Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, will deliver the commencement address to Virginia Military Institute’s graduating cadets on May 16. “I am honored to accept the invitation and look forward to what I know will be a great event,” Gen. Petraeus said in his letter accepting the invitation to speak at commencement. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to thank VMI’s faculty and cadets for their service when I join you for commencement ceremonies this spring.” First Class President Cadet Benjamin Kimsey of Harrisonburg, Va., said the members of the class appreciate the obligations they will assume upon graduation. The fact that General Petraeus is a national leader makes him an appropriate speaker for graduates who will pursue careers of leadership in the military and civilian sectors. “The Class of 2009 is honored to have General Petraeus as our commencement speaker,” Kimsey said. “His acceptance of our

General Petraeus to be Commencement SpeakerBy Lt. Col. Stewart MacInnis

Gen. David H. Petraeus

VMI Theatre Now Has a HomeBy Bob Holland

Since its founding almost 40 years ago, the VMI Theatre has staged many plays, but it has done so in venues around Post not designed for theatrical productions. When the lights go on Feb. 27 for “The Three Musketeers,” a new era will begin. That evening will mark the debut of the 500-seat Gillis Theatre in the new Marshall Hall, the building that also houses the Center for Leadership and Ethics. “Truly, this new theater is a long-awaited dream come to life,” said Joellen Bland, who has worked with the VMI Theatre since 1978 and became its director in 1982. Named for benefactor Leslie Gillis Jr. ’29, the new theater has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including two dressing rooms – a luxury performers never had before; light-sound lock areas, enabling late arrivals to enter without disturbing other spectators; a large rehearsal-storage room; an off-stage video room, enabling performers to follow the play’s progress while off stage; and dual stages that can be divided to accommodate multiple settings.

Cadet Shayn P. Tierney (left), Aramis in The Three Musketeers, and Thomas M. Saunders, D’Artagnan, practice a scene from the play in the auditorium in VMI’s new Marshall Hall. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

invitation means so much to our class, and particularly the commissioning graduates who will soon be serving in the Area of Operations he is responsible for.” VMI’s superintendent, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, said General Petraeus’ career offers an example of the spirit of public service the Institute attempts to instill in its cadets. “General Petraeus is the perfect choice to deliver the commencement speech at VMI,” Peay said. “He is obviously versed on the challenges that many of our cadets could be facing within months of their graduation. He is serving in one of the most demanding positions in today’s military, a position of leadership he earned through the successful accomplishment of difficult assignments that have been at

the center of international attention.” Gen. Petraeus assumed command of the Central Command in October 2008. He was commissioned in the Infantry upon graduation from the

Volume XXXVI, Number 5 February 2009

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TAPS – Col. Bill Stockwell Col. William J. Stockwell, acting deputy superintendent for academics and dean of the faculty, died Feb. 4. A memorial service was held Feb. 7 in Jackson Memorial Hall, with the eulogy delivered by Brig. Gen. Charles F. Brower IV, who had been dean prior to this academic year and is now acting director of the Center for Leadership and Ethics. Stockwell, who was 56, began work at VMI in 1975 as an instructor in the Physical Education Department and rose to full professor of physical education, remaining with the department until his promotion to associate dean in 1994.

He served as acting dean of the faculty for the 2000 – 2001 academic year, and served as the acting deputy superintendent for academics and dean of the faculty for the current academic year. A 1974 graduate of Springfield College, Stockwell earned his doctorate in health education from the University of Virginia in 1984. In 1986 he received VMI’s Thomas Jefferson Distinguished Teaching Award. Stockwell is survived by his wife, Jill, daughter, Jaclyn, and sons, Robert and Bredt. Col. William J. Stockwell

Award-Winning PoetsHeadline March Poetry Symposium

Pu l i t zer Pr i ze-winning poe t Yuse f Komunyakaa will headline VMI’s second annual Poetry Symposium March 6-7. The event will bring together student poets and critics from nine area colleges, including VMI; Hollins, Washington and Lee, and Southern Virginia universities; Bridgewater, Roanoke, Lynchburg and Randolph colleges; and the University of Virginia. The symposium will begin with a reading by Komunyakaa and celebrated lyric poet Julia Kasdorf at 7:45 p.m. on March 6 in the Nichols Engineering Hall auditorium. Earlier in the day, the guest poets will be on hand for interviews, classroom appearances and workshops. “According to former United States Poet Laureate Robert Hass, Komunyakaa’s work is among the best writing on our war in Vietnam, and many readers have been greatly affected by ‘Facing It,’ his poem on Washington, D.C.’s Vietnam memorial, and other creations,” said Col. Gordon Ball, VMI professor of English. “Ms. Kasdorf’s poetry, particularly that in her 1998 volume Eve’s Striptease, has been noted for its vivid lyricism and its tension between the author’s Mennonite upbringing and experiences in the larger world. We are fortunate to have both here for our symposium.” In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize, Komunyakaa has received a National Endowment of the Arts fellowship and the prestigious Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, among others. He is a distinguished senior poet in New York University’s graduate creative writing program and has taught at the University of Indiana, University of New Orleans and Princeton University. Kasdorf has won the Pushcart Prize for Poetry, Thomas Wolfe Memorial Poetry Prize and the Book of the Year Award from the Conference on Christianity and Literature. She is associate professor of English and women’s studies at Pennsylvania State University and has taught at New York University.

“For some, VMI and poetry may seem an unlikely pairing, but many others recognize that the Institute has a history of outstanding poetry connections,” said Ball. “There have been memorable readings on Post by Allen Ginsberg, Elizabeth Seydel Morgan, Iraq War vet Brian Turner, and many others. Today’s creative writing classes are filled to capacity; the student literary magazine, Sounding Brass, showcases our many student poets; and last spring’s first-ever poetry symposium featured

readings by Pulitzer Prize-winner Claudia Emerson and Vietnam veteran Bruce Weigl.” On March 7, students will present papers on poetry and original poems, and Komunyakaa will deliver the keynote address, “Poetry at Work in the World,” at 1 p.m. in Moody Hall. Kasdorf will take part in an afternoon roundtable on writing and teaching poetry, for which Lt. Col. Kurt Ayau, VMI associate professor of English, and Cadet Becky Harris will be hosts. The public is invited to attend the reading on Friday, student presentations and Komunyakaa’s keynote address at no charge. The symposium is sponsored by the Office of the Dean, Office of Undergraduate Research, Institute Writing Program, VMI Department of English and Fine Arts, Sigma Tau Delta and the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

Yusef Komunyakaa Julia Kasdorf

Office of Communicationsand Marketing

Lt. Col. Stewart MacInnisActing Director

Sherri TombargeEditor

Burton FloydPublications Coordinator

Contributors:Bob Holland, Wendy Lovell, Lori Stevens, and Kevin Remington.

Printing – McClung Printing,Waynesboro, Va. Eight issues are printed during the academic year. Inquiries, suggestions, news items, or address changes should be directed to: Editor, The Institute Report, VMI Communications and Marketing, Lexington, Virginia 24450-0304, Telephone 540-464-7207, Fax 540-464-7443

Institute Report

The InsTITuTe RePoRT, FebRuaRy 2009, Page 3

Camerons Receive Keydet Spirit Award Two alumni who have made a difference in the growth of VMI’s basketball program and the Institute’s overall ability to serve the Corps and the community were recognized during halftime of the Jan. 17 basketball game in Cameron Hall. The game, which saw record attendance, followed a reunion of former players that included most of the members of the 1976 and 1977 championship teams. VMI and the Keydet Club honored Bruce Cameron ’38 and the late Dan Cameron ’42 with the Spirit of VMI Award, the club’s highest honor. The two brothers provided the foundational funding in the late 1970s that enabled VMI to obtain state funding to make Cameron Hall a reality. The new facility was dedicated in 1981. The award was presented by Bill Stephens ’73, Keydet Club president, and afterward Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, and Donny White ’65, athletic director, unveiled a portrait of the Camerons that now hangs in the entrance foyer of Cameron Hall. The championship players were also recognized during halftime, and after the regular game, they took the court for a reunion game.

Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62 (left), VMI superintendent, and (from left) Bruce B. Cameron Jr. ’38, his nephew Bill Cameron, and his grandson Adair Graham ’99 display the portrait of Cameron and his late brother, Daniel D. Cameron ’42, that now hangs in the entrance foyer of Cameron Hall. Behind them are the current recipients of Cameron family scholarships.

McDonald Named Acting Dean

Col. Robert L. McDonald has been named the Institute’s acting deputy superintendent for academics and dean of the faculty. He has been associate dean for academic affairs since 2000. A permanent dean is expected to be named and begin work in the summer. – VMI file photo.

VMI Foundation Web Pages Accessible via Shortcuts With the World Wide Web being the first stop for a growing number of people who are looking for information, the VMI Foundation – with the help of Jennifer Palmer of the VMI Alumni Association – has established a series of “shortcuts” to help VMI alumni and friends looking for

information about how to give in support of VMI or about the work of the VMI Foundation access the related pages on the VMI alumni agencies’ Web site, www.vmialumni.org.

Alumni Agency Web Site shortcuts:

Where and how to give – www.vmialumni.org/GivingSupport VMI homepage – www.vmialumni.org/Support_VMI

Foundation homepage – www.vmialumni.org/FoundationFoundation officers/staff – www.vmialumni.org/Foundation_Staff

Foundation trustees – www.vmialumni.org/TrusteesFoundation Fund – www.vmialumni.org/Foundation_Fund

Institute Society homepage – www.vmialumni.org/TISInstitute Society information – www.vmialumni.org/TIS_Levels

Report to Investors – www.vmialumni.org/ReportVMI alumni agencies’ financial report – www.vmialumni.org/Financial_Report

Honor Roll of Donors – www.vmialumni.org/Honor_Roll

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With the addition of a storage room for costumes, prop boxes, furniture, tools, set pieces, portable stage platforms, and the like, such items no longer have to be scattered in private basements and homes. “It’s wonderful to have all our ‘stuff’ in one place,” Bland remarked. Founded in 1970, the VMI Theatre first performed in Jackson Memorial Hall. Later it moved to 318 Scott Shipp Hall, a 96-seat lecture room with a wide stage in front and a lighting booth in the rear. With Scott Shipp’s renovation in 1997 and an administrative decision that extra-curricular activities would no longer be appropriate there, the VMI Theatre moved to Lejeune Hall and stayed there until 2005, when it had to move yet again. “Fortunately,” said Bland, “the Nichols Engineering auditorium was available by reservation, and that space became our rehearsal and performing space until December 2008.” Auditions for “Musketeers” were held last October, and rehearsals began in Nichols. The Theatre moved into the Gillis Theatre in mid-January. In 1986, the VMI Theatre presented its first dinner-theater production, “The Odd Couple,” in Lejeune Hall; it followed with several other dinner productions there over the years. It also staged dinner-theater shows in Moody Hall and Cameron Hall, including “Pippin” and “Oklahoma.” “The Theatre hopes to present more dinner-theaters in the future in the new building, with dining in the conference area and the play in the Gillis Theatre,” Bland noted. Bland deems the adaptation of “Musketeers” by Peter Raby she selected as “authentic and close to the original novel by Alexandre Dumas.” The play’s 41 scenes carefully portray the main action and central characters

VMI Theatre Now Has a HomeContinued from page 1

Cadets and members of the VMI faculty and staff and the community taking part in The Three Musketeers, the first VMI Theatre production to be performed in the new Marshall Hall, strike a pose for the camera during a recent rehearsal. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

of the 700-page novel. Thirty-two cadets will perform in “Musketeers,” along with six VMI faculty and staff and three community performers. The 41 actors will portray 56 characters in the play, with several actors playing double or triple roles. Several actors also will double as crew members. Performance times and dates for “The Three Musketeers” are 8 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 and March 6 and 7 and 2 p.m. March 1 and March 8.

Breakout for 2012

Rats crowd into Jackson Arch to clear a barricade made of sandbags before one of the many workouts during Breakout Jan. 31. Members of the Rat Disciplinary Committee, who were relieved of their duties later in the day as the rat mass became the Class of 2012, assist. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

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PX and VMI Bookstore Open in the New LejeuneBy Lori Stevens

The VMI Bookstore and PX are now welcoming those on Post, as well as the greater community, at their new location in Lejeune Hall in the new Third Barracks, which was dedicated in November. While the names remain the same, neither the PX nor the bookstore bear much resemblance to their former incarnations – both are bigger and better. “The Corps of Cadets and the VMI family will be well served,” said Col. James Joyner, director of auxiliary services. A light and airy archway leads guests from the Visitor’s Center waiting area into an open food court. Bené Pizza, Grille Works, Quiznos and Java City are located along the wall behind a long counter. A drink bar opposite was specially constructed so as not to obscure the spectacular views afforded by floor-to-ceiling windows. Those visiting cadets will have a relaxing and welcoming place to wait. Display cases next to the Visitor’s Center will feature artifacts relating to VMI’s history. “The PX will be an ambassadorial place for the Institute,” said Joyner. “We have been very impressed with the Aramark training effort. Assistant manager Nick Claffey has been leading the charge and Peggy Morales has also had great ideas.” The PX will seat 200, and some tables will have prime views overlooking Woods Creek and the tennis courts. “We intend to keep the seats pretty full,” vowed Claffey. “It has been challenging for us to meet the Corps’ needs, but I think they will be pleasantly surprised. This will also be a new option for the local community and for staff on Post as well as cadets.” Bené Pizza offers wood-fired oven pizzas baked in a special pizza oven built into the wall where customers can see the pizzas being baked. In addition to specialty coffee drinks, Java City will have a smoothie bar. Claffey has also hired a new pastry chef, Nancy Fife. “Rather than shipping them in, we wanted to offer fresh, locally baked goods,” said Claffey. Visitors will be able come here after a tour of the Post and refresh themselves with a coffee and freshly baked pastry or browse for souvenirs in the bookstore. Barnes & Noble manager Pat Ruley, who has been with VMI for 11 years, is thrilled with the bookstore’s new locale. “The new space is about twice as large as the current bookstore.” There will be registers at the doorways at each end of the store, facilitating check out. “We are going to increase our trade books and expand our alumni-related items to appeal to people coming off the street,” said Ruley. There are now dressing rooms in the back where customers can try on clothing, and the bookstore now offers a full line of sportswear. Cozy chairs and coffee tables provide customers a place to sip a coffee – the bookstore serves Java City drinks as well – and peruse a book. In warm weather, customers can enjoy the attached terrace overlooking Woods Creek. “This is going to be a great opportunity for both us and the cadets and faculty,” added Ruley. “We are also trying to get the cadets more involved and get items they are interested in, like electronics.” To provide a liaison to the cadets, the bookstore is hiring two or three cadets from each of the upper classes. “We are interested in feedback so we can meet the needs of the entire VMI family,” said Ruley. “We are very proud of what is happening. I am sure the cadets will enjoy the new space as much as we do.”

Work was being finished on the new Lejeune Hall, located within Third Barracks, during the first week of February. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

Col. L.E. Hurlbut, deputy commandant for Cadet Life, whose offices have also moved into Third Barracks, agrees. “We were a bit isolated in Maury-Brooke Hall,” she said. “Now we have daily contact with the cadets. They walk by our offices and drop in to say hello.” The new location of Cadet Life, including all cadet publications offices and that of the Ring Figure committee, is much more convenient for the cadets. “Now the cadets can be actively engaged in all that Cadet Life offers,” said Hurlbut.

Cadets Cope with Challenges of Construction

By Sherri Tombarge Construction, with its noise and reordering of Barracks spaces, has become a fact of life for the current Corps of Cadets. Indeed, next year’s 1st Class cadets will have witnessed the construction of Third Barracks from the beginning, the former Lejeune Hall having been demolished in the summer prior to their 4th Class year. For some, construction will come full circle as they take up residence in a building that did not exist when they first arrived on Post. About 465 cadets are currently living in Third Barracks as the renovation of New Barracks continues the construction trend. The roomier accommodations the Third Barracks will eventually bring are being delayed as rooms in the older parts of the complex are closed for renovation. Second Class cadets Jarrod Cartwright and George Degennaro are breathing a little more freely since a fourth cadet recently moved out of their three-person room. “Four people was really tight,” said Cartwright. The two are enjoying living in a brand-new space. “It’s very clean,” said Cartwright. “We’re able to control the temperature

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Alumni Agencies’ Documents Available Online The Honor Roll of Donors for 2008 – listing the alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of VMI who made a gift or commitment in support of VMI from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008 – is now available online at the VMI alumni agencies’ Web site, www.vmialumni.org under the heading “Supporting VMI.” Those interested in viewing the document – available in Adobe PDF format – also may access it at www.vmialumni.org/Honor_Roll. Together with the Report to Investors and the combined financial statements of the VMI alumni agencies, the Honor Roll of Donors illustrates the financial position and the activities of the VMI Foundation, VMI Keydet

Club, and the VMI Alumni Association and acknowledges the alumni and friends who provide the private financial support necessary to advance the Institute’s extraordinary education. This year’s Honor Roll of Donors, which also will be printed in Issue 2 of the 2009 VMI Alumni Review, includes descriptions of the fund-raising work of the VMI Foundation and VMI Keydet Club. The lists include leadership donors for the VMI Foundation and VMI Keydet Club, alumni donors by class, and parents and friends, including faculty and staff, who made a donation to VMI.

Visiting from TaiwanCadets visiting from the Taiwanese Military Academy receive military skills instruction Feb. 3 from Cadet Robert Fendley ’10. The cadets were observing VMI’s New Cadet Military Training program. While on Post Feb. 2-4, they attended classes, took tours, met with academic and Corps staff, and stayed in Barracks. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

New Cardio Room in Cocke Hall

Cadets work out in the new cardio room on the fifth floor of Cocke Hall. Open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3 to 6 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m., the room features eight treadmills, four recumbent bikes, four upright bikes, six striders and four flat-screen TVs. The older cardio room, located on the lower level near the weight room, remains open as well. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

The InsTITuTe RePoRT, FebRuaRy 2009, Page 7

Hard Work Paid Off in Plaudits for Corps Inaugural Performance

By Bob Holland

Hard work and a cold wait preceded the Corps of Cadets’ march down Pennsylvania Avenue for the Jan. 20 Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. However, it all paid off in a precise performance that brought VMI praise from near and far. The Corps was the second-to-last unit in a parade that ended about the time the evening balls were starting. Later, the superintendent, Gen. J. H. Binford Peay III ’62, told the Corps concisely why they were the best marching unit in the event: “Your lines were straight, your vision direct and correct, and you marched with pride. It was a long day. There was a reason ‘why’ you were the last [major] unit to pass the reviewing stand – for you were the finale. Well done and congratulations.” When Maj. Mitchell Fridley ’89, assistant commandant, logged on the next day, he found his inbox “full of congratulatory e-mails from friends, alumni, and even people I don’t know … scores of them and not a single negative comment or mitigated praise.” One of the most knowledgeable was from John Crim ’68 and his wife, Cindy, who own a home in New Market that the 4th Class cadets march by in their first parade every fall. Watching on TV, they chalked it up to the elements that several uniformed units had been clearly out of step, and so they weren’t sure what to expect when VMI finally came into view. Then they saw the massed gray wall approaching, almost filling the avenue’s width. “It soon became apparent that this was no school-representing company, nor was it a battalion, this was the Corps, and just like 1864, they were on the move with something to prove. You could almost feel the solid ‘chunk’ as heels dug in together, the concentration intent on not just getting it right, but getting it right.” The Crims saw no one out of step. Then, “on they came, rank after rank.” “The announcer told us that one thousand twelve hundred and some cadets were appearing in VMI’s 13th inaugural parade. As the 1st Battalion passed in review, the camera shot a glance at the new president in time to see Mrs. Obama watching, clearly say ‘Wow,’ and give them two thumbs up, while the 2nd Battalion closed the gap.

“VMI wasn’t just there, today; VMI was heard from!” The history-making inauguration of the first African-American president had special significance to many in the Corps, as in the general public. Cadet Alexa Tarbona ’09, the first female drum major in the Corps, put it this way: “Life is all about seizing grand opportunity, while looking past the probability of hard work and the possibility of failure. VMI was a fitting selection for the inaugural parade because cadets understand the reality of taking ‘the road less traveled,’ and bear witness to both cultural changes and the preservation of traditions at the Institute. “The undeniable parallels between the current Corps and President Obama are that we are all the living products of social and cultural evolution and progress, and we are all willing to seize opportunity.” In his thank-you to the Corps for a “great job,” Cadet Andrew W. Krumm ’09, the regimental S-3 captain, noted, for those who missed the broadcasts, “We are all over YouTube.” Indeed, VMI is a hot item on YouTube, the Internet site anyone can visit to replay videos of VMI marching at the inaugural parade. The videos have attracted thousands of visits and many favorable comments. The S-3 staff was responsible for the planning and coordination of all operations and logistics. Krumm likened the scope of the project “to that of a nine-day Matriculation Week.” The Corps practiced daily, except on Sunday, over that time span, and cadet leaders and commandant staffers traveled to Washington to check out the route and arrangements. Inaugural Day “was very long,” starting with breakfast at 4 a.m., “but as I marched past the president a little over 15 hours later, and after about three miles of marching, it was all worth it to me,” said Krumm. “The weather was very cold, especially when just standing. This was most prevalent while the sun was going down when we were waiting to step off at the Ellipse, our parade assembly area. Once we stepped off, everyone seemed to warm up.” VMI was easily the largest unit in the parade. It took 26 buses to transport the Corps to Washington, D.C., and back. They arrived back in Lexington at midnight, right on schedule.

President Barack and Michelle Obama watch as the VMI Corps of the Cadets, the final marching unit in the inaugural parade, march past the viewing stand. – Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense.

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Turner Gives Talk on Undergraduate ResearchCol. James Turner ’65, professor of biology and director for undergraduate research, addressed a session titled “Transformational Learning through Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity: Models and Strategies to Build and Sustain an Institutional Infrastructure and Culture” at the American Conference of Academic Deans’ annual meeting, which was held in conjunction with the 95th annual meeting of the American Association of Universities and Colleges in January in Seattle. In his talk, Turner discussed the immersion of undergraduate research into VMI’s faculty expectations for promotion and tenure, as well as embedding URI concepts into its new Core Curriculum and capstone course requirements. The invitation to speak at this session was extended by the Council on Undergraduate Research.

Thompson Publishes Two BooksTwo books co-edited by Lt. Col. Roger Thompson, associate professor of English, were published recently by Baylor University Press and Gale Centgage. The Rhetoric of St. Augustine of Hippo: De Doctrina Christiana and the Search for a Distinctly Christian Rhetoric, which Thompson co-edited with Richard Leo Enos, explores St. Augustine’s fourth book and its uses in Christian discourse. Thompson collaborated with J. Scott Bryson on the Dictionary of Literary Biography: Twentieth-Century Nature Poets, which provides a resource on poets with names such as Blue Cloud, Bly, Dickey, Frost, Hirschfield, Kinnell, Merwin, Morley, Ortiz, Snyder, and Sze. The book provides an introduction of the life and works of poets in the nature genre.

Dellinger Article PublishedCol. Mary Ann Dellinger, professor of foreign languages and cultures, recently published an article, “El cuerpo como mazmorra: una lectura femenina de La voz dormida y Las trece rosas,” in Letras Peninsulares. The essay is an analysis of two novels within the historical context of political imprisonment in Spain during the Franco dictatorship and second-wave feminist theory.

College Bowl Team Second in Big South Tournament The VMI College Bowl team competed in the fourth annual Big South College Bowl Tournament at Gardner-Webb University earlier this month. VMI finished with a record of 5-1, second out of seven teams behind the University of North Carolina-Asheville. This is the second consecutive year the Keydets have placed second at the Big South Tournament, and team captain Cadet Greg Lippiatt ’09 finished second among the individual scoring leaders. Cadets Tom Stauffer ’09, Bob Fendley ’10, and John Maurice ’10 returned from last year’s team and were joined by alternate

Cadet Tom Davis ’11. Team members were selected from the high-scoring cadets at last semester’s campus tournament; these cadets then practiced as a single unit in preparation for the Big South Tournament.

Legislator Honored by University ProfessorsSen. John S. Edwards, recently received the Col. Michael S. Harris Award from the Virginia Conference of the American Association of University Professors. Edwards was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and currently chairs the higher education subcommittee of the education and health committee. In previous sessions he introduced legislation supporting benefits for faculty members. He also has been a strong advocate of community college scholarship programs and has supported in-state tuition for qualified undocumented immigrants. The award is given annually to recognize exemplary service in support of higher education by a Virginia public official, and it honors the memory of Harris, a French professor at VMI and a past president of the Virginia Conference of the AAUP. Previous recipients are Gov. Mark Warner and state senators John Chichester and Creigh Deeds.

Capt. Todd Pegg DeployedCapt. Todd Pegg has been mobilized with the Virginia Army National Guard. At the end February, he will take a one-year leave of absence from his position as energy manager and staff engineer in VMI’s Physical Plant. Before his departure, he will have completed a two-week training program to prepare to embed with the Iraqi army in an advisory capacity. During his absence, he said, he hopes everyone on Post will remain keenly aware of and practice energy conservation, a concern that has been a primary focus of his work as post engineer.

VMI Recognized Among ‘Most Popular Colleges’VMI was once again clustered with the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Military Academy in the top ranks of the nation’s “Most Popular Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. The list, which is new this year, ranks colleges based on the number of students who actually enroll after they are admitted. VMI placed No. 5 on the overall list, and No. 3 among public liberal arts colleges. According to U.S. News, the high ratio indicates that students who apply are highly motivated to attend VMI.

Brodie Presents at Band Directors’ ClinicCol. John Brodie, regimental band director, made a presentation at the Midwest Band Directors’ Clinic. The presentation, “I Know It’s Wrong, But I’m Not Sure How to Fix It,” discussed strategies for improving aural skills on the podium. Brodie made the presentation in Chicago on Dec. 19.

Post Briefs

Institute Report Available Electronically Readers of the Institute Report can sign up for a free electronic subscription to the publication. The subscription provides a worldwide E-mail notification of the availability of the publication when it is posted on the VMI Web site. In the notification is a link to the latest issue of the Institute Report

usually available well before the print version is mailed. The Institute Report will be available as a PDF file. The file can easily be printed on a home or office printer for a hard copy. To enroll, fill out the brief subscription form (www.vmi.edu/subscribe/) on the VMI Web site.

The InsTITuTe RePoRT, FebRuaRy 2009, Page 9

VMI Recognized for ‘Adaptive Reuse’By Lori Stevens

The Historic Lexington Foundation, which oversees architectural preservation in the local community, recently recognized VMI for “adaptive reuse” in preserving the 1939 horse stables, now the recently re-opened Kilbourne Hall. “We were pleased they recognize that VMI tries to make well-considered decisions and when practical and possible we try to incorporate existing structures into our building plans,” said Col. Keith Gibson, executive director of the VMI Museum. At one time, VMI had an ROTC cavalry unit, but there has not been a horse at VMI since 1948, when the stables were converted to ROTC classrooms. Then the ROTC outgrew the building and Kilbourne Hall was built in 1960

to better accommodate the program. “Back then we only had Army and Air Force ROTC, but now we also have the Navy and Marines. The ROTC outgrew Kilbourne as well,” said Gibson. The newest renovation, which will be dedicated later this semester, connects Kilbourne Hall with the old stables via an “infill” building. “The interesting thing is the stables are being used for the ROTC again, as they were between 1948 and 1960,” noted Gibson. Gibson and Maj. Dallas Clark, Institute planning officer, received the award on behalf of the VMI Building Committee.

The recent renovation and addition onto Kilbourne Hall earned VMI recognition for “adaptive reuse.” – VMI Photo by Burton Floyd.

This 1930 photograph shows the VMI stables long before they were renovated to become Kilbourne Hall. – VMI Archives photo.

Energy, Passion, EuphoriaSense of Accomplishment Intense For Cadet in JFK 50 Mile

By Bob Holland

The JFK 50 Mile in Washington County, Maryland, is among America’s most rugged and storied ultramarathons. It sprang from President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to military officers to show they were up to the standard Teddy Roosevelt had set for military leaders early in the 20th century: cover 50 miles on foot within 20 hours. Although open to the public, the annual event remains in spirit a military race. It begins in Boonsboro on Appalachian Trail terrain more suited for hikers than runners, before going into a 26-mile stretch of the C&O Canal towpath, and finally eight miles of country roads ending at Williamsport. In the most recent JFK, the 46th annual race last Nov. 22, Cadet Thomas W. Louderback ’11 was one of the hardy souls who braved sub-freezing temperatures – 7

degrees at the 7 a.m. start – to finish in under 11 hours – 10 hours, 50 minutes and 45 seconds, to be exact. Both Louderback’s father, John, and younger brother, Ben, also finished the 50-miler, crossing the finish line together at 12 hours, 22 minutes. Ben, a high school freshman who celebrated his 15th birthday on race day, had been inspired by his older brother to take on this formidable “ultra.” This tradition for the Hagerstown, Md., family started when John Louderback reasoned that the race would be a great way to show his oldest son what he was capable of accomplishing. Cadet Louderback first ran the JFK 50 Mile in his senior year in high school. Now he is in it for the long haul, vowing to run it every year. “You put all of your energy, passion into this and when you are finished, you are greeted by cheers and by your family,” the cadet commented. “The sense of euphoria is

Please see page 14

Cadet Thomas W. Louderback ’11 finished the JFK 50 Mile in under 11 hours. – Photo courtesy of Cadet Louderback.

Page 10, The InsTITuTe RePoRT, FebRuaRy 2009

Third class civil engineering major and Rockbridge County native Marshall Jarrett works with Chuck Modjeski of Richmond to secure a safety rope for one of the A frames used to lift beams into place. – Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg.

Col. Grigg Mullen works with historic trades carpenters to raise the wall of Charlton’s Coffeehouse, under construction at Colonial Williamsburg. – Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg.

Col. Grigg Mullen is interviewed about the timber framing construction of Charlton’s Coffeehouse at Colonial Williamsburg. – Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg.

Making History AgainColonial Williamsburg Calls on VMI Expertise for Reconstruction Project

By Wendy Lovell When the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation set out to reconstruct an 18th-century coffeehouse in its historic area, it called in a few experts from another historical town in Virginia. A team of six Virginia Military Institute cadets and members of the Timber Framers Guild kicked off winter furlough by helping raise the frame of Charlton’s Coffeehouse.

“My students got a serious history lesson from the folks at Colonial Williamsburg,” said Mullen. “They learned how to coordinate work with another group of experts – the Colonial Williamsburg carpenters – and seeing class material put to physical use is always a good thing.” For Cadet Robert Baker ’10, a civil engineering major from Virginia Beach, the project was an easy stop on his way home for furlough. He was drawn to the project’s historical significance and recalled that he had enjoyed the first timber-framing project he had worked on last spring. “Learning how to tie a knot essential to the lift, seeing exactly how the A-frame worked, and learning more terminology brought me some experience in the field of timber-framing construction,” said Baker. “Putting in a hard day’s work and having something standing at the end of the day was neat. Also, the people who worked on timber framing when I participated last time made for pleasant company.” Charlton’s Coffeehouse was the second historical project for 1st Class Cadet Adam Good, who in 2005 helped build a pavilion at Ferry Farm, George Washington’s boyhood home near Fredericksburg. “I have enjoyed learning about the coffeehouse project and relish the ability to be part of something historical like this,” he said. “I think that a lot of time in the U.S. we have the notion that newer is always better, and old structures should be knocked down to make room for the new stuff, but in Colonial Williamsburg they understand that history has a very important part in everyone’s life. It’s a one-of-a-kind place where you can go and see how things were 250 years ago. “There is a great deal of experience that can be gleaned,” he added. “The layout, lifting, and fitting of members is similar to that of a modern steel construction. Also, there are the inevitable dealings with engineers, workers, and, in this case, crowds of civilians who were taking part in the raising.” In addition to Mullen and the cadets, the VMI team consisted of Mullen’s wife, Cindy; Grigg Mullen III, a lab mechanic in the department of physics and astronomy; Col. Jack Page, professor of civil engineering; and three other members of the Timber Framers Guild. To see the team in action, visit http://www.history.org/Media/videos_coffeehouse/index.cfm.

The foundation’s first complete reconstruction in 50 years, Charlton’s Coffeehouse will constitute a major architectural and educational contribution to Colonial Williamsburg when it is completed later this year. Located on Duke of Gloucester Street near the colonial capitol, the coffeehouse was a hotbed of political, business and social activity during the years leading to the American Revolution. Last fall, the foundation called upon Col. Grigg Mullen Jr. ’76, professor of civil and environmental engineering, to help determine how to raise the heavy framing without the aid of modern machinery. Relying upon knowledge of historical block-and-tackle lifting methods, he and several other Timber Framers, faculty and cadets helped build one of the lifting frames before the team returned in December to lead a crew of volunteers and historic trades carpenters in raising the frame. The cadets who took part in the raising found the day to be a hands-on lesson in construction in quite a historical classroom.

The InsTITuTe RePoRT, FebRuaRy 2009, Page 11

The 16-cadet jazz ensemble, the VMI Commanders, traveled to Munich, Germany, during the final week of winter furlough and performed several times in Bavaria. They brought back fond memories both musical and cultural. “All the cadets performed brilliantly and were fine ambassadors of the Institute during their eight-day trip,” said Col. John Brodie, the ensemble director, who accompanied them. Both he and the cadets had high praise for their hosts at the Bundeswehr University, who provided lodging, transportation, and access to the mess hall. The ensemble entertained at the university, an officer’s club just outside Munich, and at a gathering of American servicemen and women just back from Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, the cadets got to sample skiing in the Bavarian Alps; a renowned Bavarian beer garden, the Hofbrau House; a castle at Neuschwanstein; a Munich town hall from the 16th century, the Rathaus; and, on a more somber note, the Holocaust Museum in Dachau. “I loved walking through Munich, enjoying the old shops, taverns, and food,” commented Cadet Joshua Dixon ’10, pianist. “I particularly took interest in the subtle differences between our culture and theirs, particularly how the Germans in Munich were very much into being festive throughout the week.” “We played at an officer’s club at a military base just outside Munich. They loved the big band music. It was particularly exciting to eat with the officers and their wives in between sets. “Col. Brodie and I were told a brief story by an old German sailor who

said that the first big band tune he heard – ‘String of Pearls’ by Glenn Miller’s band – was right after the announcement came over the radio that the German army had surrendered [during World War II].” In addition to that song, the ensemble played such classics as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Tuxedo Junction,” “Girl from Ipanema,” and “New York, New York.” The cadets enjoyed the chance to snowboard or ski in a quaint town

snuggled in the Bavarian Alps, Garmische, which has been the location for several world-class skiing competitions. Cadet Matt Mawyer ’10, who was skiing for only the second time, said he struggled at first, “but eventually got the hang of it.” He was greatly impressed with the environment. “I rode the lift to the top of the mountain, which offered full views of the town and farther into the flatlands toward Munich. The sky was again free of clouds and the air was cold and refreshing. The mountains there tower above any I’ve seen here in the east and rival the beauty of those in the western Rocky Mountain states.” Mawyer, the alto sax player, was one of several cadets who rode a

train to Dachau and toured the World War II concentration camp that is now a museum. He said that he had read accounts of the Holocaust as a grade-schooler and had tried to imagine what it must have been like. “One cannot truly fathom the realm and magnitude of terror the prisoners experienced without seeing the camp firsthand,” he said. “I will never forget my visit.”

VMI Jazz Band Makes Memories in GermanyBy Bob Holland

The VMI Jazz Band performs Jan. 4 at the Munich Bundeswehr Officers Club at Bendeswehr University in Munich, Germany. Among those in attendance were several German World War II veterans. – Photo courtesy of Col. John Brodie.

March OffCompany G completes the winning drill Jan. 28 in a march off against Company E for this year’s Garnett-Andrews Cup. Col. Thomas Trumps ’79 and Sgt. Maj. John Neel graded competition for the award, which is given to the cadet company scoring highest throughout the session in drills, ceremonies, intramural athletics, and general efficiency as a military unit. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

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Institute Prepares Cadets for Scholarship OpportunitiesBy Wendy Lovell

Each year, thousands of the nation’s best and brightest college students apply for prize scholarships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman and Gates Cambridge. The competition is fierce, and only a small percentage of applicants win the prize. However, for the past six years, cadets from the Virginia Military Institute have brought home quite a few. Cadet Greg Lippiatt recently was awarded one of 32 prestigious Rhodes Scholarships reserved for Americans – the last cadet to receive this award to study at Oxford University was Michael Lokale of Kenya in 2003. Also, Will Flathers ’08, VMI’s first Goldwater Scholar, currently is studying engineering at Sheffield University in England as the Institute’s first Marshall Scholar. Chris Fields ’07, the Institute’s first Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, is studying law at Washington and Lee University, and former cadets Lawton Way ’05 and Rich Meredith ’07 were selected for the highly competitive Teach For America program. What’s in the water on Post that is creating such success in the pursuit of scholarships? According to Lippiatt, it’s the support of the Institute Honors Program and the guidance of Col. Rob McDonald, associate dean of the faculty, and Louis Blair, the Mary Moody-Northen Chair in Arts and Social Sciences. “Col. McDonald and Mr. Blair were immensely helpful in my application process,” said Lippiatt. “I also credit the Institute Honors Program for the reinforcement it provides in academic pursuits. Being part of the program gives you more exposure to the world outside of the Institute; you get closer to your professors, and you are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities like these scholarships.” Lippiatt had heard of the Rhodes Scholarship when he came to Post as a 4th Class cadet, but he never dreamed it would be within his reach. Under the direction of McDonald and Blair, Lippiatt began the application process for the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships last April. He considered putting his name in the hat for the Truman Scholarship but decided that it was not the best opportunity for him. According to McDonald, participants in the Institute Honors Program aren’t just VMI’s brightest students. They are leaders with interesting backgrounds and are active in a variety of nonacademic pursuits. “Any cadet who has a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above can be considered for the program, but it is not just about academics,” said McDonald. “Participation in co-curricular activities and the regimental system, club sports, and leadership activities are important. Therefore, we view Institute Honors cadets as prime candidates for these prestigious national awards, and they receive a regular flow of information, encouragement, and assistance in applying for them.” McDonald added that, unlike other institutions that have full staffs on hand to support scholarship application, VMI takes a less formal approach. Institute faculty members begin talking about these opportunities in a broad way, and Institute Honors cadets in all years of their cadetship receive information on scholarships as it becomes available.

“Some institutions identify potential candidates when they are freshmen and groom them throughout their four years,” he said. “It is like a beauty pageant in some cases. With that approach, we could have more nominees, but I like to see them percolate up on their own.” McDonald credits Blair’s ability to help cadets identify the right opportunity as part of the Institute’s recent success, as well. A visiting professor for the past two years, Blair brings a unique perspective to the application process. For 17 years, Blair was the Truman Scholarship Foundation’s executive secretary, and he serves or has sat on selection committees for the Stennis Congressional Staff Fellows Program

and the Truman, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, Rhodes, Coca-Cola and Robertson scholarships. In that capacity, he has visited more than 200 college campuses and interviewed more than 3,000 candidates. “I remember the days when you could type up an application in an afternoon and get a Fulbright – those days are long gone,” said Blair. “These programs require more than exceptional candidates; you really have to know how to market yourself, and you have to show these programs why they should invest in you.” Blair added that a good applicant must have an excellent transcript, a well-labored personal statement, participation in pertinent activities, winning letters of recommendation and good logic. Candidates must spend a great deal of time thinking about who they are, what they believe in, and what they want to do with their lives. He and McDonald invest a great deal of time with cadets interested in scholarship opportunities doing just that, and their role in reviewing applications can be critical. Lippiatt can attest to that. He returned to Post last fall with a draft of his personal statement, which Blair and McDonald rejected. He went back to the drawing board and found his second draft to be less contrived and more genuine. Obviously the Rhodes committee did, too. While the process of self-exploration can be time consuming in an environment where every minute counts, it is the only reward some cadets receive. Cadet Rammy Barbari was a finalist for the Truman Scholarship and is VMI’s first nominee for the Soros Fellowship, which provides graduate study support for new Americans. Either opportunity would have supported his desire to earn graduate degrees and eventually work for the federal government. “I had to really dig deep and do some soul searching for these scholarships,” said Barbari. “I had to really think long and hard about my values, beliefs and moral compass, and I had to really research and plan out an outline for my future. “I learned just how fierce the competition is at the higher-level stages of these competitions – the intellect and accomplishments of my competitors unparalleled anything I’ve experienced before,” he added. “Not receiving either scholarship was disappointing, but I did gain a lot professionally and personally from having gone through the experience.”

Cadet Greg Lippiatt ’09, VMI’s newest Rhodes Scholar, talks with Louis Blair, professor of international studies, who helped him during the application process. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

The InsTITuTe RePoRT, FebRuaRy 2009, Page 13

Air Force Cadets Send Holiday Greetings Air Force ROTC cadets expressed their appreciation to Air Force airmen who are deployed and did not have the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas 2008 with their loved ones. The cadets of 2011 and 2012 sent more than 125 letters through Detachment 880’s Letters to Airmen program. The program is a means for cadets to thank deployed airmen for their service and sacrifice to the United States during a time of war. It was also an opportunity for the cadets to reflect on that service as they spent their holidays with family and friends, an ROTC spokesman said. The response the cadets received was enthusiastic. “Wow! Thanks so much for thinking of all of us,” wrote Capt. Kristen

Pate, public affairs officer at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. “I will make sure the letters are distributed throughout the base. Please pass on my thanks to your cadets – there are plenty of people here who never get mail, so knowing they are appreciated back home is a big deal.” One cadet, Durham J. Snuffin ’09, recently had the opportunity to gain a greater appreciation of service by attending the Marshall-Arnold AFROTC Symposium Jan. 29-Feb. 1. The symposium drew in top cadets from Air Force ROTC detachments from across the nation. Snuffin participated in round-table discussions on national security issues and interacted with top Air Force military and civilian leadership.

Marine Aircraft on PostMany from the VMI and local community stood in line in below-20 degree temperatures to see inside the MV-22B Osprey landed on the parade ground by the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Jan. 17. Also on the parade ground for viewing that day was a CH-53 Super Stallion. The unit, which gave demonstrations during its Community Outreach Day, had been conducting a Realistic Urban Training Exercise in Buena Vista and other areas in Virginia. The Camp Lejeune-based unit has been conducting training missions from Fort Pickett. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

Marshall Hall in UseMembers of the VMI faculty file into the auditorium Jan. 15 for the first general faculty and staff meeting to be held in the new Marshall Hall. – VMI Photo by Maj. Kate Crossman.

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United States Military Academy in 1974. He has held leadership positions in airborne, mechanized, and air assault infantry units in Europe and the United States. In addition, he has held a number of staff assignments. About 250 cadets are set to receive diplomas during the ceremony, with approximately half of them being commissioned into the U.S. Armed Forces

prior to the commencement. In addition, several foreign cadets will be commissioned into the Armed Forces of their respective countries. The commencement exercise is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Cameron Hall.

Petraeus to be Commencement SpeakerContinued from page 1

Continued from page 9

Energy, Passion, Euphoria

unbelievable. It makes you want to run it over again just to have that feeling. It’s addicting.” For the next JFK 50 Mile, which will be run Nov. 21, Cadet Louderback hopes to field a full team – that’s five runners or more – from VMI to compete against other military teams. A VMI contingent would vie for the race’s most prestigious prize, the Kennedy Cup, which goes to the top-finishing military team. Each team is allowed to have up to 10 participants, with the scores of each team’s top-five finishers combined for a team time. To explain why runners push through intense pain to complete a race like the JFK, Cadet Louderback pointed to an essay he penned the night

after his very first race. He wrote, in part: “Where did my enthusiasm to keep going come from? Well, running has taught me that the pursuit of a passion matters more than the passion itself. I had immersed myself in something that I believed in so deeply, and with such heartfelt intensity to constantly improve, that I knew that I would be a success.” John Louderback put it this way: “When you are young, you do not realize what you are capable of. The body is far more capable than anyone realizes; it is the mind that is the limiting factor. This race to me is a metaphor about life and what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it.”

New Officers Commission in Armyin December Ceremony

By 2nd Lt. Chad Tobin ’08, Army ROTC

Four new Army second lieutenants celebrated more than commencement on Dec. 20, 2008. The joint ROTC commissioning ceremony held that day allowed these new lieutenants to reach one milestone and presented them with another challenge as they become future leaders of the U.S. Army. Maj. Gen. John P. McLaren Jr. ’74, guest speaker, shared his thoughts and his appreciation for the new commissioned officers as well as for the families who support them. Celebrating their commissions were Corey Houck, who will serve as a signal officer with a branch detail to field artillery; Carrie Lauderdale, who will serve in the National Guard as a military police officer; Mike Maternick, who has received orders to become a transportation officer; and Ryan Steptoe, who will be heading to Fort Benning to begin training as an infantry officer. Also, 2nd Lt. Andrew Aloisio commissioned in January into the Medical Corps. He will continue to medical school prior to beginning his commitment to the Army.

Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Corey Houck salutes Master Sgt. Shawn M. Rost after graduation and commissioning ceremonies in December. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

The InsTITuTe RePoRT, FebRuaRy 2009, Page 15

Continued from page 5

Challenges of Construction

quite well.” Degennaro recalled the heating system in old Barracks with a laugh: “In the middle of the night, it sounded like something coming to eat you.” That heating system and the other quirks of the older barracks buildings will be naught but memories by the fall of 2010, said Col. Thomas Trumps, commandant of cadets. New Barracks renovations should be finished by next fall, he said. “We’ll be able to decompress” in the fall of 2010, he said. “We’ll have about 1,500 bed spaces. The living conditions and the quality of life in all barracks will be really good. “The rooms are going to look new – it’ll be the best these barracks have been since they were built. It’s really exciting.” Meanwhile, cadets are feeling the effects of the work in progress. Entering the sally ports between barracks buildings, they may be confronted with plywood walls. The Marshall Arch is now closed, covered on the inside with plywood, and so is the New Barracks courtyard. With the first stoop blocked off between New and Third barracks, traffic along the second stoop in Third Barracks is much higher than usual.

Lack of hot water has also been noted by cadets in Third Barracks, but plans are in place to add circulation loops to the current system, which should make hot water available as needed. Renovation activity in New Barracks has hindered cadet movement from one barracks to another, noted Trumps, but the opening of the new Lejeune Hall, with its attractions, will give cadets more reason to go to Third Barracks and make the Corps more unified. For now, some cadets find they must accept certain hardships associated with the crowding in Third Barracks, particularly landing rooms on the “wrong” stoop. For 1st Class cadets “stuck” on the second stoop, it’s a frustration. As Degennaro put it, rooming on first stoop demonstrates you’ve “earned your stripes.” “It is,” he said, “part of how you live.” “It’s claiming your territory,” added Cartwright. The cadets, however, take it in stride. “They understand,” said Trumps. “They’ve been really great about it. They know it’s essential for VMI to grow… for the Corps to really step up and move forward.”

Crozet Celebrates Super Bowl XLIII

Cadets applaud Super Bowl action in Crozet Hall, where big screens and plenty of food made the game an event on Post. Crozet dished up a menu of traditional Super Bowl fare. At halftime, the second annual hot wings contest left eight contenders crying through Bruce Springsteen’s concert. Only three made it through the entire five minutes eating the wings with dining services director Peggy Morales’s special fiery hot sauce. Cadet Joey Keese won the contest by chomping down 18, with Cadet Matt Dickinson a spicy second, having munched down 12. – VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

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VMI Basketball Featured in Sports IllustratedVMI basketball, which at press time is sitting at 20-4 overall and enjoying the school’s best start in 32 years, was featured in Sports Illustrated for the week of Feb. 9. The four-page piece contains in-depth discussion with players, coach Duggar Baucom, and others important to this year’s success. At press time, VMI is leading the country in points per game, has equaled the record

for fastest Big South team to attain 20 wins, and has set a new school mark for conference wins, with 11. During this storybook season, the Keydets have also been discussed nationally by such outlets as the New York Times, USA Today, and ESPN, on which team leaders Chavis and Travis Holmes appeared on Jan. 23. – Image copyright Sports Illustrated.