Message from the VMI Alumni Agencies Board Chairman and Alumni Association President Samuel N. Stocks ’90
A lot is happening on post as the academic year comes to an end. The graduating class is preparing to march in its last parade, the Institute will honor the sacrifices of all alumni who died on the field of honor in service to our country since 1842, and those graduates who will serve their country in uniform will receive their commissions—often sworn in by parents or other family members. Finally, the members of the graduating class will receive their diplomas. This is the time when 1st Class cadets can’t wait to begin their next chapter in life, but at the same time, they realize they will miss their friends, faculty members, and mentors at VMI. Of course, it won’t be long until the VMI Alumni Association reaches out to them to plan their trips back to post for a variety of activities and, before they know it, their first reunion. We just completed an exciting reunion season when all current reunion classes plus those from the past year whose reunions were canceled due to COVID-19 could come back to post, reconnect with old friends, reengage with the Institute, and celebrate the Corps of Cadets. It’s wonderful to see alumni, from our youngest to our most senior, return. There is nothing like reunion classes gathering in the Old Barracks courtyard with their leaders on the sentinel box for their Old Yells as the Corps joins them. Stocks ’90 I am fortunate to have a close view of many of these events and celebrations, and I am immensely confident in the Institute and its future. Looking at the graduating class, I see young men and women transformed by a demanding education that ensures intellectual, physical, and spiritual development; instills self-discipline and self-confidence; encourages life-long learning and fitness; and establishes a commitment to honor and service. As they leave post ready to take up life’s challenges, they demonstrate unquestionable evidence that VMI continues to fulfill the mission its founders laid out almost 185 years ago. This is what I can assure you: The Institute continues to graduate young people who are honorable, determined, and selfless leaders in their chosen professions as well as active citizens wherever they live. Furthermore, VMI continues to accomplish this mission in its own tried and true way. Through four years at VMI, cadets still experience a rigorous and rich academic program, a demanding co-curriculum centered on the barracks and the regimental system, and for some, a wide array of athletic opportunities from NCAA Division I sports to club sports to intramurals. And every element sits on a solid foundation of honor. VMI continues to prepare cadets to meet the complex challenges of the future, and VMI remains steadfast in its adherence to the basic tenets of the cadet experience familiar to all alumni. It takes a great number of people to ensure the Institute continues its mission and advances every aspect of its remarkable education. Not only are there those on post—the faculty, staff, and coaches—whose work enhances and enriches the cadet experience, but their efforts would not be as effective and enduring without the incredible support from VMI alumni, family, and friends. Every year, thousands of people contribute to the life of the Institute in many ways. Some organize events around the country that bring people together in support of VMI. Others urge young people to consider attending VMI. There are those who volunteer to review cadet and alumni resumes to support their career paths. And alumni, with the VMI Alumni Association’s help, organize milestone reunions and the fundraising efforts that accompany them. Others tell their friends and neighbors about the contributions VMI alumni have made and are making to our country’s prosperity and security. Thousands more step up to the plate to offer financial support to the Institute through the VMI Foundation and the Keydet Club, and no matter their size, these gifts and commitments are critically important. Then, there are the alumni and staff who steward the endowment that ensures support for the Institute for generations to come. While none of this could happen without the dedicated and talented team at the VMI Alumni Agencies, I am constantly amazed by the men and women who are the volunteer leaders of these three organizations. They give selflessly of their wide range of talents and so much of that irreplaceable commodity: Their time. This commitment—while working toward the mission to help and support other VMI alumni, the Corps of Cadets, and the Institute—can repeatedly take them away from their friends and families. The last two years have been especially taxing, but these volunteers stay committed. For that, I am grateful. So, what does VMI mean to you? What does VMI mean in the lives of its cadets, current and future? What does VMI mean to our country? Based on your answers to those questions, I ask you to consider what you might do on the Institute’s behalf this year and into the future. Reaching out to brother rats to check in, helping mentor a prospective cadet, supporting the work of a reunion, engaging with your local chapter, and last—but certainly not least—determining to financially support the things that make VMI, VMI. Whether it be your time, talent, or treasure, whatever you do, it will be important because it will advance a truly extraordinary American institution and make a profound difference in the lives of thousands of young people for generations to come.
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VMI Alumni Review
