A seasonally cool morning warmed into a day full of happiness and celebration in a crowded Memorial Hall at Virginia Military Institute, as families and friends gathered to witness 38 cadets cross the stage to receive their diplomas during the commencement ceremony Dec. 19.

Cadets in the Building BRIDGES Club, in collaboration with Remembering Rockbridge Veterans (RRV), laid wreaths on the headstones of veterans buried in Evergreen Cemetery, a historical Black cemetery in Lexington, as part of the Wreaths Across America program.

The Building BRIDGES Club, in collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Opportunity and Inclusion, and Preston Library at Virginia Military Institute, hosted a holiday card making event Dec. 9 in the post exchange.

The College Debates and Discourse Program at Virginia Military Institute continued its development throughout the fall semester, beginning with a partnership with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the national College Debates and Discourse Alliance.

Col. James C. Squire, the Jamison-Payne professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Military Institute, has been named one of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and Dominion Energy’s 2025 Outstanding Faculty.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin paid a holiday visit to Virginia Military Institute on the last day of fall semester classes, Thursday, Dec. 12.

Seventy cadets from Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine ROTC programs competed in a series of challenging tasks attempting to earn a German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GAFPB).

Col. Dimplekumar Chalishajar, professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics recently celebrated his 121st peer reviewed research publication, surpassing his achievement of 100, just twelve months ago.

Beginning in April, the Office of Career Services (CS) will offer a professional closet for cadets needing clothes for job interviews, networking events, and other career-related events. Cadets will be able to borrow a complete ensemble free of charge each semester.

VMI will host its ROTC Joint Commissioning Ceremony on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. and Commencement on Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. in Memorial Hall. Speakers include Col. Joe Hansen, a decorated Army veteran, and Maj. Gen. James 'Pat' Work of the 82nd Airborne Division. Both events are open to the public.