are fully covered for the cadets, but they are obligated to serve the Institute as EMTs for two years.

MGCC instructor Rob Brooks is a full-time firefighter and paramedic with the Department of Fire and EMS for Amherst County. His extended career includes law enforcement for Sweet Briar College, where he attended the police academy and obtained his EMT certification. As a campus police officer, he often responded to medical emergencies on campus. From 2002 to 2018, he worked for the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office where he served as a K-9 handler, a major crimes investigator, and a narcotics investigator. He was team leader for the department’s first official tactical team in 2014. After switching his career to full-time firefighter and EMS, he obtained his advanced EMT, paramedic, firefighter, and hazardous materials certifications. He has taught EMS for five years. This summer was his first experience teaching at VMI. He explained the comprehensive curriculum of the class. “In the mornings, I give lectures on various subjects including trauma; toxicology; behavioral health; cardiology; allergies; anaphylaxis; pediatric, gastrointestinal, urologic, and gynecologic emergencies; and bodily injuries. Each afternoon we do hands-on, scenario-based drills—called practicals—on training manikins. The cadets take turns portraying patients as well. I provide a scenario, such as a victim of a house fire found outside sitting on the grass, suffering from singed facial hair, a hoarse voice, soot around his mouth, and burned clothing stuck to his skin. The cadets needed to respond with the proper protocol of treatment.”

Additionally, the cadets were required to spend time working with professional emergency responders at Lexington Fire Department and Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital.

After the cadets pass the class, they must take the National Registry EMT exam. Upon passing the exam, they will be awarded a license to operate as an EMT in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Alex Sydnor ’29, a history major from Doswell, Virginia, is taking the class because he plans to commission into the Coast Guard and work in emergency management. He believes being an EMT will help him reach that goal. “I am very interested in the communications aspect of emergency management. I am a ham radio operator and have helped out at the Hanover County emergency operations center talking with other ham operators to learn where resources are needed during natural disasters,” he stated. In addition to being a �鶹��ý��EMT, Sydnor hopes to establish a ham radio club on post, so other cadets can learn how to best respond during catastrophic events.

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�鶹��ý��Pipe Band Plays at Nashville Funeral of School Shooting Victim

Laura Shapiro — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:45:43 +0000

Members of the �鶹��ý�� pipe band played at the funeral of Mike Hill, the 61-year-old custodian at the Covenant School and Covenant Presbyterian Church, April 4 at Stephens Valley Church in West Nashville, Tennessee.

Hill was one of six victims of the mass shooting at the school March 27.

Adam Gild ’24, a cadet from Nashville, plays the snare drum in the pipe band, and will be the drum major for the next academic year. Gild attended elementary and high school down the street from the Covenant School, where many of his friends attended. As soon as Gild heard about the school shootings, he contacted his friends in the tight-knit community to offer the music of the pipe band for any of the memorial services of the victims. The pastor and his wife of Stephens Valley Church are friends of the Gild family, and they responded immediately to the offer, confirming that Hill’s family would like the pipe band to play at his funeral.

Under the direction of Maj. Brian Donaldson, the pipe band played “Amazing Grace” as the procession followed Hill’s casket out of the church at the conclusion of the service. According to Gild, nearly 2,000 people were in attendance, and the band kept playing until everyone exited. “Mr. Hill was a role model for children, not just at Covenant, but for the entire community. There were numerous young families at the service paying their respects. So many people told us they had never heard a pipe band before. They were clearly emotionally stirred, and many shed tears and thanked us for performing. It was deeply moving, and very gratifying to us to be able to provide our talents in this way,” said Gild.

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VMI’s Civil Discourse Initiative Expands

Laura Shapiro — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

As the nation approaches its 250^th anniversary, �鶹��ý��’s Civil Discourse Initiative (CDI) embodies the idea that a healthy democracy necessitates dialogue, compromise, and trust. VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE) started holding debates in 2021, and then partnered with VMI’s Building BRIDGES club in 2022 to grow the opportunities and audiences for the debates. CDI, the name for the program since last year, now offers year-round programming.

The expanding initiative provides a variety of forums for engagement and discussion by using light parliamentary-style Braver Angels debates and A Braver Campus Dialogue (ABCD) workshops to foster a culture of civil discourse and constructive community conversations on important and sometimes controversial topics. These activities encourage listening and public speaking skills and give students more opportunities for rigorous examination of topics through open dialogue. All of these skills align with the mission of �鶹��ý��to develop leaders and citizen-soldiers.

“Good leaders welcome a variety of viewpoints to help them with decision making,” noted Col. David Gray, executive director of the CLE. “These viewpoints help stress-test and strengthen decisions and strategies. Good leaders are also good listeners and engage effectively with their teams.”

Led by three faculty fellows, Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, professor of economics, Col. Sara Whipple, professor of psychology, and Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, assistant director for programs and conferences at the CLE, CDI began the 2025-26 academic year with the support of the Jackson-Hope Fund via a five-year grant to advance VMI’s emphasis on citizenship and leadership through normalizing and internalizing civil discourse at VMI. Four cadet fellows, Katy Layman ’26, Zach Denton ’27, Josiah Farrell ’28, and Zach Richardson ’28, helped develop, organize, and promote the events to cadets and recruit opening speakers. In addition, four cadet ambassadors helped publicize events.

Activities this past year included the introduction of the solutions-based ABCD workshop to both local intercollegiate partners, Washington & Lee, Southern Virginia University (SVU), and Mountain Gateway Community College, and the local community. CDI hosted a workshop in September titled, “How Can We Improve Our Local Economy?” that drew 150 participants and introduced local business owners, economic development officials, and concerned citizens to this civil discourse tool. It also facilitated a meaningful intergenerational exchange of ideas and viewpoints.

In December, �鶹��ý��hosted a public square debate, a collaborative effort between the VA250 Commission, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Virginia Department of Education, the College Debates and Discourse Alliance, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, and Braver Angels. It was part of the commission’s Education Steering Committee’s programs for K-12 and college students to make history come alive, spark a civics renaissance, and celebrate democracy. Select students who participated in the debate will be invited to participate in a debate at the State Capitol in October.

A February debate at �鶹��ý��focused on honor, integrity, and compliance. Additionally, throughout the academic year cadets traveled to related events at the University of Virginia and SVU.

Cadets, faculty, and guests sit around a speaker during a debate in December 2025 in Marshall Hall.
�鶹��ý��Photo by Kelly Nye.

“This year has been great for CDI, as we have continued to expand the program and connect with even more people,” said Farrell. “The opportunity to engage with students from other colleges at the Democracy360 conference at University of Virginia in a civil discourse setting was a great way to expand my views on issues like voter ID and identity politics. Making connections and conversing with students from other backgrounds has allowed me to take a step back and evaluate my own opinions and ideals.”

The initiative’s efforts to fold civil discourse into the everyday culture of �鶹��ý��took another step forward when VMI’s committee on academic technology collaborated with CDI to host an ABCD workshop on AI, creativity, and critical thinking. This was attended by a cross-disciplinary group of staff and faculty and included two cadet representatives from the Honor Court.

Smaller monthly “Food for Thought” conversations covered a variety of topics in an informal setting during the lunch period, allowing for more engagement between cadets, faculty, and staff. In addition, a half-day workshop titled, “Cultivating Curious Individuals, Teams, and Organizations,” was offered in March by Dr. Todd Kashdan, author and founder of the Well-Being Lab at George Mason University.

Looking at the next academic year, the initiative has expanded to formally include interdisciplinary faculty and staff partners who have supported and participated in programs over the years. They will receive training to become debate moderators and to incorporate debates and ABCD workshops into the curriculum and other programming.

Cadet ambassador Bianca Marlang ’27 reflected on the impact the program has had on her this past year. “I have learned to keep my bearing amidst hearing views that are the complete opposite from mine… I have since learned to listen for genuine understanding and not listen to respond. It seems small, but I’m very proud of it.”

A complete listing of all CDI activities from this past academic year can be found on the Center for Leadership and Ethics’ website.

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�鶹��ý��Pipe Band Takes Honors in Savannah

Mary Kate du Laney — Fri, 08 May 2026 18:51:36 +0000

The �鶹��ý�� Pipe Band won first place at the 48^th annual Savannah Scottish Games and Celtic Festival, a celebration of Scottish heritage in Savannah, Georgia, May 2.

Chuck Bohannon, director of piping & drumming at the Savannah Scottish Games, reported two pipe bands competed against VMI. Charleston Pipe Band from Charleston, South Carolina, won second place; and the Savannah Pipes and Drums took third place.

In addition, there were individual competitions in which �鶹��ý��cadets were victorious. For solo piping grade 5 march A competition, Ben Bowen ’26 won first place; Byron Rivey ’26, second place; David Cooper ’28, third place; and Roy Fullmer ’29, fourth place. For solo piping grade 5 march B competition, Alden Rhodes ’26 won first place; Xinwen Mai ’29, second place; Thor Alewine ’26, third place; and Julia Ward ’26, fourth place. For solo piping grade 4, William Bolay ’26 received fourth place. For solo snare drumming grade 5 competition, Khang Lai ’29 won first place; Thomas Sasso ’27, second place; and Harrison Sloane ’27, fourth place. For solo snare drumming grade 4, Connor Wolfe ’26 won first place. For solo tenor drumming grade 5 competition, Kira Brenaman ’26 won first place; and Sloan Roberts ’29, second place. For solo bass drum grade 5, Brenaman won first place; Erick Rymer ’28, third place; and Stephen Underwood ’29, fourth place.

Maj. Brian Donaldson, director of the �鶹��ý��Pipe Band, was justifiably pleased with the band’s performance. “There is an appropriate Gaelic word to use when describing the Pipe Band’s accomplishments in Savannah. It’s ‘ceannas,’ which means to dominate. The band played extremely well, and all cadets performed their best, both in the band competition and in the solos. They all flew the flag high for �鶹��ý��and proudly recited the Old Yell when the results of the competitions were announced,” he shared.

Brenaman, a 1^st Class cadet, came to �鶹��ý��with no musical experience and is grateful to have had the opportunity to be a member of the Pipe Band. “I learned to play the bass drum and the Scottish tenor drum, as the Pipe Band had not had a tenor drummer in over five years. We now have a growing tenor group and have had numerous opportunities to compete and perform across the East Coast. The pipe band community is truly like no other.”

Lai, a 4^th Class cadet, has been drumming for nearly 10 years, and has played in a marching band and jazz band, but this is the first year he has played in a pipe band. “As a 4^th Class cadet, winning 1^st place in the competition is a great feeling. Everyone in the Pipe Band has a great work ethic. Maj. Donaldson makes a great effort to push us beyond our limits and is very inspiring,” he said.

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�鶹��ý��Cadet Rescues Citadel Administrator: Renders Aid to Rival Fan

Mary Kate du Laney — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:52:37 +0000

When it comes to school rivalries, the one between �鶹��ý�� and The Citadel is among the most historic and intense. The Military Classic of the South, the annual football game between the two senior military colleges, is their biggest competition, with the winner taking home the coveted Silver Shako trophy. This academic year, the game was held in early November in Charleston, and it was there that Dusand Barrow ’28, a �鶹��ý��emergency medical technician (EMT), set aside his team partiality to aid a Citadel fan in distress.

For all away NCAA events, �鶹��ý��Emergency Medical Services (EMS) sends a small contingent of cadet EMTs to provide emergency response services for cadet spectators in need. Originally, Barrow was not intending to attend the football game at The Citadel, but it was the birthday of the cadet who had been assigned to go who wanted to spend the weekend with his family. So, Barrow volunteered to fill in, and, along with three other �鶹��ý��EMTs and EMS advisor, Donnie McBrayer, found himself on the bus to Charleston on game day.

Upon arriving to Johnson Hagood Stadium at The Citadel, Barrow prepared to march in with the other corporals, but was alerted that McBrayer needed his help with a patient. He sprinted to McBrayer who was aiding an older gentleman who had fallen and was bleeding.

“We treated him, cleaned him up, and sent him to the hospital in an ambulance. After that, I went under the stand area to buy a snack. A group of people high up in the stands saw me, ran down the stairs, and asked if I was an EMT. One of their friends had passed out and needed care. I climbed the stairs with them to their friend, who was fully unconscious. I treated her for about five minutes until the EMTs The Citadel had hired for the game arrived. By that time, the patient was awake but still a bit groggy. I grabbed their equipment and monitored her vital signs. The other EMTs talked to her, and got more information. She had a history of high blood pressure and became overheated in the South Carolina sun. She declined to go to the hospital, so I gave her some water and told her, ‘If anything else happens, please feel free to grab me or somebody who’s in a blue shirt like me, or call one of the other EMTs.’”

It was then the patient and her friends realized that Barrow was a �鶹��ý��cadet, and were impressed he had come to the home team side of the stadium willingly and without any reservation to render aid.

“I told them this is my job, it is how I was trained, and what’s expected of me. They told me if I ever think of switching from �鶹��ý��to The Citadel, they can help. I told them, ‘No, no, I’m very happy at VMI,’” laughed Barrow.

The group asked Barrow for his name so they could send a recommendation to VMI’s commandant of cadets, Col. Ley Havird ’90. Though Barrow did not expect to receive anything for what he considered a normal service call, a couple days later he received an email from the group of Citadel friends.

“It turns out they are all faculty members at The Citadel. So that entire group sent an email to our advisor, and to our commandant, who awarded me an optional — an authorized excuse from supper roll call. Then I got another email saying our superintendent wanted to meet with me in his office.”

It was there that Lt. Gen. David Furness ’87 presented Barrow with two challenge coins: One from himself and one from the president of The Citadel. Furness also presented Barrow with a letter of commendation.

According to McBrayer, �鶹��ý��EMS is a Virginia department of EMS non-transport agency that runs 911 emergency services on �鶹��ý��property.

“It provides coverage for any cadet-related function that needs EMS support, such as rat activities, parades, NCAA events, and ROTC exercises. �鶹��ý��has 58 EMTs. Barrow is very competent when working with medical patients. He is constantly striving to learn more when it comes to training as an EMT.”

Barrow is originally from the South American country of Guyana, but now calls Norfolk, Virginia, home. He is majoring in biology and is the cadet in charge of VMI’s firefighting club. He volunteers as a fire fighter for the Lexington Fire Department. Being a first responder is extremely important to Barrow, and because of the EMT and firefighting training and practical opportunities offered at VMI, it is one of the reasons he chose to become a cadet. He is also involved with the climbing team, �鶹��ý��Theatre, Officers’ Christian Fellowship, and works at the Corps Physical Training Facility. Following graduation, he plans to enlist in the Army Reserves and become a professional EMT or fire fighter.

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Cadets Rally at NYSE

Mary Kate du Laney — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:11:11 +0000

Ten members of the Cadet Investment Group (CIG) at �鶹��ý��, along with advisor Maj. Steve Landgraf, assistant professor in the Department of Economics and Business (ECBU); and Capt. Zebulen Riley, instructor in ECBU, traveled to Wall Street in New York City (NYC) in December, to meet with financial analysts and traders, including �鶹��ý��alumni who work in the industry.

CIG is a student-led organization that is charged with making investment decisions with actual cash provided by an endowment established by an alumnus. Most members major in economics and business, but it is not a requirement. According to Landgraf, two different groups in CIG manage approximately $380,000 in total. “Group A invests in cyclical sectors, which are consumer discretionary, energy, industrials, technology, and materials. Group B invests in defensive sectors, which are health care, consumer staples, utilities, financials, real estate, and communication services. This annual trip to New York is another great example of how dedicated �鶹��ý��alumni are to mentoring our cadets. CIG itself provides cadets the opportunity to put their education into practice every week, but the interaction with finance professionals in New York is an experience that’s difficult to replicate anywhere else,” he said.

A tour of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was arranged for the CIG with assistance from Brian Tate ’90, executive managing director and head of Energy and Natural Resources Group at Regions Securities LLC; and Jim Sharp ’93, managing director at Regions Bank. Tate and Sharp flew up from Charlotte, North Carolina, to join the �鶹��ý��contingent at NYSE for the day.

Later, the CIG visited Bill Argiriou ’81, a commodities trader at RBC Capital Markets. The group met with Charlie Branch ’95, a wealth manager for Merrill Lynch, then proceeded to TM Capital, a middle-market investment bank founded by Gregory Robertson ’65. Robert Browning ’94 at AllianceBernstein, an asset management and investment advisory firm, also spent time with the group providing career advice. The day was capped off with a dinner in Midtown Manhattan hosted by the NYC �鶹��ý��alumni chapter, presided by Paul Dickinson ’96.

Conner Reid ’27, cadet-in-charge of the CIG, is majoring in economics and business with a concentration in finance. He shared the trip was an incredible experience. “We visited several banks including TM Capital and Bank of America, and even had the opportunity to attend the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange. The trip was especially impactful because we were able to connect with �鶹��ý��alumni and professionals who have already walked the path many of us are about to embark on. Building those relationships and receiving guidance from people who have been so successful in their careers has been invaluable, and many of them have become true mentors throughout my journey. It reinforced how powerful it is to foster relationships and form bonds with people 10, 20, or even 40 years ahead of you, who can serve as mentors and role models in your career.”

CIG meets weekly and reviews overall fund performance, discusses current events and their impact on the financial markets, then votes on portfolio additions or deletions, requiring a majority to execute a transaction, either buy or sell.

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�鶹��ý��Pistol Club Ends Semester with a “Bang”

Mary Kate du Laney — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:11:32 +0000

The pistol club at �鶹��ý�� closed out a successful fall 2025 season in December, after competing in two national-level competitions sanctioned by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting sports in the United States.

Early in the month, the club hosted two of USA Shooting’s Junior Olympics (JO) qualifiers at VMI. Team members participated in the .22 caliber sport pistol and air pistol events. Jamie Palacio ’27 led the team in the .22 caliber event, setting a personal record with a score of 518. Varick Nitzsche ’29 led the team in the air pistol event with a personal record of 525.

Notably, Sheng-Chun Tseng ’29 set a personal best in his first competitive match with a score of 425. The team’s scores were sent to USA Shooting for consideration in the JO rankings and invitation to the 2026 JO competitions.

In mid-December, three club members, Palacio, Chase Boucher ’27, and Kate Patrick ’27 traveled to Camp Perry, Ohio, for USA Shooting’s winter air gun championship. During the match, all three posted personal records in air pistol.

According to head coach Dale Hybl ’94, Patrick placed 11^th and Palacio placed 20^th of the 24 shooters in the women’s category. Boucher placed 12^th of the 17 shooters in the men’s category.

“I’m exceptionally proud of the team’s growth this semester. In the five formal matches during the semester, the nine members achieved new personal records 25 times. We will spend January and February preparing for the Intercollegiate Pistol National Championship being held in Columbia, Missouri, in March.”

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Crump reflects on “Defender of the Nation” experience

Mary Kate du Laney — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 19:31:42 +0000

Story originally published on

In October, �鶹��ý��Football player Kouri Crump was named the recipient of the prestigious . Monday Dec. 8, Crump, his family and select teammates attended the Bronko Nagurski Banquet presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club where he was officially presented with the award.

“Back in October when I first received the award, man, obviously I was very grateful, but it was during the season I was kind of just locked in and focused on winning and I kind of really didn’t have a real understanding of how big and prestigious this award was,” Crump said. “As time got closer and closer towards the award ceremony, I learned more and more about it each day.”

The season came and went, but the veteran safety finished strong, second to only his teammate Stephen Dean III in tackles, with 83.0 on the year. Leading up to the event, Crump made sure his biggest fans would be in attendance. Bringing not only his family, but his brother rats Dean III and Tyrel Dobson.

“I really wanted my family there,” Crump said. “And on top of that, I wanted the guys who’ve been through here with the four years, who went through the rat line with me. So that’s why I brought down Stephen and Tyrel.”

Everyone got into town on Sunday, as Kouri – a Charlotte native – was able to take Dean and Dobson by his house before a dinner where the trio was able to meet NFL legends such as Mike McCoy.

“Kouri’s defender of the nation award was a great opportunity to meet some of the greats within this sport,” Dean said. “We’re happy we were able to support him while he earned this prestigious award, this is just the beginning for him.”

“It was amazing experience to be able to support your best friend in winning a prestigious award,” said Dobson. “It is not very often �鶹��ý��football players are acknowledged for their success on the field. It was nice to see all his hard work and dedication pay off. It was awesome to be in uniform showing off to the world what a �鶹��ý��cadet is. A lot of people we talked to never heard of VMI, so it was great to bring awareness. It was also great to show the unity that �鶹��ý��builds with your teammates.”

Left to right: Stephen Dean III, Kouri Crump and Tyrel Dobson

Monday morning commenced with breakfast shared alongside none other than longtime Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera. Later, Crump and his teammates would meet different award honorees such as Leonard Moore (Notre Dame) and Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech).

“I was always a Panthers fan growing up, so seeing Ron Rivera was like, oh my goodness. I was kind of starstruck a little bit, but we had good conversation,” said Crump. “We talked about the state of college football today and the NFL as well, along with Tyrel, Stephen and my father. Then I met Jacob Rodriguez and Leonard Moore during breakfast, and they were just really good people, really good men of God. It was just a blessing to meet them. They were all like-minded in the same way that they attacked football and they attacked life.”

After breakfast, there was a high school forum in which Crump, Rivera, Moore and Rodriguez were the featured speakers, giving Crump a chance to chat with prospective college athletes on his experiences.

“It was just cool to talk to those guys and allow them to pick our brains about life,” said Crump. “They’re going through a process and it’s a huge change, so it was a blessing to be able to talk to them and shout out �鶹��ý��on the national stage. For me, coming home and talking to those high school kids, it was like a full-circle moment.”

From left to right: Ron Rivera, Crump, Leonard Moore, Jacob Rodriguez

After lunch and other activities came the awards banquet Monday evening, where Crump would officially be presented his Defender of the Nation trophy, giving him an opportunity to thank those who helped him along the way.

“I learned probably about a week or so before that I had to give a speech. I watched the guy from last year give a speech who did very well, so I looked at that and looked more in depth about the award,” said Crump. “The award said it was for academic excellence, athletic achievement in a military environment, which is similar to the three-legged stool. Each leg is very vital, so I made it a point to thank those closest to me, and give credit to �鶹��ý��for giving me the platform to be in a position like that.”

From there it was showtime. Ballroom packed. Two �鶹��ý��tables filled with Crump’s family, teammates and defensive backs coach Pat Brown.

“I want to thank Coach Brown for coming down there and showing support,” Crump said. “I really appreciate him and the Institute for everything.”

Crump’s name was called and it was his time to speak, delivering the message he had crafted in the days leading up to the event. Recognizing those who helped him along the way, and those in attendance. As the fall semester winds down, Crump has finally had a little time to reflect on the experience. The theme is the same as his speech: gratitude and blessings.

“Looking back on it, I can just say that everybody involved in the experience was amazing and they were a blessing,” said Crump. “My little brother, and all my family enjoyed this experience. They were looking around like oh, wow, this is amazing. I want to thank the Charlotte Touchdown Club for everything that they’ve done for me and just selecting me for the award. It’s just been a blessing.”

Kouri Crump and his family with the Defender of the Nation Trophy

For his career, Crump totaled 187.0 stops, 11.5 TFLs, nine passes defended, four forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. He certainly left his mark.

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Cadets Give Back Before Furlough

Mary Kate du Laney — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:06:13 +0000

One of the many things �鶹��ý�� cadets are renowned for are their selfless acts of service, even when it is not convenient. That was made evident during the most stressful and demanding time of fall semester, exam week.

The Building BRIDGES Club at �鶹��ý��supported the local nonprofit, Remembering Rockbridge Veterans, in participating in National Wreaths Across America Day, Dec. 13.

Fourteen cadets laid wreaths on veterans’ headstones at Evergreen Cemetery. During the solemn ceremony, Capt. Eli Facemire ’19, associate chaplain to the Corps of Cadets, delivered the invocation; Col. Ley Havird ’90, commandant, provided remarks; and Ben Bowen ’26 Pipe Band major, offered a rendition of “Amazing Grace” on bagpipe.

Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, faculty co-advisor for Building BRIDGES, also in attendance, was moved the cadets chose to participate on their last Saturday before winter furlough.

“I am glad cadets could take part in this event to honor and remember our veterans, and to reflect on the sacrifices they made to defend our freedoms.”

Nationally, the Wreaths Across America activity incorporated two million volunteers at more than 5,200 locations in all 50 states, remembering the fallen, honoring those who serve, and teaching the next generation the value of freedom.

The evening before, the Building BRIDGES Club; Preston Library; the Office of Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion; and the cadet art group sponsored a holiday card-making event at the post exchange. A large crowd of cadets gathered for hot apple cider, s’mores, and to create and personalize greeting cards for veterans, senior community residents, and others in need of some extra seasonal cheer.

Sean Daffron ’26, along with his roommates, attended to share in the holiday merriment. He revealed his own grandparents recently moved into an assisted living center.

“I know how hard it is to be away from family, especially during the holidays. I’m hoping these cards can make the recipients’ days more cheerful, even if it’s just a little.”

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Cadets Aim High in Rocket Club

Mary Kate du Laney — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:01:47 +0000

Three of the nine members of the �鶹��ý��High-Powered Rocket Club recently launched medium-powered rockets at the Valley Aerospace Team (VAST) launch site near Monterey, Virginia.

Michael Trigger ’26, a computer science major; Quinlan Johnson ’28, a physics major; Yushen Zhu ’28, an electrical and computer engineering major; along with Maj. Durig Lewis, instructor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and club officer in charge, traveled to the site to shoot the rockets built by cadets last academic year.

Trigger reported VAST has an excellent launch site with plenty of open land.

“I wish it was a little closer to VMI, but it’s hard to find a place with that much undeveloped land and is clear of trees. It was fun watching the rockets take off and realizing the builders’ craftmanship is what keeps them intact as they undergo all the forces needed to fly.”

According to Lewis, several members of the club are currently working on their National Association of Rocketry level one certifications.

“Certification permits people to purchase and use rocket motors whose physical constraints and performance exceed traditional model rocket boundaries. There must always be someone in the group who is certified to launch one of these rockets.”

Club members are also building rockets scheduled to launch next semester.

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