Tag: Civil Engineering

Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

Originally, Tazewell Rae wasn’t thinking of attending a military school. It was a high school coach that put him in touch with Virginia Military Institute’s head track and field coach and set up a visit. 

“Every other school I visited, I kept comparing to VMI,” he said. The students he saw on other campuses didn’t match up to the caliber VMI presented. 

“The other academic departments don’t compare to VMI. I really enjoyed the civil engineering department here. The classes are about 20 people or 25 people at the most. It just felt like a good environment,” he continued.  

Rae comes from Middlesex, Virginia, where his high school was tiny and had a graduating class of about 65 people.  

“I’m the only person out of my school in the past two years who’s committed for any sport,” he stated.” 

He came to VMI for track and field. Although in high school, he played several sports, including soccer, football, basketball, and indoor track and outdoor track. He stuck with track and field, where he throws the shot put.  

“Throwing is that nice break where you’re one-on-one with yourself, and you’re just focusing on that,” he explained. “You have control of that.” 

During his first two years of high school, he didn’t have a track and field coach. Then in his junior year, a friend’s father came to coach. That coach had a daughter who attended VMI, which gave Rae the connection to the Institute.  

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more. 

The civil engineering major has 17 credits this semester, while also serving as the 3rd squad Bravo cadre corporal. He is also seeking a commissioning route with the U.S. Army. 

Some days he has up to five classes, so balancing all his responsibilities can be challenging.  

“There are a couple of long nights a week. I’ve had my fair share of three-in-the-morning Nichols Engineering study sessions with my roommates,” he admitted. “I’m one of three civil engineering cadets in my room, so it’s nice. We’re all athletes, so we’re used to the same load.” 

To distract himself, he tries to pick up hobbies. 

“I’m trying really hard to learn the banjo,” he said. “I try to stay busy, it’s usually how I avoid stress. Idle hands are not good.” 

He also finds reprieve in throwing, which serves as an escape for him. 

Rae takes his training seriously, weightlifting up to four days a week during the season. Even in the off season and over the summer, he said he’s throwing nearly every day. 

“It’s just a lot of rinse and repeat, focusing on one thing. It’s never perfect, so there’s always something to work on,” he stated. “It’s kind of methodical. A lot of people call it poetry in motion. It’s just something you can focus on.” 

In high school, he had the mindset of doing things on his own. At the Institute, he realized there’s more team effort. 

“I got close with all the people in cadre, I’ve learned how to find my place in an organization,” he said. “Here I’m able to I’m around like-minded people, where they want to stay in shape and they want to push you. I thrive in that environment.” 

Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

Time management is a common theme for many cadets, especially as a cadet-athlete. Caden Plummer ’25 is no stranger to figuring out his time and schedule. 

“You get dealt certain inconveniences that you just have to figure out how to deal with,” he said. “You can feel sorry for yourself in the moment, but that doesn’t do anything. You’re weighing yourself down more. Having the ability to be able to turn the page and be like, alright, I’m just going to deal with this, I’m going to figure out how to get it done and then you go in and just do it.”

Determination is what Plummer has in spades. His goal heading to college was to play baseball. Not only that, he wanted to play as a pitcher and a hitter, which can be difficult to be offered. Part of choosing Virginia Military Institute was that he was offered to do both. Now, just a pitcher, he’s glad he chose the Institute. He’s a civil engineering major — another draw to the school was its robust engineering program.  

What really sealed the deal was after an overnight from a VMI open house, he could feel the brotherhood and camaraderie that came with it.  

“That really drew me to it,” he admitted.  

Now in his final semester, he’s taking his lowest credit hours of 14 and a half, but previously he was tacking on 18-19 credits a semester. The lighter load has allowed him to head down to the baseball field early for some individual practice.  

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more. 

He’s down on the field around 1 or 2:30 p.m. for practice daily, while in season. 

“Pitchers, then hitters will hit in small groups. It’s more individualized work with the coaches,” he explained.  

Practice, while in season, runs until about 6 p.m., while out of season it can go as late as 8 p.m. Plummer said the practices are shorter while in season to conserve energy due to the number of games they’re playing.  

“It’s to try and give us a little bit of rest.” 

His time at VMI has given him the fortitude to get things done efficiently. 

“People can get lazy and if you do that here, then there are a lot of consequences,” he said. “It’s important to stay on top of your stuff, if you can have the mental fortitude to do it.” 

Plummer said that type of attitude will help in the real world with project deadlines or work responsibilities. Considering he has already landed a job for post-graduation, he knows he can’t slack off. He has accepted a position with Kimley-Horn in Richmond as an engineer.  

He credits his faith in keeping him strong and pulling him out of tough times. Keeping a positive mindset has also created a strong foundation for himself. He also doesn’t take his experience at VMI for granted. 

“That’s a huge thing for me, my relationship with the Lord,” he commented. “I’m just lucky to be able to get to experience these things, because there’s plenty of people that would like to be in my spot or would like to go to college.”  

Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

Her love of math and science propelled Jillian Sisk ’27 to pursue a STEM major. At first, she thought veterinary school would be the right path, but found it wasn’t the right fit for her. Instead, she discovered engineering, which pointed her to Virginia Military Institute.  

“I started out as a mechanical engineering major my first semester and realized that was not for me, and I switched to civil and I loved it,” she explained. “I love the teachers. They are so nice and they’re always making sure that you’ll succeed. They know your name. They know your face. And civil engineering is just so interesting because it’s you’re directly working with people.” 

She said choosing civil engineering as her major allowed her to see the direct effect her work could have on the community. She’d be working with the infrastructure of the state, for example. 

“I’m doing things for people — the water, the bridges, the roadways,” she said. “It’s a serious job, because if you build something and it breaks, that would be bad.” 

Sisk was recruited to VMI for track and field as a long-distance runner. She hadn’t heard of the Institute until then.  

“Everyone was welcoming and kind, and they answered all my questions,” she said about her first visit. “I met so many people that seemed like they’d be the type to uplift you if you’re having a hard day or a bad day. And I just felt like it was a family.”

She’s also found that family within her teammates, who offer her support on and off the track. Sisk, who runs the 3K, 5K, the mile, and the steeplechase race, got into track and field in middle school when she was looking for a sport to play. She said the minimal equipment was an incentive, especially for a new sport to try out. Turns out, she was a natural. 

“I just loved it. I love the competition. I love the discipline it requires to get out there and do it every day,” she admitted. “I love the process of training.” 

She’s dedicated to training, which takes up a good portion of her day.  

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more. 

She’s up just after 6 a.m. when she grabs breakfast to-go and heads back to her room.  

“I’ll check to see what type of homework I have for that day, and I’ll make myself a list of things I want to get done,” she said.  

With class until just after noon, she has time to tidy up her quarters, check-in with teachers, and catch up on work before she heads to practice at 3:30 p.m. By 7:30 p.m. it’s dinner time and the more studying. Her days usually wrap up around 10 or 11 p.m. 

With 18 and a half credits, it can get overwhelming at times. During her rat year, Sisk admitted she struggled to stay on top of her studies and saw her grades slip.  

“School always came really easy for me in high school, I never really studied or anything, but you have to study here,” she stated. 

Talking with her mom, her roommates, classmates, and teammates offers good stress relief for Sisk. She said if there’s any time she feels overwhelmed or needs to talk, they’re there. Running offers solace for Sisk.  

“If I’m ever having a really bad day, usually going out for a run helps that a lot. I love running. It makes me feel happy that at the end of the day, no matter what, I have running,” she said. “I can run and that’s one of my strengths and it makes me feel good about myself. I can go out there and just run eight miles and it feels like nothing.” 

She has the mental fortitude thanks to enduring long distances, which can be applicable to her life at VMI and after. 

“I think that they are really preparing me for the future, with the busyness and the strict deadlines,” Sisk explained. “I’m way better at planning things.” 

From last year alone, she’s seen a difference within herself in how she is able to use time wisely. 

“It’s made me have to be more of a self-advocate,” she stated. “If I’m struggling with something in class, I have to be brave enough to ask for help or go to office hours. You have to be able to stand up for yourself. Because at the end of the day, it’s your education … you’ve got to be able to do that for yourself.” 

Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

It’s a mental game for Dyson Dunham ’26, not just while he’s wrestling, but during his day-to-day. He sacrifices a lot when cutting weight for matches, staying on top of assignments, and fitting in his cadet duties. On the mat, he says he’s doing it for himself.  

“It’s kind of like a pride thing,” he admitted. “I want to prove something to myself.” 

Wrestling wasn’t his first choice of sport. It took his older cousin doing it and getting stronger that pushed him to try it.  

“I would go to my cousin’s wrestling tournaments, but then my cousin would beat me up,” he joked.  

The sport became something he enjoyed. It also introduced him to a coach he became close to, who became a mentor. It was his high school coach who suggested Virginia Military Institute to Dunham because he was an alumnus.  

“I wanted to know what connections I could build here and what network I could grow,” he said. 

Sometimes, he struggles with compartmentalizing things, often going on autopilot to get through the day. He’s a big proponent of just pushing forward, especially when stressed.  

“I kind of found ways to shut my brain down and just kind of deal with it.” 

He says he has a high stress tolerance. It pushes him to work harder. It’s paid off, last year, he competed in the NCAA Wrestling Championships in 2024 and secured a win over a Big 10 opponent. He also came in third in the SoCon Championships in 2024.

“I believe that I thrive on that pressure,” he said. “Going into wrestling, I’m a little antsy, a little anxious. That makes me better, makes me get stuff done faster, get to what I want to do.” 

This year, he’s proved that hard work pays off. Dyson was the top wrestler at 133 pounds and earned one SoCon win, to name a few. 

With 18 and a half credits and a being a DI athlete, communication and organization are top priorities for Dunham.  

“I make sure I turn in all my work, coordinate with professors on how I can make things up,” he explained. “Usually, they’re pretty understanding.” 

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more. 

His days can start early with morning workouts, then onto class until the afternoon, and then back to practice. Since his days are so filled, he sometimes has to take the losses — a lower grade on an assignment — to find some downtime to reset. 

“I find relaxing times very important,” he commented. “They’re hard to come by for me. So anytime that I can push something off and give myself time to just take a break from either wrestling or academics, I do it.” 

It doesn’t mean he’s not committed to his studies or sport; he emphasizes the need to find time for yourself to prevent burnout. Luckily, as a civil engineering major, he stays engaged in class.

“I really enjoy engineering, so I find it easy to pay attention in class. I kind of figure that time is already allotted to class, I’m already using that time anyway. I might as well absorb and pay attention,” he stated. “I just make sure I’m staying engaged in my classes, talking to my professors so they know that I know what I’m doing.” 

The pressures of VMI will serve him well in the future, he stated. The balancing act he performs daily can be applied to his future work environment, especially after graduation when he commissions into the U.S. Army. Even if his daily life isn’t as busy, he has the tools to succeed.  

“I’m learning how to juggle a lot of things at once, like stress management, being able to work under that sort of pressure, and being able to deal with it,” he said. 

Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

At 5 years old, Patrick Jordon’s ’27 parents were urged to take him to wrestling practice. It started out as an appeasement to his parents’ friends, but in turn, he ended up loving it. 

“We went to practice just to tell them that we went and that we wouldn’t do it again. I really liked it, so I stuck with it,” he said. It’s an individual sport. You get out of it what you put in. I really like that part, because it’s up to me to get the results.”The civil engineering major initially wanted to commission but has devoted more time to wrestling and his major. He was drawn to Virginia Military Institute primarily for wrestling but was also interested in the engineering program. 

“I had heard that professors were super helpful. Civil engineering is hands on. You can see the work that you put in. I like solving problems,” Jordon explained. “Also, coming out of here, I would have a good setup.” 

As a wrestler, he has to think about his weight class, so it’s either gaining or losing weight. It can put some stress on Jordon, which can make him procrastinate.  

“Honestly, I just have to start, because the hardest part is starting,” he stated. “Whether it’s cutting weight or homework, I’d like to put it off, but once I start, it’s not that bad. You take it one step at a time, and it’s manageable.” 

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more.“Wrestling has taught me a lot of the same lessons that VMI has taught me, like time management and pushing through the hard times,” he said. “With wrestling, there’s a lot of weight management. Sometimes school was hard, even in high school, just because I was worrying about my weight.” 

In times of struggle, he reaches out to those he’s close with at VMI, either on the wrestling team or his roommates, who are in the same major as him.  

“I talk to my friends a lot. We all go through the same stuff, whether that’s in the wrestling room or up on the hill,” he admitted. 

Jordon said last year he struggled both on and off the mat. He found his love for wrestling diminishing. This year, it took figuring out how to manage his time. When it’s school time, he focuses on that. At practice, wrestling is all that’s on his mind.  

“I really have a blast. And the people that I do it with are probably some of my best friends ever. Wrestling practice is the best part of my day,” he commented. “I fell in love with it again.” 

The mental and physical struggle is something Jordon is moving past or learning how to cope with. 

“As a rat, I really struggled with my weight and wrestling,” he admitted. “I didn’t really struggle in school too much, but learning how to balance my time, because between going to wrestling and coming back, you don’t have much to play around with. It’s like one thing after the other. Because I procrastinate a lot, and I know that once I start something, I pretty much finish it in one sitting.”