16 minute read
Events
Institute Society Dinner Resumes, Recognizes Nearly 500 Supporters
By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer
More than 450 alumni and friends were the guests of the VMI Foundation at the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 11, 2021. After a year’s hiatus, taking place again in the Hall of Valor in Marshall Hall, the annual event recognizes the hundreds of members of the VMI family whose generosity to the Institute and its cadets places them in the front rank of supporters of the Institute. In Fiscal Year 2021, these men and women contributed tens of millions of dollars in gifts and commitments to every aspect of VMI’s extraordinary education.
After a greeting from Meade B. King ’85, VMI Foundation chief operating officer, cadets posted the colors, and the VMI Herald Trumpets played the national anthem. After the evening’s invocation from Col. Robert S. Phillips Sr. ’87, the John M. Camp Chaplain to the Corps of Cadets, dinner was served.
After dinner, Thomas H. Zarges ’70, VMI Foundation president, thanked the guests for their philanthropy, saying, “Your gifts had a significant impact on the lives of current and future cadets, a legacy for generations to come. Your support of our academic program helped to sustain its excellence and provided a foundation for further progress. Your support of co-curriculum bolstered what makes VMI’s education undeniably extraordinary and just as undeniably effective. Your support of our athletic program sharpened our teams’ competitive edge and allowed more young people to reap the many rewards of being a cadet-athlete.”
“Your generosity,” continued Zarges, “has given VMI the ability and the confidence to carry out the mission its founders set for it—to provide our great state and great country with well-educated, purposeful, and honorable graduates prepared for consequential lives of professional success and selfless service— which it has pursued since that snowy day in 1839.”
A short video depicting the effect of private support on the Institute and, therefore, on cadets’ lives followed Zarges’ remarks. After the video, the keynote presentation was provided by Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, the Institute’s 15th superintendent. In his first Institute Society Dinner address, he stressed the importance of maintaining VMI’s progress. “The cost to maintain the first-rate education we provide at VMI requires a long-term commitment from all of us. We continue to invest in building the best facilities; recruiting excellent faculty, staff, and cadets; and providing opportunities for cadets to excel in sports, academics, and the military. We’ve made tremendous progress toward Vision 2039, and I believe we are on the right track, but we must not let up on our efforts.
After a year’s hiatus, all enjoy the return to Marshall Hall for the 2021 Institute Society Dinner.—Photos by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.
We must be diligent and forward-thinking.”
He then introduced the Institute’s new leadership team members and said, “My team and I are excited to be here and lead VMI forward. I want to reinforce that VMI is strong and has a bright future ahead. The Institute has survived adversity in the past and will in the future because our foundation is solid and not easily shaken. VMI remains essentially what it has always been: A disciplined community for learning and leadership development, dedicated to the highest standards of integrity, civility, personal honor, and courage.”
He closed his remarks by reiterating his confidence in VMI and thanking the guests. “I want to assure you of the direction we are going into the future—a future that I believe is very bright. You are a tremendous part of this success and our mission moving forward. Thank you for your continued support, and rest assured the fundamentals of VMI remain strong.”
The evening closed with a spirited performance by the VMI Glee Club, which closed with “The VMI Spirit” and “The VMI Doxology” and remarks by King, in which he thanked the guests for the immense benefits their giving provides cadets.
Guests—here, Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Martin ’13—are greeted and escorted by cadets.
Michael A. Kelly ’73 and William P. Gibson ’65. The VMI Herald Trumpets play the national anthem.
The annual dinner brings back to post hundreds of alumni and friends who are leaders in providing VMI private financial support in the prior fiscal year.
Among the special guests is retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Gwen Bingham, the current Leaderin-Residence. Meade B. King ’85, VMI Foundation chief operating officer, thanks the guests for their attendance and support of VMI.
Thomas H. Zarges ’70, VMI Foundation president, expresses his gratitude to the guests.
Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85, superintendent, addresses the Institute Society Dinner for the first time. The Glee Club provides an entertaining end to the evening.
Three brother rats of the Class of 1971: (from left) David R. Honeywell, Warren J. “Buddy” Bryan, and David A. Ellington.
Alumni Gather in Charleston for Military Classic of the South
The Keydet football team’s trip to The Citadel Oct. 1-2 for the Military Classic of the South was bolstered by two events that attracted large numbers of alumni and friends of the Institute.
The night before the game, the Alumni Association hosted a mix and mingle event at the Charleston Marriott Courtyard. Just under 100 alumni and friends enjoyed VMI camaraderie at the event. The next day, alumni and family members of all ages attended a tailgate lunch held at Joe Riley Park. Nearly 165 members of the VMI family came to the tailgate, plus the Rat Mass of 2022+3 and members of the regimental staff. Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, attended both events.
“It was great to see so many alumni out and about in support of our great Keydet-athletes and just energized to gather together,” said Thom Brashears ’95, Alumni Association chief operating officer. “Any time we are down in Charleston is a good time—what great venues and both events were excellent atmospheres of positive alumni engagement.”
“Our Brand is Solid”: Superintendent Visits North Carolina Chapters
By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer
Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85, superintendent, speaks to alumni and family in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sept. 29. He was the featured speaker at dinners held by the Central North Carolina-Raleigh Chapter and the Charlotte Chapter in September.—Photos by Christian Heilman, VMI Alumni Agencies.
Two chapters of the VMI Alumni Association in North Carolina—the Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter and the Charlotte Chapter—held dinners Sept. 29 and 30, respectively. At both, Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, was the featured guest and speaker.
Thomas A. Brashears ’95, VMI Alumni Association chief operating officer, welcomed the guests, providing an overview of the Association’s work for the VMI family. After dinner, Wins delivered a strong, positive message about the Institute that focused on the strength of VMI’s time-tested method of education and the Institute’s next steps forward.
His comprehensive message included numerous topics. For example, he stressed that, since the earliest days of his administration, both he and the VMI Board of Visitors have been firm on one point: Preserving “the things that were fundamental to VMI, its unique method of education.” Those fundamental things—where the Institute “drew a line in the sand,” as he put it—were the Honor Code, the class system, the regimental system, and “the physical component.” He then pointed out that the Barnes & Thornburg report stated the value of all those elements of the VMI education, as well as praised the excellence of the academic program and the apparent positive effects of a VMI education on the lives for cadets and graduates.
Yet, as committed to the core elements of the VMI education and as proud of its education’s effectiveness as the Institute is, Wins continued, it cannot be satisfied with maintaining the status quo, and it never has been. He described the advances VMI had made under Vision 2039, the strategic plan developed under the leadership of his predecessor, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62. He also spoke of VMI’s recent self-assessment, a process which considered “how higher education had transitioned, how the state had transitioned, and how the country has changed” since Vision 2039 was adopted in 2005 and examined “other areas that weren’t included in Vision 2039.” The assessment— during which the superintendent spent more than 25 hours speaking with and listening to cadets, faculty, and staff across post—“talked
about a lot of things,” said Wins, including “the need for young men and women who come to VMI being able to find their place, figuring out what it is about the school that they want to excel in and how they want to grow and develop so that they can be prepared ... to go and lead in a world that so desperately needs leaders.”
The fruit of that assessment—“One Corps–One VMI: A Unifying Action Plan”—was released about the same time as the Barnes & Thornburg report. Wins discussed the crux of the report, its five “outcomes.” First among them was honor and how the Honor Code must be central to every cadet and all alumni. Another outcome he touched on was diversity and inclusion, which, he said, “is about any young man or woman coming to VMI and being able to see themselves as part of the landscape, to find their place, and to chart out their own path as a part of VMI’s legacy.”
Another outcome he discussed was the VMI brand, the “outward face of VMI.”
“We know our brand is solid,” said Wins. “The best representatives of what the VMI brand is all about and what people from the outside can look in and see who we really are is our Corps of Cadets.”
“So,” he continued, “I asked the cadets when I first showed up to own the narrative of who you are as Virginia Military Institute. Don’t let anyone else define that for you. You define, you show them what it means to be a VMI cadet, what it means to be a person of high moral character. I asked them to do that last year when we had some tough things to go through, and I asked them to do that again this year at this year’s convocation because they have the best ability to demonstrate who we are as VMI.”
After speaking for more than 45 minutes, Wins took questions from the guests, touching on the honor system, cadets’ use of social media, and the commandant’s office.
Brashears cast these events—and the many others like it that occur every year—as important because they build support for the Institute from alumni and friends in VMI and its current direction. “Any leader of an organization needs to create ‘buy-in,’ and that’s exactly what we were doing on this trip. Coming out of the pandemic, coming out of the current events, our alumni need to understand that the core of the VMI experience is not changing, that its foundation is solid, and that VMI will prosper as it continues to prepare the cadets for what they will face after graduation.”
Arkansas Chapter Gathers
Arkansas Chapter members watching the AA League Arkansas Travelers in August 2021 include (front row) Dave Walsh ’90, Hayden Whetstone ’15, (second row) Caroline and Al Robinson ’77, Scott Falls ’81, and Tish and Jim Dittrich ’76.
Attending the Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter Old Corps Breakfast Aug. 17, 2021, are (front row, from left) Dixie Walker ’70, Rick McCue ’81, Drew Turner ’72, Bill Gibson ’65, Kent Wheeless ’74, Glenn Garland ’75, Pete Shelley ’74, (back row) Paul Johnston ’61, Don Brown ’71, Roger Rosenfield ’47, Parky Parkman ’66, Larry Wilson ’62, Barton Pasco ’77, Rick Hening ’75, and Sam Hening. Wilson is the chapter president.
Attending the Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter Old Corps Breakfast in September 2021 are (from left) Rich McCue ’81, Kent Wheeless ’74, Dixie Walker ’70, Don Brown ’71, Larry Wilson ’62, Bill Gibson ’65, Rick Hening ’75, Torrey McLean ’67, and Mike Kelly ’73. Wilson is the chapter president, and Kelly is the Region VI director.
Attending the Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter Old Corps breakfast in October 2021 are (front, from left) Don Brown ’71; Ed Andrews ’70; Dixie Walker ’70; Bill Murchison ’70; Jenna Lazenby, daughter of Roland Lazenby ’74; Snookie Parker ’74; Bill Gibson ’65; Drew Turner ’72; Sam Hening; (back) Roger Rosenfield ’47; Paul Johnston ’61; Larry Wilson ’62, chapter president; Mike Kelly ’73, Region VI director; Hank Shirley ’60; and Rick Hening ’75.
Houston Chapter Holds Night with the Astros
The Houston Chapter holds a Night with the Astros Aug. 10, 2021.
North Jersey Chapter Gathers
Members of the North Jersey Chapter gather to watch the Somerset Patriots Aug. 27, 2021.
Jonathan M. Daniels 1961 Seminary Scholarship
Dr. G. Lee Southard ’59 and his family established the Jonathan M. Daniels 1961 Seminary Scholarship in 1985. The purpose of the scholarship is to assist VMI graduates pursuing an advanced degree leading to Protestant Christian ministry. The scholarship is named in honor of Jonathan M. Daniels ’61, who, after graduating from VMI, followed a call to ministry and entered seminary.
For more information, applications, and instructions, please contact Mary Cannon, administrative assistant in the VMI Chaplains’ Office, at cannonml@vmi.edu.
The degree pursued must lead to service as a pastor or military chaplain in Protestant ministry. The deadline for submitting the application is June 15 of each year. Scholarships are awarded in July.
The Villages Chapter Holds Summer Social
Graduate School Partnerships
The Villages Chapter holds a summer social at the hangar of Sandy and Blake Thomas ’73 at the Grass Roots Airpark in Groveland, Florida. The event was situated beside the Thomas’ World War II Stearman aircraft. Blake and a hangar neighbor, flying a second Stearman, flew in formation and provided a small air show for the gathering. Attending are (from left) Bob Burks ’61, Boyd Gaines ’80, Kathy Hendry, Larry Hendry ’75, Howard Seal ’67, Sandy Seal, Pat Brown, Tom Brown ’78, Susan Bull, Rosanne Hack, Rick Hack ’72, Jean Burks, Bob Bailey ’72, Grace Bailey, Pam Donahue, Ted Mervosh ’67, Carol Mervosh, Sandy Thomas, Bernie Groome ’71, Alan Vicory ’74, Wanda Groome, Kathy Vicory, Blake Thomas ’73, Walt Chalkley ’72, Jim Goodwillie ’60, and Jill Donahue. Vicory is the chapter president, Blake Thomas is the Region VII director, and the Baileys were visiting from the West Coast Florida – Tampa Chapter, where Bob is the president.
The Virginia Military Institute has forged relationships with graduate and professional schools in Virginia and across the U.S. These agreements offer opportunities, including admissions concessions, internships, guaranteed interviews and, in some cases, guaranteed admissions.
Partnerships include Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Florida State University, Norwich University, Arizona State, and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Programs include law, medicine, business, engineering, and communications.
Contact Ashley Clarke at clarkean@vmi.edu for more information.
Williamsburg Chapter Hosts Old Corps Luncheon
Wilmington Chapter Holds Old Corps Breakfast
The Williamsburg Chapter hosts an Old Corps luncheon for Hampton Roads region alumni at the Center Street Grill Sept. 14, 2021. Meade King ’85, VMI Foundation chief operating officer, and Thom Brashears ’95, Alumni Association chief operating officer, joined the group and provided updates on happenings at the Institute.
Attending the Wilmington Chapter Old Corps breakfast Aug. 24, 2021, at the Boat House in Wilmington, North Carolina, are Thomas Tolbert ’66, Bill Ryan ’65, Fred Ayers ’61, Mickey Finn ’65, Greg Weaver ’79, Harley Myler ’75, and John Gangemi ’61.
2021 Rat Send-Offs
During summer 2021, VMI Alumni Association chapters welcomed incoming cadets at local rat send-off events around the country. Thirty-eight chapters held rat send-offs, including 11 chapters in Virginia and 27 outside of Virginia. The cadets in the Class of 2022+3 represent 74 of the 99 VMI alumni chapters. “Events like rat send-offs are only possible through the hard work and dedication of VMI’s wonderful alumni volunteer leaders,” said Thom Brashears ’95, VMI Alumni Association chief operating officer. “A big, big thank you to all of the chapter volunteers who work tirelessly to support VMI and the cadets through the rat send-offs.”
