News

Maj. Natalie Slone instructs her class in animal nutrition, using Fireball as a hands-on teaching example.

Cadets Learn Equine Body Condition Scoring

October 20, 2025

Fireball, a five-year-old miniature donkey owned by Slone and her family, was brought to class for a demonstration using the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System (BCS), a method for evaluating equine nutritional status and body fat percentage.

Cadets and leaders pose in front of one of the buildings they helped to construct during a Habitat for Humanity build.

VMI’s Building BRIDGES Club Receives Grant for Community Services

October 16, 2025

The club has been awarded a $10,000 grant designed to spark and expand service initiatives led by youth on campuses, empowering students to lead meaningful change in their communities.

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne Division.

“Recalibrated” Veteran Motivates at VMI

October 13, 2025

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne Division will speak at Virginia Military Institute. Mills was critically injured by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Afghanistan during on his third tour of duty in 2012, losing portions of both legs and both arms.

Lt. Gen. David Furness ’87 takes review of his first parade as superintendent Sept. 19.

Furness Starts Tenure with High Energy

October 9, 2025

Lt. Gen. David Furness ’87 returned to Virginia Military Institute this fall as its 16th superintendent, diving into a busy first week of meetings, ceremonies, and cadet interactions while sharing a message of perseverance, integrity, and faith in the VMI journey.

Daniel Farbman and Kaylee McGhee White listen as Jonathan Turley defends his position during the debate in Gillis Theater Sept. 30.

Debate on Constitutional Crisis Draws Crowd to VMI

October 6, 2025

Is the United States experiencing a constitutional crisis? That was the resolution debated at Virginia Military Institute Sept. 30. The debate was part of the fall Steamboat Institute Campus Liberty Tour, and was co-hosted by VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics.

Three biology research students harvest soybean plants at a field farm in Orange, Virginia.

VMI Biology Research Gets Published: Soybean Traits Studied

September 30, 2025

A scholarly article addressing soybean research spanning seven years was published in the September 2025 issue of Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, a joint publication of American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America.

VMI retained its high placing among the nation’s best colleges, according to the 2025 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 24 by U.S. News and World Report

VMI Maintains Strong Rankings in U.S. News Best Colleges List

September 23, 2025

VMI maintained its reputation as one of the nation’s best colleges, according to the 2026 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 23 by U.S. News and World Report.

Museum interpreter Tamara Teaff shares the tale of “The Conceited Apple Blossom” with children on Apple Day.

Apple Day Returns to the Jackson House Museum

September 18, 2025

Travel back to 1850s Lexington during the Jackson House Museum’s Apple Day, Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For over 40 years, this much-loved event has welcomed families, friends, and history lovers for a day filled with interactive activities, traditional crafts, and old-fashioned fun

Flyer graphic for Steamboat Debate between Daniel Farbman and Jonathan Turley.

Turley and Farbman Debate Constitutional Crisis at VMI: Discourse Part of Steamboat Institute

September 16, 2025

VMI's Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE) will host a Steamboat Institute Campus Liberty Tour Debate, Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. in Gillis Theater, Marshall Hall. The debate resolution is: Be it resolved; the U.S. is experiencing a constitutional crisis.

Master Sgt. Christopher C. Spence discusses his time in Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Gillis Theater Sept. 10.

Former Special Forces Horse Soldier Speaks at VMI

September 16, 2025

U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Christopher C. Spence—part of the first wave of American forces on the ground in Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks 24 years ago—spoke at Virginia Military Institute Sept. 10 as the first speaker of the Center for Leadership and Ethics’ (CLE) 2025-2