Class of 2024 – Virginia Military Institute

Honors Week: A Look into VMI Recruiting Efforts

Adam Hoffman ’24 was sparked by the strategic enrollment initiatives of Virginia Military Institute, and his instinct to help led him to his honors research topic.

As an honors student, he’s required to research a topic, so when he started thinking about enrollment numbers and recruitment efforts at VMI, he knew he found something he was interested in.

“I found out answers to three questions — how cadets found out about VMI, why they decided to come and how they’re doing once they got here,” he said.

He was surprised by his findings, especially regarding how prospective cadets found out about the Institute.

“The most common way people are finding out about VMI is through their parents, which is surprising. Alumni and current cadets played a smaller role than I thought they would,” he said.

As part of VMI’s Honors Week, Hoffman presented his thesis “Virginia Military Institute Recruiting: How Cadets found their Way Here.”

He started his research last spring. He averaged about three hours a week on research, which spanned from learning how VMI recruits, sending out surveys to cadets, and talking with administration. From his research he said he’s gained a better understanding of statistics and clarity on the issue at hand. His goal now is to focus on a messaging plan moving forward to present to administration.

“For big things to change, we need to fix things between the Corps, the administration, and the alumni. I think it’s a great opportunity right now, since we’re getting a new commandant next year, having a working group of cadets involved,” he said. “It would be a good thing to change the perception of what’s going on here.”

He saw that VMI had a hard recruiting season for the Class of 2026. His research was aimed to look at the effectiveness of past resources in recruiting, specifically by studying cadets of the past four years. His thesis also touched on how cadets who were recruited prior to COVID-19 compared to post-COVID Rat Mass of 2027.

“With this and many other variables, I will seek to find the highest yield strategy for prospective cadets,” his thesis stated. “I will also look to find the cadets who are high achieving and are doing well at VMI and see how they were attracted specifically.”

Col. Sara Whipple, assistant professor of psychology, was Hoffman’s advisor for the research. The two met weekly to make sure everything was on track. When they first met, it was mostly about fleshing out the specific research questions for Hoffman’s project.

“Though Adam already had his own ideas, we worked together to meld his college recruitment interests with psychological concepts,” Whipple said.

The largest step was crafting his Institutional Review Board application, which Whipple said is required any time there’s human participants in research.

Whipple said she was both hands-on and hands-off with Hoffman’s project. She also recognized his passion for understanding effective recruiting methods. She said this experience has allowed Hoffman to connect his interest in VMI recruitment efforts with the skills he’s learned as a psychology major, specifically: ethics training, reading and critiquing empirical papers, designing study methodology, analyzing data, and ultimately writing and presenting a research paper.

“Adam’s research has implications for VMI recruiting, which was his main motivation for completing this particular project,” Whipple said. “Adam’s research examines the most common ways cadets first learned about VMI, their main motivation for attending, and their levels of well-being once at the Institute. Among other things, he finds a connection between family as a motivator and well-being. That said, although his sample is a reasonable size (300 cadets), further research using a fully representative sample is needed before we can be confident in the replicability of these findings.”

Whipple said that Hoffman was highly motivated for this topic. Despite some roadblocks concerning writer’s block and statistics, Hoffman persisted.

“Adam expresses confidence when he talks about his research methodology and results. He knows he can go from conceiving of an idea/question to getting the answer,” she said.

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

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.

Onto Law School: Recent International Studies Grad to Take on Notre Dame

This article is part of The Next Step series. While the four years at VMI are designed for cadets to push themselves academically, physically, and mentally to tackle the demands of life at a premiere military college, they also prepare cadets for life after graduation. Whether that life be one in the military or one in the private sector, VMI faculty and staff provide guidance to cadets along their journeys. One department specifically dedicated to that endeavor of post-Institute success is the Office of Career Services. In The Next Step series, we highlight cadets preparing to enter the workforce after graduation, as well as those still in the midst of their cadetship preparing for internships over the summer.

From legislative intern to Virginia Military Institute graduate, the next step for Jimmy Murphy ’24 is law school.

After spending several summers working in the U.S. Capitol, in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, Murphy will be heading to Notre Dame Law School in the fall.

The international studies major and national security minor from Golden Valley, Minnesota, took his first internship the summer of 2021 as a legislative intern with the Office of Congressman Jim Hagedorn (R-Minnesota).

After that, he spent his summer as a committee intern with the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Last summer he was an intern with Van Scoyoc Associates, a government affairs team based in Washington, D.C.

He credits his internships to setting him up for success.

“My internships prepared me for my next step of becoming a lawyer because they gave me invaluable experience and confirmed what career I wanted to pursue” he said. “The experiences of serving the constituents of Minnesota’s 1st District, Sen. Rob Portman in the U.S. Senate, and a distinguished list of veteran/defense clients exposed me to the fulfillment of a career of serving others. In addition, working for so many accomplished legislative staffers, lawyers, and government officials gifted me with an amazing support network through my journey. None of my success would be possible without them.”

Murphy was admitted to several top 20 law schools but accepted an offer to Notre Dame Law School.

In his last year at VMI, Murphy was awarded the International Studies Award, which is given to the top graduate in the Department of International Studies and Political Science. He said that his time at VMI has benefitted and shaped him in many ways including sharpening his time-management skills, instilling the importance of a strong work ethic, and showing him the value of being a servant leader.

“These skills are going to serve me greatly as I pursue my career as a lawyer and public servant,” he said. “Future clients and employers of mine will know that no matter what pressure, hurdle, or trial I am faced with,; they can take solace in the fact that they are getting a tested individual who gladly embraces pressure and relishes in being the hardest worker in the room.”

As a 1st Class cadet, he led a seminar in partnership with the Pre-Law Society on the law school application process, served as vice president for the Education on the Cadet Equity Association, and finished up his final year on the VMI football team.

Murphy also finished his senior thesis, “Money Talks? Lobbying, Ideology, and Issue Salience in the United States Senate,” in his national security minor.

“The major takeaway I had from my last year at VMI was while work is certainly important, you should not allow the pressures of a career or outside expectations to steal your joy,” he said. “Life on Earth is short, and the Bible speaks often about the importance of loving others. Simply put, there will always be an assignment to do, a paper to write, a Zoom call to take, etcetera. But do not pursue life compromising the relationships you have built or thinking that your worth is built on a salary or title.”

For the summer, Murphy will be working at a boutique law firm in Minneapolis before starting law school in the fall. He hopes his story can inspire others to chase their dreams.

“I do not come from a wealthy family, I am a first-generation law student, and for many years I sometimes questioned whether I had the abilities to achieve my ambitious goals,” he said. “I want to be an example for anyone who might’ve gotten knocked down. Not even just in academics, but in life — anyone who might be feeling like they came up short, or who might be getting pegged as somebody who can’t achieve certain things. Maybe they can look at me and see how I never gave up, never stopped believing in myself, and found my strength in the Lord to triumph over every hurdle life placed in my path.”

After Notre Dame Law, Murphy wants to join the Navy or Air Force JAG Corps, clerk for a federal judge, and eventually return to his home state of Minnesota to continue a career in public service and politics.

From VMI to Private Equity: Warner Collier ’24

Business and computer science were two industries that Warner Collier ’24 saw opportunity in. Coming to Virginia Military Institute, he wanted to cast as wide of a net as possible, which brought him to major in economics and business, with concentrations in decision analytics and financial analysis, along with computer science and cybersecurity minors.

“As I progressed through rat year, I knew I wanted to work in finance after joining the Cadet Investment Group,” he said. “I did more research on careers in finance and gravitated towards private equity.”

Hailing from Midlothian, Virginia, recent graduate Collier is now set to work for Civitas Growth Partners as an analyst.

“I will be involved in all aspects of the deal sourcing process,” he said. “This will include identifying and reaching out to potential investment opportunities. Also, I will analyze company financials, KPIs, build out financial models, and communicate key insights. Lastly, I will sit in on portfolio company board meetings and monitor the financial and operating performance of the portfolio companies.”

Coincidentally, Collier said this was the first job he applied for.  

 ”I wanted to work for an organization which aligns with my moral values. For the same reason I chose VMI, I wanted to be a part of a firm which believes in doing things the right way,” he said.

Working for a small company like Civitas was what was most attractive to Collier. He said it would allow him to have more learning opportunities and contributions.

“I was drawn to private equity as I enjoy analyzing companies, figuring out what makes them work, and implementing strategies which yield real results,” he said.

He believes that having VMI on his resume aided him in landing this job.

“The number one reason Civitas hired me is because they know they can trust me. The foundation of VMI, honor, is the competitive edge I have over others,” he said.

VMI has taught him to be comfortable in the uncomfortable.

“VMI puts you in high stress situations which give you valuable tools that translate to the workplace. I’m confident in my abilities and work ethic due to VMI,” he said.

Becoming a Research Technician at Johns Hopkins Neurosurgical Lab: Jackson Miller ’24

Jackson Miller ’24 has aspirations of becoming a doctor. The recent graduate from Rockville, Maryland, will be taking a step in that direction as a research technician at the Johns Hopkins Hunterian Neurosurgical Laboratory starting this summer.

The Johns Hopkins Hunterian Neurosurgical Laboratory is the nation’s first experimental surgery laboratory, according to its website. The lab houses research groups representing multiple specialties and interests in the neurosurgical community, with a facility fully equipped with a microsurgical laboratory, cell culture and microscopy facilities, quantitative image analysis, certified operating rooms, and radiologic equipment.

The English major will be working at Hopkins to perform research and earn money before going to medical school.

“I want to practice medicine because it is important work and I like to help others,” he said.

His duties will include performing cancer research and experimenting with new types of chemotherapy and cancer treatments. As for his future goals, he sees himself as an emergency medicine doctor in the U.S. Army, which is a nod to his mother’s profession.

“My mom was a surgeon in the Navy for 25 years, and she’s the one who inspired me to think about medicine as a way to serve my country, and to serve others,” he said.

Miller credits VMI for preparing him for the future.

“VMI prepared me to embark on this difficult journey by challenging me with academics, the Rat Line, and with my experiences on the boxing team here at the Institute,” he said. “In particular, boxing taught me how to fight hard through adversity and push my limits.”

But the VMI alumni network gave him a competitive edge, he said.

“I would not have the opportunities that I am currently taking full advantage of without the help of VMI alumni. The alumni network here is incredibly strong, and they look out for members of the VMI family by helping them look for jobs as well as through exceptional mentorship,” he said.

Exploring Moral Dilemmas in Unique Thesis, Linking Dostoyevsky and Star Wars

Jackson Miller ’24 was drawn to a research topic as he approached his 1st Class year with strong philosophical and religious themes. The recent Virginia Military Institute graduate, who majored in English, has always had aspiration in the medical field, along with potential military service. He presented his research “Dostoyevsky and Star Wars: Understanding How Narratives Can Help Us Deepen Our Moral Awareness” during Honors Week in the spring semester.

“The question is, do the ends justify the means? Is it okay to do bad things for the greater good?” Miller explained. This central question, often debated in historical and military contexts, resonated deeply with him.

“I watched ‘Star Wars: Andor’ after finishing ‘Crime and Punishment’ and was struck by how both works addressed the same ethical questions but arrived at different conclusions,” he said.

This juxtaposition sparked his interest in exploring the narratives further.

During his thesis process, Miller was guided by Dr. Curry Kennedy, formerly of VMI, now teaching at Texas A&M, and later by Dr. Reshef Agam-Segal, associate professor of English, rhetoric, and humanistic studies.

Both advisors played essential roles in shaping his research.

“Dr. Kennedy initially helped me frame my project, while Dr. Agam-Segal provided further guidance and resources,” Miller noted.

His research journey was challenging.

“I pitched the idea to Dr. Kennedy, unsure if it would be accepted. Thankfully, he and the department supported it,” Miller said.

Weekly meetings and extensive reading on ethics, literature, and storytelling helped refine his thesis. Miller’s exploration went beyond literary analysis to personal growth.

“Working with knowledgeable professors and delving into new subjects like rhetoric and philosophy was humbling. It forced me to confront my own conclusions about ethical dilemmas,” he reflected.

His work was academically rigorous and deeply relevant to the lives of VMI students and future military officers.

“Especially for those who will be making critical decisions, understanding whether the ends justify the means is vital,” he emphasized.

The presentation stressed the importance of grappling with moral questions with real-world implications, particularly in military settings where officers must often weigh difficult choices — a likely scenario for some graduates of VMI.

Looking ahead, Miller intends to spend a gap year working at Johns Hopkins University’s research labs before pursuing medical school.

“I’m going to be working there as a research tech, continuing to expand my knowledge and skills,” he said.

“My goal is to combine my passion for medicine with my desire to serve, potentially joining the military as a medical officer,” he shared.

From VMI to Pioneering Defense Technologies at DEVCOM: Jonathan Tumwikirize ’24

Jonathan Tumwikirize ’24 wanted to gain firsthand experience in a military environment, while also getting his degree. It’s what drew him to Virginia Military Institute and allowed him to explore federal-civilian positions to pursue upon graduation.

The recent graduate from Ashburn, Virginia, majored in electrical and computer engineering and minored in mathematics, and he has accepted a position at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center. DEVCOM is an information technologies and integrated systems center that develops technologies for the U.S. Army to use on platforms: from soldier to ground vehicle, and from air to space.

“DEVCOM’s reputable contributions to advancing defense capabilities aligned perfectly with my career aspirations,” he said. “Their cutting-edge technology was frequently a talking -point in my electrical and computer engineering classes.”

Tumwikirize said he applied to a handful of engineering positions but found that DEVCOM’s eagerness to find potential leaders was the most attractive thing about the position and work environment.

“They offered a dynamic and forward-thinking environment where employees can collaborate with top talents, take on complex challenges, and have a tangible impact on national security,” he said. “Besides their unmatched employee benefits and great location, they provide a similar environment to VMI: they are committed to nurturing the growth of their engineers.”

At DEVCOM, he will be an electrical engineer specializing in embedded software, where he will be contributing to the company’s countermine division by deriving technologies and strategies that contribute to directly saving lives and enhancing mission effectiveness.

He plans on pursuing a master’s in electrical and computer engineering at Virginia Tech.

“As technology continues to grow in complexity, the need for individuals with refined skills also expands; complex solutions require subject matter experts,” he said. “A master’s degree allows me the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge, demonstrate leadership potential, and cultivate my overall ability to support the nation’s critical technological objectives.”

VMI providing a strong path for success

Tumwikirize said that with VMI Career Services, there were several opportunities to engage with various employers on post. He said he had met with an operations specialist from DEVCOM through a career fair held at VMI, who then assisted him in his job searching, making the process seamless.

“I also wrote my first resume through career services, often sitting down and refining each statement to articulate my skillsets and potential,” he said.

The foundation he received by attending VMI has allowed him to prosper. Shortly after joining the Rat Line, his leadership journey began with the responsibilities of a corporal.

“Through various leadership positions, I have been able to experiment and develop leadership methodologies that are optimal for a variety of scenarios,” he said. “VMI has given me the opportunity to develop integrity, adaptability, resilience, empathy, and effective communication through their leadership course and positions in cadet government.”

The inspiration for his path stems from his parents, who contributed to the United States Agency for International Development expatriate work. From that, Tumwikirize was exposed to a plethora of international affairs and the need for innovation within the defense community.

“Exposed to the harsh reality of instability of five different countries, I often witnessed disastrous events commonly catalyzed by unsettling and armed extremists,” he said. “The unique exposure sparked my interest in contributing to global solutions within the defense community.”

It also played into why he chose the electrical and computer engineering track. When he was younger, he had an interest in computers, but found that tinkering with various operating systems was what he found to be challenging.

With the achievement of graduating from VMI, he said it exemplifies one’s resolute commitment to serve. It also served as an aid to him finding exemplary employment.

“Only individuals who have experienced a cadetship at VMI know the tenacity in everything required to graduate,” he said. “This immediate recognition from alumni was a drastic competitive advantage in my job search. Alumni are familiar with the characteristics required to be successful within such a rigorous environment, and they desire the same type of people within their network.”

His hope for the next decade is to become a seasoned engineer and leader.

“I aspire to guide teams that foster groundbreaking solutions and lead individuals that have an unyielding commitment to advancing defense solutions,” he said. “I aspire to achieve collective goals in my career such as navigating complex engineering challenges, completing my master’s degree, and a decade of resilient service to the nation.”

Behind the Balance: Ty Swaim ’24 — Keydet Baseball

Ty Swaim ’24 didn’t want a lot of debt coming out of college and he knew one way for him to attain a good education was through a baseball scholarship. Virginia Military Institute wasn’t even a place he was thinking of until he was recruited to play for the Keydets.

He said ultimately, he based his decision on attending VMI for the opportunity to play baseball, the trust he had with the coaching staff, and the expectations they had for him. But also, it was based on the financial opportunity it presented.

Coming from a lower income household, he knew he had to get some sort of financial help, which he was able to with a combination of a baseball scholarship and financial aid.

“Coming in here, it was the closest thing to a full scholarship that I could have gotten, especially for baseball, which is extremely tough to get,” he said.

He also knew choosing to pursue VMI’s economic and business degree would work greatly for him.

“The degree has a huge weight and significance,” he said.

Being able to continue his love of baseball was a plus. His grandfather played professional baseball and his parents were heavily involved in athletics.

“I feel like I always had a T-ball bat or a plastic bat in my hands,” he said.

Playing sports has always been in his inventory.

“It just so happened that baseball was the only one I was half decent at,” he joked. “If I wanted to go to college, it was the only one that I was good enough to play Division I, so that’s kind of how that worked. I love baseball more than anything.”

Swaim was drawn to baseball because of its competitiveness, combining both a team sport aspect and individual skill – competing as an individual on a team basis.

“You’re working with your teammates, but a lot of it boils down to individual things where you have the bat on your shoulders,” he said. “You have the ball in your hand where you can get the job done. I know from a hitter’s perspective, when you’re in the box, you’re kind of in a war with the pitcher. It’s just you guys. When you’re on defense, when the ball’s hit, it’s a team sport. You can go help out your pitcher, you can go make a play.”

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.

Days start early for Swaim, especially when he’s in season. He’s up most days at 5:15 a.m. to lift weights from 6 to 7:15 a.m. Then he rushes to grab breakfast to-go, so he can head back to his room, shower, change, put his hay up, and get ready for class.

His schedule varies for certain days — Tuesdays and Thursdays he has class at 8 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, he doesn’t have class until 12:35 p.m. He uses his time wisely, though. On his free mornings, he spends them completing homework to get ahead, because he’s usually down on the field for more practice by 2:30 p.m. daily.

This last semester is a bit different than years past. His previous years had been back-to-back classes then straight to practice. Now, as a 1st Class cadet, he’s given more of a break.

His goal is to finish his homework during the week, so he can travel on the weekends or play at home for baseball.

Ty Swaim swings a baseball bat during a Virginia Military Institute baseball game.

“I try to set up all my schoolwork to be done within that week because I know on the weekends, I just want to focus on baseball,” he said. “I know my brain is not going to be in the classroom, so I do all my schoolwork during the day.”

His top priority right now is finishing strong for baseball. He feels that VMI has prepared him to come out on top in his sport, but also has prepared him for whatever life throws at him after graduation in May.

“The busier I am, oddly enough, the better I am. This school doesn’t really let up,” he said. “The schoolwork in the past has been extremely tough … when you have three tests a day, it gets crazy. When I was super busy with really hard classes and heavy course loads, I ended up getting better grades because there was absolutely zero time for free time. Sometimes I think I work well in that just because when I do get free time, I tend to slack off.”

He doesn’t take those slivers of days off for granted. His time at VMI has taught him to savor the downtime and treat it as a reward for working hard, and to acknowledge stress not necessarily being a bad thing.

“Having stress isn’t bad, just being able to understand the stress and use it,” he said. “I think stress gets a bad rap, which obviously when you are stressed it’s terrible. Everything brings you stress. But it gives you things to do, keeps your mind busy and things for you to work on. If there was no stress at all, I don’t know that would be a very fun world to live in. No challenges to get over, there’s nothing to focus on, there’s no goals to meet.”

Swaim admits he still has room to grow and isn’t quite sure of his next steps following graduation. But, VMI has created a great path for him.

“I think I’ve matured a lot since I’ve been here. Of course, I think there’s still so much more I can learn,” he said.

His priorities for the spring — baseball and living in the moment. This is his last chance to play on a large scale.

“I really want to focus on baseball and just ending on a good note. I have spent so much time in my life on it,” he said.

Honors Week: Barracks Security At VMI

Serving as cadet operations sergeant for Band Company her 2nd Class year, Annie Townsend ’24 was able to set up a cadet guard team, which would perform the security for barracks at Virginia Military Institute. The team would oversee locking gates, coordination during emergency situations, enforcing uniform or disciplinary standards within the Corps, and posting members of the guard team for the security of the Corps of Cadets.

As her experience grew in that capacity, it piqued her interest in the security of barracks. Specifically, the interaction of infrastructure with the implementation of security.

“In conjunction with my interest in architecture — and particularly historic architecture — I developed my research to include aspects of security engineering, structural engineering, architecture, and the historical development of security at VMI,” she said.

Townsend, a civil and environmental engineering major, started her honors thesis midway through her 2nd Class year.

“I started by brainstorming, speaking with professors and finding faculty advisors, and writing a prospectus (research proposal),” she said.

Col. Chuck Newhouse, head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, served as Townsend’s advisor. He said when she approached him with the idea of combining her interests in engineering with the role of VMI’s guard team to take a critical look at the security at VMI, he was a little hesitant.

“Initially, I was reluctant to recommend that she pursue this because it is a controversial topic,” he said. “It is controversial because not everyone agrees on the best ways to provide security. Also, VMI doesn’t fall into one clearly defined category. It is, on the one hand a public college, and on the other hand an institution with a strong military presence. Should security follow requirements provided for colleges, or for military bases? It is not an easy question.”

She presented her thesis “A Security Analysis of the Virginia Military Institute’s Barracks through the Lens of Infrastructure” during VMI’s Honors Week.

Initially, her research had gone through several phases. She said she hoped to study the blast resistance of barracks based on the structural design, in the context of security and antiterrorism security.

“After realizing that I’d like to pursue architecture after graduation, I wanted to mold my topic to account for the architectural aspects of barracks as well,” she said. “I ultimately ended up blending architecture and structural/security engineering together to develop my final topic, a security analysis of barracks through the lens of infrastructure.”

Her research aimed to identify whether modern-day security that governs cadet life in barracks is sufficient.

The focus of the research was on four topics:

Military influences on VMI’s security
9/11 and its impacts on institutions of higher learning
How historical developments connect to security upgrades
How the research relates to barracks infrastructure, architecture, and structural engineering

“VMI’s barracks is the center of cadet life — it’s where we train, sleep, assemble for formations and parade, and get to know the brother rats that will be there for us throughout the rest of our lives,” Townsend said. “It’s where our cadetships begin on Matriculation Day, the center of our cadet organizations and activities throughout our four years, and where our cadetships end on graduation day.

“Ultimately, it houses VMI’s most valuable asset — the Corps of Cadets,” Townsend continued. “My research analyzes how the structure of barracks itself, and supporting human elements, reinforce and affect the security of the Corps of Cadets.”

A survey was conducted as part of Townsend’s research. The goal of the survey was to identify the Corps’ opinion on existing security infrastructure and the relevance of the guard team in security of barracks. The survey was voluntarily completed by 177 cadets, or 10.4% of the Corps, her research said.

The research showed that VMI’s approach to security is currently acceptable, but there’s significant room for improvement. Townsend says about 76% of the Corps felt entirely safe living in barracks, while about 14% said they feel neither safe nor unsafe living in barracks. But, nearly 10% of the Corp — 35% of that section were female cadets — did not feel entirely safe.

There are plans in place to ensure more security measures are met. According to the VMI Post Facilities Master Plan, roads, foot paths, parking areas, lighting, emergency lights and phones, along with signage are to be considered to enhance security. New security technologies are to be adopted with the attention to historical facilities, the plan said.

“As time progresses, change will remain the only constant in VMI’s approach to security — just as it has been in the past,” Townsend said in her thesis. “It is important to approach the security of VMI in the broader context; considering that it is neither a traditional college campus or a military installation, the approach to security is, and will always be, complex.”

Townsend said her research allowed her to develop insight into VMI’s unique history of security development, along with the culture of the Corps of Cadets that facilitates the security of barracks.

Her hope after graduation in May is to pursue a master’s degree in architecture, and study historic architecture and adaptive reuse. She’s also interested in the impact of architecture on the security of facilities and structures.

Tag: Class of 2024