Honors Research in the News

Cadet presenting honors thesis at VMI, a military college in Virginia

Cybersecurity: VMI Honors Cadet Explains How Cyber-Attacks Affect Physical Infrastructure

March 23, 2023

“You cannot manage what you cannot see,” said Cadet Dominick Lalena '23, to illustrate the necessity of visibility in cybersecurity. “Every time you go online, you enter the cyber realm. For security purposes, an organization should be able to see who enters their cyber space.”

Chris Hulburt ’22 presents his senior thesis in Scott Shipp Hall during Honors Week.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Cadet Researches Contributions of 19th Century African-Americans at VMI

April 25, 2022

Christopher Hulburt ’22 researched contributions of 19th Century African-Americans at VMI in senior thesis “Unearthed Contributors: African-Americans at Virginia Military Institute, 1839-1851.”

Drone photo of Post

Cadet Discusses Future Road Funding at VMI

April 6, 2022

Most modern highways and roads are primarily funded through taxes paid at the gas pump, but with the increasing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles, how will roads be funded in the future? Drew P. Melusen ’22 proposed alternative solutions in his senior thesis.

Christopher M. Hulburt ’22 defends his thesis of the significant contributions by enslaved African-Americans and free people of color.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Honors Week Held at VMI

April 6, 2022

This year's Honors Week showcased research and scholarship across all disciplines by 34 cadets who presented their research to the wider VMI community. The annual event also saw a large number of cadets inducted into academic honor societies.

Christopher M. Hulbert ’22 presents his senior thesis: “Unearthed Contributors: African-Americans at Virginia Military Institute, 1839-1851

Cadet Highlights Earliest African-American Contributions at VMI

April 6, 2022

In his senior thesis “Unearthed Contributors: African-Americans at Virginia Military Institute, 1839-1851,” Christopher M. Hulbert ’22 argues that enslaved African-Americans and free people of color in Rockbridge County were equally influential as Smith and Preston.

Rachael Dickenson ’22 presents senior thesis on soybean cultivars during Honors Week.

Soybean Research at VMI

April 5, 2022

There are so many uses for soybeans. In fact, soybean yield was the subject of the senior thesis “Performance of Soybean Cultivars in Varying Rural Virginia Sites: Effect of Site Characteristics on Shoot Structure and Yield” presented by Rachael Dickenson ’22, during Honors Week at VMI.

Michael M. Hoffmann ’22 presents his senior thesis on The Cultural Renaissance of the Post-Vietnam Army.

Cadet Researches The Cultural Renaissance of the Post-Vietnam Army

April 5, 2022

Has the Army improved since the Vietnam war? Has it acknowledged and corrected the mistakes made? Michael M. Hoffmann ’22, who commands the 1st Battalion within the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Military Institute, believes it has and defended his thesis during Honors Week.

Carson Knox ’22 explored the relationship between writing and philosophy in his senior thesis presentation: “Nostromo and Schopenhauer’s Sublime”.

VMI Cadet Researches Link between Philosophy and Literature

March 25, 2022

Where does an author get his inspiration to write a fictional novel? How does an author develop character traits and personalities? Are writers and the work they create influenced by philosophers? Carson Knox ’22 explored the relationship between writing and philosophy in his senior thesis.

Tanner Mallari ’22 presents his senior thesis, “Evaluation of Crowdsourcing Applications in Disaster Relief.”

VMI Cadet Researches Disaster Relief

March 24, 2022

Crowdsourcing, which is enlisting the help of a large pool of people, has historically been a valuable way to help with disaster relief. Tanner Mallari ’22 researched that subject in his senior thesis, “Evaluation of Crowdsourcing Applications in Disaster Relief”, during Honors Week at VMI.

John O'Donnell presents his research in the Turman Room of Preston Library.

Honors Week Showcases Cadet Research

March 15, 2019

Nineteen cadets presented their research during Honors Week, with many choosing projects informed by the communities in which they grew up.