Eight 1st Class commissioning cadets along with their faculty leadership team toured Japan, a key U.S. ally, during spring furlough as part of the Olmsted Foundation’s Undergraduate Program. Cadets were chosen based on their GPA, ROTC ranking, a written essay, and personal interview.

Brandon Marks ’23, an international studies major at Virginia Military Institute, conducted a two-year-long research project on microfinance, and presented his findings in his senior thesis titled, “The Impact of Domestic Context on Microfinance Provision and Effectiveness” during Honors Week, held

Nick Schaefer ’23, an international studies major, minoring in national security, focused his research project on finding a pattern of behavior that leads to the use of private military companies.

Virginia Military Institute recently welcomed three representatives from NATO’s Innovation Hub, a formal civilian organization that reports to NATO Allied Command Transformation located in Norfolk.

For the first time in history, Virginia Military Institute cadets have received active-duty direct commissions to the USCG by way of the Auxiliary University Programs, and will take their oath of office and receive their first salute at the Joint Commissioning Ceremony in May.

VMI has been designated as one of only ten colleges in the nation to be named a “Community of Practice” from Braver Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting civil discourse, in their College Debates and Discourse Program, through a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

Cadets, faculty, and staff were able to sample dishes that represent the different language taught at VMI and learn about academic offerings as part of "Language and Culture Week at VMI" hosted by the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Cadets participated in the annual three-day Appalachia Regional Model Arab League debate recently at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. MAL helps prepare students to be knowledgeable, well-trained, and effective citizens as well as civic and public affairs activists.

Col. Spencer Bakich, professor of international studies at Virginia Military Institute and the director of the national security minor, will discuss U.S. and China tensions on the public radio program With Good Reason.

Antonio Ahanj ’24, an international studies major at VMI, spent the summer studying Arabic in Tangier, Morocco, after winning a highly competitive scholarship.