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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.
Jeremiah Wilks ’25 never intended on commissioning when he came to Virginia Military Institute.
“I had a misconception of what the military is like. I originally planned to attend law school following graduation from VMI,” he admitted.
His time at VMI swayed his decision, though.
The international studies major from Richmond, Virginia, will be commissioning into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer following when he graduates. He branched Signal Corps detail infantry, where he will be an infantry officer, from second lieutenant to captain, and will transition to Signal Corps as a captain.
“I chose to commission into the U.S. Army because I will gain experience as a platoon leader early in my career, ultimately developing me as a leader and learning how to influence individuals in an organization,” he explained. “This generation has a shortage of leaders, and this role will sharpen my leadership and project management skills. Additionally, the stable income and benefits that the U.S. Army offers is hard to turn down.”
He said commissioning will also allow him the opportunity to attend law school later in his life with federal tuition assistance the Army provides, alongside health care, the GI Bill, and loans with exceptional interest rates.
“This environment will make me more adaptable, increase my workload, and give me a good foundation for my career with real-world leadership experience and top-secret clearance,” he said.
As an infantry officer, Wilks will be responsible for leading infantry soldiers at all levels of command and combined armed forces during missions on the ground. He will assess the situation and lead an attack, defense, and other operations. Other duties second lieutenants fulfill include platoon logistics, and training.
In the next decade, Wilks hopes to be working for the government in Northern Virginia or Washington, D.C., preferably in the tech field or intelligence.
He credits his dyke, 1st Lt. Johnnie Walker III ’22, as his inspiration for this career path.
“VMI gave me a foundation of discipline and many opportunities to lead others,” he said. “I believe VMI on your resume is unmatched.”
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.
LEXINGTON, Va. June 11, 2025 — It was never the intent of Christian Walker ’25 to go to law school. Initially, he had no desire to. He was also incredibly unsure about what his future would hold.
“My 2nd Class year is when my interest in potentially attending law school was ignited as I would take several classes that involved different sectors of the law,” he explained. “Through taking these courses, I discovered a passion for law and hope that I would one day be able to pursue a career as a lawyer.”
The international studies major from North Chesterfield, Virginia, said he has long felt his purpose in life is to serve others.
“I feel that law is one of the professions where you can consistently help people day after day,” he said. “This is something I was seeking when I was trying to figure out what to do after college, and it was something that I found in the law.”
Walker is expecting law school to be a challenging experience, something he hopes will help with his goal of becoming a JAG officer.
“From what I’ve heard talking to other individuals who are currently in law school, there is a new challenge every day that your professors expect you to not only think critically about but also expect you to apply relevant legal arguments to,” he commented. “However, law school creates an environment for individuals to work together … at the end of the day, everyone has the same goal, which is to be a lawyer.”
He credits Maj. Tim Passmore, assistant professor of international studies, in helping him discover what law school could do for him.
“He taught the very first law class that I took during my cadetship, and it set the foundation for my interest in the law,” he stated. “Through taking other classes taught by Major Passmore, and getting the opportunity to attend the Law of Armed Conflict Competition in Sanremo, Italy, he has helped foster my interest in the law and give me the knowledge required to succeed as a first year in law school.”
Walker said VMI has instilled structure and drive in himself, which will allow him to succeed in all facets of life. From the early wakeups and tidy rooms, Walker knows that even the smallest details need to be thought about.
The bonds he created while at VMI have shown him that there are always people who will go out of their way to help, if ever you should need it.
“That’s something that I feel very few other colleges create while people attend. Without the environment that VMI creates and the challenges it puts you through every single day, I would not have had the tools to succeed and the drive to achieve greater things,” he said.
He hopes in the next decade he will be able to provide legal support as a JAG officer, then potentially a federal prosecutor. Most importantly, he wants to make an impact on people in a positive way, especially if they are going through tough times where they may have nowhere else to turn.
“I absolutely believe VMI gives me a competitive edge on my resume. The Institute has a reputation for helping create strong academic habits that will help cadets even after their time at VMI is over, and that is something that is taken into consideration when applying to schools after VMI,” he said. “The reputation that alumni of the Institute have helped create is strong and has spread to graduate institutions. It is through their hard work and dedication that allows my application to look stronger because ‘Virginia Military Institute’ is on it, and it is my hope that I can carry on this legacy.”
What truly defines Virginia Military Institute are the people. Cadets, faculty, and staff, both past and present, are what make it “No Ordinary College.” I Am VMI showcases the outstanding individuals who have accepted the challenges and embraced the spirit of VMI. Their perspectives provide authentic insights into life at the Institute and the value of this unique military college.
Role at VMI: 2nd Class Cadet (Junior), VMI Class of 2026 Major: International Studies Hometown: Ontario, California Featured Activities: NCAA Division 1 Water Polo | Hotel Co. Commander 2025-26 | Honors Program Post-Graduation Plans: Government Intelligence
Sadie Smith ’26 was looking for a college that could prepare her for a successful career and life. She said Virginia Military Institute is a place like no other and it offered the kind of lifestyle she was striving for.
“I am a cadet-athlete and VMI makes it possible to balance intense academics, sports, and rigorous military obligations,” she said. “VMI has given me so many tools to succeed and incredible leadership opportunities within the Corps and on the water polo team. I knew I would face many challenges here, but I was looking for that and it has made me into who I am today. VMI has provided me with unique opportunities to build good discipline, honor, and incredible character while putting service before self.”
As an international studies major, she has discovered a passion for national security.
“I enjoy seeing various viewpoints on topics, as well as the variety of skills political science knowledge helps build like writing, reading, debating, and organization. I added a computer science and national security minor because it is very applicable to the field of work that I would like to pursue,” she explained.
Smith went on to highlight the growth her professors encourage. “I especially value the academic challenge here and how well I have gotten to know the professors in the international studies department, they are incredible and always looking to help me succeed.”
She said her experience at VMI has been transformational — for both herself and for her water polo team. VMI has served as a place where she can balance Division I athletics, a challenging major, ROTC, and the opportunity to partake in rank positions within the Corps of Cadets.
“VMI is an environment that fosters professionalism and accountability on a daily basis, which maintains a structured military lifestyle,” she said.
With the opportunity to hold rank, she’s been able to train new cadets by establishing a good culture and spirit. Smith has also been able to balance her responsibilities by practicing good time management skills that have made her a proficient worker, team member, and friend.
“There are very few schools that make it possible to do this, and regardless if you are commissioning or not, you can be involved in incredible leadership opportunities,” she said. “I am involved in training incoming rats at VMI, and have developed so much as a leader and feel that being on a team doing this we give back to VMI by helping to form the incoming rats into a class and setting individuals up to live a successful life here. This all boils down to the connection VMI cadets have with each other and alumni that are long lasting and unlike any other.”
She said she’s proud to be a VMI cadet because she’s been able to embody honor and discipline.
“There is an incredible culture here of hard work and dedication, and I feel that I can rely on anyone to be supportive in the VMI community,” she commented. “The honor system instilled and the ability to sustain it makes VMI special. Discipline and hard work are highly valuable here and will pay off due to all of the incredible opportunities VMI has to offer.”
Although she believes that everyone has the potential to be a leader, she credits VMI for giving her the confidence and support to grow as one.
“This requires facing challenges that are not always pretty or fun in the moment, but they have really shaped me into a well-rounded individual and given me resilience and confidence to attack any challenge with effort and perseverance,” she admitted. “VMI has shown me that when you put your mind to something and are purpose driven, then you can accomplish your goals in all aspects of life.”
Her future hopes include working for the Defense Intelligence Agency. This summer, she is well on her way to that goal with an internship with the agency.
“I feel that VMI has prepared me as a well-versed leader to be able to succeed at this internship and to go out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I feel excited to work in a team environment and hope to receive further opportunities with this agency later after graduation. VMI has also taught me to be prepared for the unexpected and that not everything goes your way all the time. I like to keep an open mind and know that the skills I have learned here will aid me if I receive a job, go to graduate school, or take time to travel after VMI.”
Overall, VMI has given her relationships she knows will last for life.
“I have made so many amazing friends and have had the opportunity to interact with and work with incredible people, teammates, coaches, and professors,” she explained. “VMI, being a small community built on integrity and resilience, allows people to form long lasting bonds and relate significantly on a personal level. Everyone here is on their own path and working at their own goals, however, I love how cadets still feel very connected. VMI also has an amazing support system and resources to succeed in athletics, academic, and military.”
During VMI’s annual Honors Week, Earl Filgo ’25 presented research that bridges global strategic competition and climate change.
Filgo, an international studies major with minors in national security and Arabic, plans to commission into the U.S. Army as a military intelligence officer after graduating this spring. His presentation, “Strategic Rivalry and its Implications for Climate Change Mitigation,” brings together his academic interests and his drive to confront complex global challenges.
“I chose this topic because of my interest in international relations theory, its ties to national security, and my concern over climate change,” Filgo said. “Climate change deserves more scrutiny outside the scientific community, especially from those studying security and diplomacy.”
His thesis explores how rivalry between states affects their willingness to cooperate on global environmental initiatives. The research required a hybrid of qualitative and quantitative methods, evolving over time as Filgo engaged more deeply with data and theory.
“Initially, I thought it would be mostly qualitative,” he said, “but as I progressed, I realized how powerful quantitative research could be for this topic.”
Filgo found the thesis process to be intensive.
“It takes time, loads of time,” he said. “You need to understand different theories and studies, then link them together into one cohesive project. It’s not enough to have a great research question. You need solid data to back it up.”
Filgo’s advisor, Col. Patrick Rhamey, observed Filgo’s growth throughout the process.
“Once he got started, he showed initiative and diligence,” Rhamey said. “He learned to work with limited and sometimes poorly coded data, using both statistical software and theoretical frameworks to produce a well-rounded study.”
Rhamey highlighted the relevance of Filgo’s work for the VMI community. “His research connects global environmental priorities with military spending, a subject directly tied to the paths many of our cadets pursue.”
“I gained credibility and confidence in my research skills, and a way to show my capabilities to future employers,” he said about how the experience expanded his academic and practical skill set. “It’s a burden, but also an exciting challenge not many cadets get to experience.”
Jonah Jurack ’25 spent the summer before his 3rd Class year at Virginia Military Institute studying abroad in Morocco. Jurack was drawn to the unique perspective of non-democratic governments, sparking the beginning of what would become his senior thesis.
For Jurack, an international studies major, his first experience outside the United States raised important questions about how U.S. citizens perceive democratization efforts in non-democratic nations.
“It was fascinating to see how the Moroccan people addressed King Mohammed VI,” said Jurack. “He was widely venerated, and it was frowned upon to critique him in public.”
That experience fueled a broader interest in the Middle East and North Africa, ultimately leading Jurack to his Honors Week presentation titled “Institutional Heritage and Satisfaction with Democratic Practices in African Monarchies: Evidence from Eswatini, Lesotho, and Morocco.”
His research asked what factors explain citizen satisfaction with democratic practices in autocratic monarchies.
Jurack challenged conventional understandings of governance in allied monarchies, an important consideration when evaluating U.S. foreign policy and democracy promotion abroad.
“I started planning my thesis in the spring of my 3rd Class year,” Jurack said. “I spent five weeks this past summer working with my advisor on my quantitative data through the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute.”
Jurack employed quantitative analysis using advanced statistical techniques to explore his topic in depth. He worked under the guidance of Dr. Salih Yasun, assistant professor in the Department of International Studies and Political Science.
“Cadet Jurack’s research is valuable because it illuminates how authoritarian regimes—some of which are America’s closest allies—strive to ensure their survival by employing quasi-democratic methods to elicit different forms of engagement from their citizens,” Yasun said.
Yasun, who first worked with Jurack in a Middle East politics course, said he developed his thesis largely on his own, seeking guidance only when necessary. He described Jurack’s continued academic growth, noting improvements in theory-building, data analysis, and integrating findings within broader political discussions.
“I am confident that Cadet Jurack has a bright future and will make valuable contributions to his surroundings, including his country,” Yasun said. “Honors Week has been a great event showcasing the critical and, indeed, cutting-edge research conducted by cadets here at VMI.”
Jurack plans to commission into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer after graduation. He said the research process has strengthened his critical thinking, sharpened his analytical skills, and taught him the value of persistence. He believes these qualities will serve him well in his military career.
A team of Virginia Military Institute cadets recently participated for the 14th time in the Competition on the Law of Armed Conflict in Sanremo, Italy. This year’s competition brought together over 100 cadets from 29 military academies drawn from 17 different countries. VMI continued its exceptional form at the competition, winning four gold awards and one silver. For the second year running, this was the most awards won by a single academy.
VMI was one of six U.S. military colleges involved in the competition, with others including West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and the Citadel.
The event, hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, places cadets in mixed teams to provide legal analysis on a fictional war scenario. Cadets spend three days in “Joint Operations Command” centers advising their commanders on how the war should be conducted in accordance with international law.
Four cadets – Audrey Davis ’25, Delilah Martindale ’25, Aaron Metz ’25, and Christian Walker ’25 — won gold medals for their mixed team performances, while Walker won the overall individual silver medal.
Cadets are chosen for the competition after completing a course on the Law of Armed Conflict with Maj. Tim Passmore, assistant professor of international studies, and then receive additional training and preparation as a team before the competition. In 2012, VMI started participating in the competition under Col. Robert James’ direction, who now serves as a judge.
The competition consists of cadets serving as legal advisers to a commander in a fictional war scenario simulation, according to Passmore. Cadets are divided into mixed teams of three, where they work with cadets from other academies. Each team is given a scenario, which develops over the week as new information is revealed. The teams must advise the commander on the legality of the various actions their military can take.
“This year’s competition was a wonderful experience in a variety of ways. It was the largest, and most diverse, year in the competition’s 23-year history, with cadets coming from as far as Japan, Thailand, and Mozambique, while new teams traveled from Burundi, Lebanon, and Kosovo,” Passmore said.
The competition allowed VMI to showcase talented cadets in an international setting, Passmore said. Those participating were able to display their high academic standards, as well as the character of VMI cadets.
“It is also a formative, and, in many cases, life-changing, experience for our cadets. Beyond just international travel, they spend a week interacting with foreign cadets, many of whom will be leaders in the future,” Passmore explained.
He also noted the experience has provided some inspiration for those who attended.
“Cadets have decided to attend law school after attending the competition, while others have gone on to excel as commissioned officers with some of the skills honed during this experience,” he said. “I regularly hear from former cadets who tell me how much this experience impacted them personally and professionally.”
This year was also different than in the past, with more cadets representing more academics than ever before in the competition’s two-plus decades.
“The standard of knowledge and preparation also seems to rise every year, continually pushing our cadets to a higher level,” Passmore commented.
This year’s team had less time to prepare than in recent years, Passmore shared, since he was on sabbatical last fall. He had to give two cadets a crash course in the material since they were unable to take his Law of Armed Conflict class.
“Their phenomenal performance largely comes down to the intensive work they completed in the weeks leading up to the competition. They worked extremely well as a team and showed tremendous initiative in studying and preparing for practice exercises in their spare time,” he said. “They also gleaned knowledge from last year’s team about the competition experience. During the competition, they remained focused and engaged until the very last session.”
Walker said the conference is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He was intrigued to take the class because of his love for law and with his intent to attend law school next year. His goal was to increase his knowledge of different sectors of the law. It was also his first time out of the country.
“Once we began the competition, I found myself interacting with cadets from all over the world who, although they had different experiences, all had the same interest in regard to the Law of Armed Conflict,” he said. “Every day, we would be thrust into new situations that made us think critically about legal questions that arose during the planning of a simulated operation. Through asking these questions, we had to work together to ensure that our answers were crafted to address the legal intricacies of the matter at hand.”
He urges anyone who would be casually interested in this type of competition to take the plunge and do it.
“This is an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life and will allow you to build bonds with people who you may interact with as a part of your future career, whether you commission or enter the private sector,” he explained. “It also allows you to increase your ability to think critically regarding a very difficult subject which is something that is invaluable as a young leader.”
Davis was one of the cadets who didn’t take the Law of Armed Conflict class. Instead, she applied for the team and ended up with a slot. She said the competition was based around a theoretical situation involving the outbreak of an international war. Competing in teams of three, they were assigned to a country in the coalition.
“Although most of us will not become legal advisors, it gave us great insight into joint operations and what our roles as military officers would be,” Davis said. “I think experiences like this teach future officers that those from other countries are just allies we do not know yet, rather than people to fear because we do not know them.”
Martindale said the competition was a bit outside her comfort zone.
“It really pushed our team to socialize and work with others with whom there was a huge language barrier,” she admitted. “However, it was also one of the best experiences of my life. You get to be immersed in all the different cultures that attend the conference, which is a learning experience in itself. Then, for the actual competition aspect, it was definitely a challenging situation, but we were trained so well, we knew how to handle it.”
In the end, Passmore said he was incredibly proud of the cadets who competed.
“From beginning to end, they conducted themselves with the utmost character and maturity, and were a true credit to VMI,” he said. “They continued the great work our cadets have done in recent years to in strengthen VMI’s reputation among foreign military academies.”
Advertisers have long known that a celebrity’s endorsement of a product can increase sales, but does that marketing strategy hold true for a health care campaign, more specifically a mental health campaign? That is what Delilah Martindale ’25, a Virginia Military Institute cadet, researched for her honors thesis, “Preventing Suicide: The Effect of Visibility on Mental Health Infrastructure.”
Martindale chose the subject of suicide prevention in order to merge her major in international studies with her minor in psychology. Martindale’s advisor, Vera Heuer, Ph.D., professor in the Department of International Studies and Political Science, whose area of expertise is social movements, encouraged her to take a look at mental health care.
“Essentially, we embraced this political sociological approach and came up with a project where she examined the degree with which the visibility of an organization in trying to raise awareness for suicide prevention actually impacts tangible outcomes. It’s truly in the spirit of the Institute honors program by merging various disciplines, and she did quite a wonderful job with that,” Heuer said.
Martindale’s research question asks, “What effect does visibility have on mental health infrastructure?” She defined mental health infrastructure (MHI) as the physical and organizational structures, facilities, and systems that collectively support the delivery of mental health care services. She hypothesized that the more visibility a campaign can create, the higher the rate of increasing MHI, and if a campaign can obtain a celebrity endorsement, it will enhance its visibility and therefore positively impact MHI.
“There is a psychological phenomenon where repeated exposure to a stimulus leads to an increased liking or preference for that stimulus. So essentially, familiarity breeds liking. The more familiar you are with something, the more likely you are to like it or have it in the forefront of your brain when you’re making decisions,” explained Martindale.
She tested her hypothesis by examining five case studies: The Trevor Project, a leading suicide prevention/crisis intervention nonprofit for young people ages 13 to 24 of the LGBTQ+ community; The Jed Foundation, an organization established by a couple following the suicide of their son; Active Minds, a program launched by the sister of a man who committed suicide; Hope for the Day, a prominent nonprofit movement in Chicago that influences proactive suicide prevention and mental health education; and Project Semicolon, an organization founded by a woman whose father took his own life, and in which Selena Gomez, a very prominent A-list celebrity is involved as executive producer.
Martindale assigned each case study a score based on their facilities, services, resources, education, and patient interaction compared to their social media presence, celebrity endorsement, news coverage, advertising and published literature.
She concluded that the first part of her hypothesis, “The more visibility a campaign can create, the higher the rate of increasing MHI,” is correct most of the time. “Clearly it was correct, four out of five times that I did the different case studies.”
The second part of the hypothesis, “If a campaign can obtain a celebrity endorsement, it will enhance its visibility and therefore positively impact MHI,” was inconclusive. “It seems to be more about what type of celebrity involvement there is, how actively engaged they were, what kind of endorsements they were doing, rather than general celebrity involvement,” she clarified.
Martindale is from San Bruno, California, where she attended Capuchino High School. She is the daughter of Mary Lefevre and Dave Martindale. In addition to minoring in psychology, she also minors in Spanish and leadership studies. After graduation, she plans to commission into the U.S. Army.
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.
Since the age of 5, Cole Jones ’26 has been playing lacrosse. It’s a good mix of several sports, he said.
“It brings every other aspect of sports into one. I played football when I was little, which is super physical, but it’s not as fast paced. I always played basketball. It’s kind of a mix between those two … physical and fast paced.”
The constant go of the game is also like his fast pace in his everyday life at Virginia Military 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.
His priorities have changed since coming to VMI. He finds that he is more focused, especially with the structure he’s had to maintain. Thankfully, during times of struggle in keeping up, he was able to lean on his dykes and brother rats for support.
“If you have a ton of free time — something they told me — then you’re probably doing something wrong,” Jones said. “There’s always something that should be getting done, whether that’s just extra readings, catching up, getting ahead on work, or studying.”
The international studies major is set to commission into U.S. Army once he graduates. Jones explained that his duties with ROTC and lacrosse go hand-in-hand.”The physical fitness aspect of it, it’s good, so I don’t have to really work out as much on my own because of going to practice and doing team lifts. Then the ROTC cadre are pretty flexible and understanding that if you miss things for sports, they’ll give you times to make stuff up or extra instruction periods and things like that.”
In high school, Jones was focused on lacrosse and hanging out with friends. Coming to VMI, he became more school focused.
“When I got here, my dad, who went to West Point, always told me school’s no joke. It’s not like high school. You actually spend time on it. I was really paranoid coming here about school work, and then I just kind of hit the ground running. I realized if I want good grades, you can’t slack, you have to devote at least a few hours a day to working on homework.”
VMI is a different college experience, but it’s allowed him to see how a stacked schedule will be once he’s out of school. He’s learned how to maximize his time for what he needs to get done.
“Our coach always says, once you get on the field, leave everything else up on the hill and just focus on the sport and practice that day,” Jones stated. “Everyone has their tough days and going down there with your whole group of guys, getting just to compete every day … it’s always awesome.”
Being part of a team — on and off the field — has allowed Jones to understand prioritizing things.
“Our coach also reminds us to control the things that you can control. There are definitely times where I get stressed out, and then I just kind of stop and lean back. It’s like, well, I have this thing that’s due tonight. Focus on that. And then, just one thing at a time. People here will say, just focus, especially as you’re a rat, it’s just one meal at a time. So, get to the next meal, get to the next day, the next assignment, whatever that is, just work one step at a time.”
The Vanguard series highlights cadets of Virginia Military Institute who exemplify promise, perseverance, and the true spirit of leadership. While they may not be the top-ranking students or those in prestigious positions, these individuals’ dedication, resilience, and growth embody the essence of being a VMI cadet. By sharing their stories, including the challenges they’ve faced and overcome, we shine a spotlight on the diverse paths to success at the Institute, proving that leadership and excellence come in many forms.
Scott Streff ’25 was looking for warmer weather in Virginia when he got an offer to play lacrosse at Virginia Military Institute. The international studies major from Minnesota was also looking to commission into the U.S. Army.
“I came here to play lacrosse. I was recruited out of high school. I’d never been to the state of Virginia before I committed, so I just came here sight unseen, but liked what it seemed like, and it was warm,” he admitted.Although he’s not on the lacrosse team anymore, he stayed at VMI because the knowledge and experience he is gathering lends itself to his future plans — utilizing his international studies degree inside or outside the Army, like working for the government or private sector.
His first two years at the Institute were lackluster, he stated, making the GPA needed to maintain commissioning status.
“Over the years, I’ve realized that my professors are super knowledgeable, especially in international studies,” Streff said. “I think we have some of the best professors, and what they’re talking about can help me.”
By his 2nd Class year, he was awarded academic stars, which means a cadet has a cumulative GPA of 3.5, or has earned a yearly GPA of 3.5 for the previous academic year.
“My dyke, when he was here, said grades are the most important thing. Whatever rank you have is really nice and really cool, but nobody in the real world cares that you were a corporal. They care about your GPA,” he said. “That’s what people look at first on a resume. That’s a major factor in Army rankings. So [my dyke] kind of drove me. He had the highest GPA in his major, and his roommate had the highest GPA in his major. I just wanted to go off that.”
He was also inspired to have the lacrosse team GPA be above a 3.2, which he had been below most of his cadetship. Although he’s not on the team anymore, he’s still close to others that are, and they motivate each other to get good marks. Streff is on the Rat Disciplinary Committee, which is responsible for the discipline and conduct of rats throughout the Rat Line.
Streff has had his share of struggles while at VMI. He admits he doesn’t spell at a high level, which can be challenging as an international studies major — there are a lot of papers to write.
“My roommates, they put me through a spelling bee, and they figured that I spelled about a fourth-grade level. I had to overcome that,” Streff explained. “I also needed to overcome the time management aspect of VMI. I was wasting a lot of time and putting time into the wrong areas, getting distracted.”
He found that staying in his room with two monitors hooked up to his computer was a more effective way to study, instead of spending time in academic buildings where more distractions could be presented.
It also helped finding a passion for international studies. He’s able to minor in Middle Eastern studies, giving him interesting classes to enroll in, which in turn made learning the material easier and fun.
Salih Yasun, assistant professor in the Department of International Studies and Political Science, describes Streff as a friendly, ambitious student, saying, he’s “in peace with himself.”
“Intellectually, he is very open to challenging himself. He has the ability to lighten the mood in class whenever he wishes to do so,” Yasun said. “He is the kind of cadet every professor wishes to have in their class.”
Vera Heuer, professor in the Department of International Studies and Political Science, said Streff is personal, grounded, and doesn’t view education as a commodity. She appreciated his approach to VMI’s expectations.
“He clearly is motivated to do well in his classes, but he would first try to improve his performance on his own rather than ask the instructor,” she commented. “Even when he turns for help, I always felt that he was very cognizant of not viewing faculty as a service deliverer, but more as a mentor.”
Heuer saw an example of this during Streff’s 3rd Class year in how he was as a peer instructor trying to communicate to other students to put in the effort and come to sessions prepared. She noticed that he’d inform students that if they weren’t prepared, he would be limited in how he could help them. He was essentially interacting with his peers as faculty members do with their students, she said.
“This shows that he has great social awareness and what makes him a good leader,” she said. “He was very good at balancing corps, athletic, and academic commitments — he was able to finally earn academic stars only after he relieved himself from some of the commitments, like quitting lacrosse. I was really happy to see him finally getting the academic accolades he is so deserving of.”
As graduation approaches, Streff is excited to serve his country, then hopefully pursue further studies after. He feels his time at VMI has well prepared him for whatever comes.
“I think VMI matures you … you have a lot more real-world responsibilities and concerns,” he stated. “I think the priority of VMI cadets is very different than the priority of most college students across the nation. It’s a much more competitive environment post-graduation. People care about what jobs you’re getting, what opportunities you’re getting, what internships you are getting.”
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.
Ryan Peterson ’25 has learned how to compartmentalize and focus. He said it’s something that his time at Virginia Military Institute has helped frame for him. The international studies major explained that the rigors of academics and playing a Division I sport makes it so he must focus on one task at a time.
“First and foremost, I won an opportunity to compete at the Division I level, and that really sold me,” Peterson explained. “The school also intrigued me a lot, just because it just seemed like a different way of learning, as compared to other colleges around. I think here gives you a different perspective on how to compartmentalize things.”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.
“If you’re thinking about the stuff up on the hill, then it’s going to affect your performance down at practice,” Peterson admitted. “If you’re thinking about your performance at practice, it’s going to bleed into your study hours and turn a couple hours of homework into three maybe four, and some long nights.”
In his final semester, Peterson is taking 14 credits. The lighter load is due to previous semesters at 17.5 credits. While he’s in season with baseball, he’s getting up at 5:30 a.m. for morning weightlifting. Then it’s breakfast and on to class. He’s found that any spare time he has during his days, he fits in as much school assignments, studying, and work in between other obligations.
“I try to be really on it and get my work done when I can,” he said.
Individual practice begins at 2 p.m. for Peterson, then later in the afternoon is the full team practice, which wraps up around 6 or 7 p.m. Then he’s studying until about 10 p.m. Each hour of the day is accounted for, he said. The strict schedule that he and others at VMI follow has also helped with preparing him for the future.
“I think coming here out of high school I was really glued to my phone or things that can distract you, and over the years and learning how to balance everything and do well in my classes, I really had to transition between being present at practice to being present in my homework,” he explained.
VMI BB Fall Scrimmage vs. UC Action Shot
Baseball serves as an outlet for him.
“It’s normally the most fun part of my day. I’m lucky that it’s still fun to me,” Peterson said. “I know some people, as they get older, it gets more of a burden. Luckily it hasn’t gotten to that point. It definitely helps me when I’m stressed. Having that outlet together every day, because I see myself as lucky because I know some people come here and they don’t have something like that. They don’t have an NCAA sport to go down to and play or take in.”
Peterson, a catcher, has always been intrigued by the team atmosphere of baseball. He’s been playing since the age of 6.
“I think everybody, whether you’re the star player or the last guy on the bench, can have a shared part in the team’s success or failure,” he stated. “I think a lot of baseball feeds off energy, and if you have everybody bought into playing for each other and the team’s goals, that it can be pretty powerful.”
Now in his last season, he’s looking toward the future. “It is bittersweet, but I’m really at peace with things. I think coming here really made me take in what I’m doing every day and understand where I’m at in the world,” he admitted. “I feel that this place in particular and the program we have down at the field has made me kind of take in every day. So, I have no regret of looking back and saying, I wish I put a little bit more effort here and there. I’m at peace with knowing that I’ve given a lot of effort.”
He plans on going to law school and has aspirations of becoming a judge advocate.
“I’ve always been interested in structure. I’ve always been interested in law and as well as the military, so that’s why I would like to be a judge advocate,” he said. “I’ll take the lessons I’ve learned here, translate them into both my interests and into the real world and try to help people who serve and help us.”
