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The Cadet Collective: Antonio Ahanj

Virginia Military Institute requires structure and dedication. It also becomes a place where bonds are created that can last a lifetime. Maybe it’s a professor, a coach, or a fellow cadet. No one makes it through VMI alone. The Cadet Collective tells the stories of those relationships that help pave the way for success.

Antonio Ahanj ’24 speaks Spanish and Arabic and has visited nine countries while participating in study abroad programs at VMI. Ahanj’s multiple study abroad programs and intensive language learning opportunities have shaped his perspectives and skill set as an international studies major. He attributes much of his growth and success to the unique environment fostered at VMI, where supportive relationships and a culture of mentorship have played a crucial role for him. 

“VMI has been incredible in introducing me to so many people who have been instrumental in getting me to where I’m currently at,” said Ahanj.” Two individuals that come to mind are Mr. Todd Goen and Mrs. Patricia Hardin of the Office of Global Education.”  

Ahanj described instances where Hardei’s support and advice greatly impacted his academic career, especially during challenging times such as the height of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“I remember one night I started sending emails to her and, she responded saying, just keep it down, get through this, and then we’ll start talking about things going on,” said Ahanj. “But from every step of the way in my VMI journey, she has helped me learn to be punctual with the things that I wanted to do, to be articulate in how I want, to road map things for myself and overall, she helped me understand what’s the best way to take this experience that’s already unique.” 

Ahanj described developing stress tolerance as another interpersonal skill during his time with VMI. 

“Through being abroad, I saw how much VMI benefited me, mainly in terms of  stress tolerance, things like that. You know, there’s people from other schools there that are freaking out about, for lack of a better term, minor things,” said Ahanj about the stressors of study abroad programs such as police visits for visas and interactions made difficult by language barriers.  

Looking back, Ahanj credited Goen with his ability to plan for the success of his study abroad trips. 

“Especially beforehand, Mr. Goen really stressed to me about kind of looking back how I spent my experiences before and understanding what I did wrong,” said Ahanj. “Maybe I didn’t do this enough, maybe I didn’t interact with locals enough or participate in extracurriculars, things like that.”  

Ahanj went on to further detail how Goen introduced him to opportunities such as prestigious scholarships.  

“He helped me receive the CLS and Boren Awards, which are some of the best awards the Department of State can offer for language learning,” said Ahanj. “And recently he’s been helping me navigate opportunities like Fulbright and other ones.” 

Ahanj said he used the skills and resources Geon and Hardin have provided him to prepare for his graduation in spring of 2024.  

“The lessons that they taught me are something that I’m going to take to heart and something I’m going to kind of carry with me through each thing that I do,” said Ahanj.  

When asked what his plans were for post-graduation, Ahanj said he is pursuing his aspirations of applying to the Department of State Foreign Service. He expressed deep gratitude for the guidance he received, and the sacrifices made by the faculty, highlighting the importance of being prepared. 

“That has been one of the biggest lessons that I’ve taken away from them, and I think that’s going to be something that helps me years down, decades away, I’m still going to be drawing back on a lot of the things that I learned from them in terms of being able to kind of have that right mentality when approaching tasks, and furthermore, having the right mentality when approaching people to ask for help,” said Ahanj. 

Ahanj also credited VMI for instilling in him a sense of organization, confidence, and other valuable attributes that have proven highly effective in his daily life. 

“I owe so much of that to VMI, just in terms of entering this, you know, very stringent environment and being put in a position to find a way to thrive into that,” said Ahanj. “I do not think that even if I had the same opportunities at a different school, that I would have been able to get nearly as much out of it as I would if I did not go to VMI.” 

The Cadet Collective: Conner Felts ’24

Virginia Military Institute requires structure and dedication. It also becomes a place where bonds are created that can last a lifetime. Maybe it’s a professor, a coach, or a fellow cadet. No one makes it through VMI alone. The Cadet Collective tells the stories of those relationships that help pave the way for success.

For many cadets at Virginia Military Institute, the journey through rigorous academic and physical challenges is not a solitary endeavor. Conner Felts ’24, an English major, experienced the profound impact of mentorship and networking that defines the VMI experience with alumni during his time as a cadet.

Felts’ interest in the athletic communications field began with his involvement in photography and social media management for the VMI basketball team. 

It was through these roles that Felts connected with Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, ultimately leading to an introduction to Conor Powell ’99, an alumnus of VMI renowned for his extensive career in news reporting.  

“The reason he wanted to connect us is because I want to be a reporter when I graduate VMI,” said Felts. “I want to be a news broadcaster, sports journalist, anything like that. Conor Powell agreed to be my mentor going forward and help me get a job.” 

The mentorship evolved into a weekly phone call routine. “The first time I called him, I addressed him as ‘sir.’ He immediately corrected me, insisting that I just call him Conor. It was like talking to another brother rat,” Felts shared. 

The mentorship was more than just professional advice; it provided an emotional and psychological support system. 

“He understood the VMI life – the lack of sleep, the heavy workload,” explained Felts. “Talking to someone who had been through it made a huge difference.” 

This mentorship greatly enriched Felts’s VMI experience and prepared him for the future.  

“I worked with ESPN on live broadcasts, and Powell’s guidance helped me find my voice and remain calm on air,” he said. 

Felts said he felt confident about his next steps, thanks to the network Powell had helped him build. Powell introduced Felts to prominent figures in the journalism industry, including other VMI alumni. Felts believes these connections have opened doors to opportunities to navigate post-graduation job prospects. 

“I applied for jobs, and through Powell, I connected with prominent figures like Scott Thuman, head news anchor at Channel 7 in DC, and Scott Heilman from NBCUniversal,” said Felts. 

Felts hopes to pay the mentorship he received forward.  

“Powell mentioned he wished he had someone to guide him when he was in my shoes. I want to offer the same support to future cadets,” said Felts. “This relationship showed me that you can’t start at the top. You have to find glory in the work it takes to get there.” 

Powell’s guidance prepared Felts to embark on a promising journalism career grounded in resilience, mentorship, and the indomitable spirit of the VMI legacy as of his graduation in May 2024. 

The Cadet Collective: Benjamin Fong ’27

Virginia Military Institute requires structure and dedication. It also becomes a place where bonds are created that can last a lifetime. Maybe it’s a professor, a coach, or a fellow cadet. No one makes it through VMI alone. The Cadet Collective tells the stories of those relationships that help pave the way for success.  

Everything started to fall into place the week before Matriculation, Benjamin Fong ’27 said. He had traveled across the country from California and was staying with his uncle in Maryland, unsure of how he’d get down to Virginia Military Institute.  

His cross-country trip wasn’t straight from the West Coast to the East Coast. As part of his ROTC scholarship, he had to do a New Student Indoctrination (NSI) for the Naval ROTC, which was held in Chicago. He knew that he would be at VMI come August, but due to his financial restraints, he couldn’t make the move from California to Virginia.  

The Navy flew him from California to Chicago. Step one was down. He just needed to figure out how to get closer to Virginia after NSI.  

That brought him to Maryland with his uncle, who said he could drive him down to Lexington. But the VMI Parents Council had another solution.  

“The Parents Council had actually been considering finding me a way to get down here, which I didn’t know at that time,” he said. 

That’s where Robert and Dana Ruble came in. The Rubles were the 2023-24 co-presidents of the VMI Parents Council, which provides a link between parents, cadets, and staff at VMI. They offered to get him to Lexington and even went as far as to inform him their son, Sebastian Ruble ’24, was interested in being his dyke (1st Class mentor).  

“All this kindness seemed foreign to me,” he said. “The Rubles throughout the year have been very kind to me, have always been there to talk when the Rat Line got tough, connected me with alumni and school resources when needed, and regularly checked in and made sure that I was thriving. Many times, I came to them in a tricky situation, whether financially or with family issues and they gave their full support and guidance.” 

The Rubles assured Fong that there would be a family to help him walk through Matriculation Day. That’s how he met Kellett and Adrea Thomas.  

The Thomases became his host family. Before Matriculation he stayed at their home, had dinner, and prepared for what was next. During the Matriculation Fair, the Thomas’ showed Fong which church they attend and invited him to join them on Sundays. 

“On Matriculation Day, they introduced me to so many people who would later be revealed as important individuals. They answered all my questions and got me answers from those who knew them,” he said. 

A host family generally “adopts” a rat and takes care of them through the Rat Line. That includes offering care packages, putting them in touch with alumni or other resources, being a sounding board during hard times, and more.  

“I was shocked that such a family was willing to actively help out matriculants that they had never met,” he said. “As they hosted me for the night and acted as a surrogate family, I couldn’t help but feel indebted to them. Whenever I thanked them, they told me that they were glad to help and loved doing so, which I know they genuinely enjoyed.” 

The Thomases helped him acquire books. When they found out he didn’t have a pillow the first week, they got him one. They explained the process of what it was like to go through the Rat Line and what to expect, since they’d seen it firsthand with their own children who’ve attended.  

These relationships have proved to be an important factor in Fong’s time at VMI. 

“If you had no resources coming here, it’d be hard to justify staying, especially from out of state. You’re in a foreign place, a unique place. You’re facing all this adversity,” he said. “Having these recurrent relationships kind of makes it seem like it’s a reward in the sense that you go through these things, but at the same time, you’ve been taken care of. No matter how hard it is, there will always be somewhere, someone to take care of you. That kind of relationship, whether it’s a host family, your dyke’s family, or even the Parents Council is very important.” 

In addition to the Thomases, his dyke has been a major influence in his first year at VMI. 

“Sebastian Ruble is the best dyke anyone could ask for. He mentors, answers questions, and jokes around with me,” he said. “I always like to brag about him because, to me, he stands on a pedestal. I greatly appreciate him and how much he has done for me.” 

Finding VMI and all it offers was by chance. While looking at options for college, Fong sought out an ROTC scholarship. That meant selecting schools with ROTC options. He clicked Virginia Military Institute but had never heard of it.  

“I picked Virginia as a state because I knew that it had a little bit of military ties to it. Then I saw the word military and Virginia Military Institute. And I didn’t even really look into the school. I just checked it off,” he said. “So, when I applied to VMI, I found out more about it. And I decided this was a happy coincidence. I’m glad I stumbled upon the school.” 

It’s been a transformative year for Fong. Last year, he was struggling as to where he would end up after high school. He was living with friends, lacked the funds to do much, and was receiving a lot of denials. He knew he wanted to go into the military. The psychology major plans on commissioning into the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating.  

Now, he’s more regimented. He wants to be a leader, mentor others, and pay forward what he’s been given. He’s also become humbled by the generosity he’s received.  

“It’s made me appreciate reaching out. It was hard for me at first. For me, it’s very hard to receive help, because I have always been in the mindset of, I need to help myself. No one’s going to do it for me,” he said. “But here I am. People go out of their way to help me. I’ve been more comfortable with asking for help. I’ve learned to just appreciate their generosity, but also in the future when I’m able to give back or pass it forward, I will.” 

The Cadet Collective: The Kleinschusters

Virginia Military Institute requires structure and dedication. It also becomes a place where bonds are created that can last a lifetime. Maybe it’s a professor, a coach, or a fellow cadet. No one makes it through VMI alone. The Cadet Collective tells the stories of those relationships that help pave the way for success. 

Matthew Kleinschuster ’26 tagged along to college tours with his brother Jacob “Jake” Kleinschuster ’24, so he got an inside look at whatever places his brother was interested in. Virginia Military Institute wasn’t the immediate choice for Jake, but his senior year of high school he was decided.  

They kept it in the family. Their grandfather, also Jacob, Class of 1964, attended VMI.  

“Seeing him have his buddies over all the time, telling the Rat Line stories … I’ve always wanted something like that with a group of guys I can live life with,” Jake said. 

Jake didn’t pressure Matthew in picking VMI, but he was really gunning for him to.  

“When he did decide, I was very excited that he came here,” Jake said. “I enjoyed being the older brother for the Rat Line because I knew what was coming up for him. Also, I could have some of my other friends go pay Matthew a visit, which was great. Being able to see Matthew go through that, knowing what the weeks and days to come for him would be and get to kind of mess around with him here was really enjoyable for me, but just solidifying our relationship.” 

It wasn’t even a question when Matthew had decided where to attend. 

“Having my brother here was definitely a perk,” Matthew said. “It was nice to know where I’m going to go, I already have a guaranteed friend. We were best friends growing up.” 

The two have always been close — sharing a room growing up, starting a landscaping business during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, where they’d work together every afternoon. Their relationship grew as they spent more one-on-one time together as young adults.  

“Fast forward to college. Once I got to the Rat Line, he was always shooting glances here and there kind of encouraging me. Then after the Rat Line, we did Ranger Challenge, which was a lot of fun,” Matthew said.  

He said they wake up and work out together, attend classes, and more.  

“It really solidified that friendship. And that’s what I think kind of encapsulates our relationship,” Matthew said.  

Jake said his friends have become Matthew’s friends and vice versa, making a larger family unit for them both on post. 

“We’re like the glue that links everybody together, because we’re brothers and I’m hanging out with his buddies now,” Jake said. “Having a brother here has been really special because I get to see those friendships I’ve made with my brother rats, but also at the end of day I get to share everything with Matthew.” 

Matthew was intimidated to come to VMI, especially after his brother. He said that Jake had made a name for himself here. 

“Jake definitely excelled here. He made a big name for himself,” Matthew said. “Coming in, I was nervous. It’s hard to hide the last name Kleinschuster. I felt like I had targeted my back. But after a while, I realized at the end of the day, VMI wants you to become your own man.” 

Matthew said having his brother here served as a form of encouragement.   

“I have big shoes to fill, but someone behind me who’s going to support me, whatever I do,” Matthew said. “That was probably the biggest motivation of having a brother here. Not the nerve-wracking and being nervous of not living up to his title, but just knowing no matter what happened, I had someone in my corner.” 

The brothers say after their time at VMI, their relationships will continue to strengthen after having shared the camaraderie of going through the same experience. They even have corresponding majors. Jake, an economics and business major with a math minor, and Matthew, a math major with a business minor. The two plan on entering the U.S. Army after graduating — another shared bond that will continue.  

“We’ll continue to make connections there. Then when I go to the Army, I’m excited to do the same thing,” Matthew said. “We get different furloughs off, come back and hang. The more and more we experienced separately, the more we get to share together, which I’m excited about.” 

Jake said that having Matthew at VMI made him appreciate the small things and not take any day for granted. 

“Knowing that in a few months I’ll be gone for a handful years and just taking these days, slowly enjoying the time to spend with Matthew,” Jake said. “Being here studying, being able to go to the gym with Matthews is a blessing.” 

For Matthew, it’s served as a motivation.  

“It’s fun to know that whatever happens, my brother’s going to support me,” Matthew said. “I push myself every day to be better than Jake, which is pretty difficult, but it’s fun to try and strive for. And he encourages me in all aspects. He’s always behind me, motivating me and then vice versa. We’re kind of pushing off each other.” 

Jake said they’ve created a bond that many admire. 

“When our friends see our relationship, it’s a fun special relationship that I think they look up to,” Jake said. “Being able to just create that big group of guys, everyone just getting along and hanging out regardless of where they came from. It’s been fun.” 

After Jake graduates in the spring, Matthew said he’s not looking forward to finding a new routine without his brother on post.  

“I’m going to continue making a name for myself and lead,” Matthew said. “I’m excited to see what that looks like when he’s gone, when I don’t have that guy in my corner. I’m not too worried knowing that I’ve got other guys in my corner just for me, but I’ll miss him. I’ll need to find another gym partner, another study partner. But, I’m excited for him and I’m excited to see where I go and do my thing.”