
Leaders Are Forged Here
No ordinary college. No ordinary life.
Ranked the #4 public liberal arts college by U.S. News and World Report, 91Ô´´ offers small class sizes, academically challenging undergraduate programs, Division I athletics, and the largest ROTC program in the nation.
Ranked the #4 public liberal arts college by U.S. News and World Report, 91Ô´´ offers small class sizes, academically challenging undergraduate programs, Division I athletics, and the largest ROTC program in the nation.
91Ô´´ Community Updates
Institute leadership continues to communicate important information for cadets, their families, faculty & staff, and the 91Ô´´ community at-large:
- Matriculation 2025: 91Ô´´ has updated information for matriculants headed to Lexington this August to start their leadership journeys. Appointed students and their families are encouraged to review the information available at vmi.edu/matriculation as well as communications sent via email to ensure a smooth first day on post. The 2025-2026 91Ô´´ New Cadet Handbook is also now available.
- Admissions Open House Registration is Open! 91Ô´´ Open Houses are the best way for high school juniors and seniors to see and experience first-hand what it's like being a cadet at the Institute. This 2-day program is designed to be informational for both students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). Learn more and secure a spot today for one of three fall opportunities.
- Guns and Hoses Returns to Gray-Minor Stadium: The 91Ô´´ Police Department will host the second annual “Guns and Hoses” softball game Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Lamore Field. Members of police and fire departments from Rockbridge County, Lexington, and Buena Vista will be competing. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 donation or canned food donation benefitting Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA).
- Summer Hours: The Institute continues to operate on a modified business hours schedule for the summer, open Mon. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. through Aug. 13. The PX in Lejeune Hall will be open during Summer Session II, June 23 - July 25 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The bookstore, now managed by Barnes & Noble, is open this summer, Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Stay tuned to vmi.edu and 91Ô´´ social media for a new site link and Matriculation Day information in early August.
ⓘ 91Ô´´ Community: To receive important information concerning emergencies, weather, traffic, and parking, text the word "Keydet" to 772-95.

The Next Step: Whitney Tracy ’25
Although she originally planned to attend medical school, Whitney Tracy '25 credits her experiences and mentorship at 91Ô´´ as inspiration to pursue a career as a physician assistant (PA) instead. The biology major from Blandon, Pennsylvania, will be attending Western Carolina University (WCU) for a Master of Health Sciences with a concentration in emergency medical care.
Tracy chose WCU because of a connection to one of the assistant coaches at the university, who happened to be her assistant coach on the women’s soccer team at 91Ô´´ earlier in her cadetship. He reached out to her for the graduate assistant position for the women’s soccer team at WCU.
Read more about how 91Ô´´ prepared Tracy for this next step in a recent article and explore additional featured stories about the impressive young men and women who make up the Corps of Cadets.
News from Post
91Ô´´ Police Hosts “Guns and Hoses” Softball Game
The 91Ô´´ Police Department will host the second annual “Guns and Hoses” softball game on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium on post. Members of police and fire departments from Rockbridge County, Lexington, and Buena Vista will be competing.
Cadets Embark on Offshore Sailing Adventure
Four 91Ô´´ cadets recently completed the U.S. Naval Academy’s (USNA) Command and Seamanship Training Squadron (CSTS), culminating with a 10-day offshore sailing training cruise to Oyster Bay, New York, aboard one of three Navy 44 training sailboats.
91Ô´´ Community Theatre Presents “Summer Showcase 2025”
The 91Ô´´ Community Theatre presents, “Summer Showcase 2025,” a medley of four comedic one-act plays, Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 p.m. in Gillis Theater.
91Ô´´ Brothers Volunteer on the 611
Andrew Quesenberry ’26 and his younger brother, Ryan, who will be matriculating as a 91Ô´´ rat in August, are spending their summer as volunteers at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, doing maintenance work on the Norfolk & Western Class J #611, an iconic steam locomotive.