The Vanguard – Page 2 – Virginia Military Institute

The Vanguard — Nickole Chavez ’26

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.

Writing is something that comes easily for Nickole Chavez ’26. She says she enjoys writing essays, which may seem like an odd thing, but when English and writing is something that comes easily, it’s a no-brainer. Science and math, she’s not a big fan. But, when she finds something she’s passionate about, it’s simple.

“It’s always been something I’ve excelled at,” she admitted. “I feel like it comes naturally to me.”

It’s a trait that her professors have noticed. Lt. Col. Michelle Iten, associate professor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies, said Chavez is a highly focused, self-disciplined, and determined learner.

“She prepares fully for each session, and her high level of attention and engagement in class activities show a determination to stay on task and to learn all she can,” Iten explained. “She has the same demanding schedule as her peers, but if she is ever fatigued, I would not know it from her demeanor and level of engagement in class; she is active and attentive from beginning to end. She stands out among her peers in the class with this tough constitution for learning.”

Chavez is disciplined in her studies; she spends a lot of time in the library until the late hours trying to get ahead.

“That’s mainly how I try to set up my week, just seeing what’s coming up soon, getting that done, and then, if there’s anything coming up on the weekend, I’ll try and get ahead on those assignments during the week.”

She may not hold rank at Virginia Military Institute, but she tries to stay involved as much as possible. The English major has a minor in Spanish, along with concentrations in literary studies, art history and visual culture, and rhetoric and writing. She’s also the women’s soccer team manager and facilitates Spanish group study sessions.

Nickole Chavez showing off her Virginia Military ring.

“I like the school. I like what it stands for, the values. I really try and play into the system as much as I can. I’m just a private and as much as I can, I try to be involved,” she said.

As a 3rd Class cadet, she said she’s seen her growth as a student.

“I know I need to get my assignments done. I can’t stay in bed all day. Being here has helped me become more motivated and determined,” she said.

Iten explained that Chavez stands out to her for her level-headedness.

“In addition to having excellent stamina for learning, Nickole also stands out for her level-headedness and stable self-possession. If she encounters a tough spot or problem in her coursework, she remains calm, articulate, and solution-oriented,” she said. “Cadets can, understandably, get rocked off-balance by the demands of their coursework combined with navigating VMI, but not Nickole. I had a corporate career before becoming a professor, and Nickole is exactly the type of person I would have gladly hired for her capacity to stay grounded and articulate in fast-moving, high-pressure conditions.”

The routine at VMI has been beneficial for Chavez. She said with the set schedule, it has not only benefitted her during her time at VMI, but outside of it.

“I feel like I’m already on a set schedule. Even when I’m at home, I’m getting my day started early.”

She said the schedule she and other cadets must keep has helped her become better with time management.

“There’s a lot of stuff here we have to participate in, like practice parades, parades, meetings that we need to go to. I feel like just all that stuff kind of pushes you to manage your time a little bit better. During your day, if you get a break, take advantage of that break,” she said.

Days can be overwhelming, but Chavez’s outlook remains steady.

“I just try to take a step back and think about why I’m here, because this school can be stressful,” she said. “I just try to think back on why I’m here and what’s my purpose.”

The Vanguard — John Gibson ’26

High school was a breeze for John Gibson ’26. He thought coming to Virginia Military Institute, he wouldn’t have to put in any extra effort.

Except, he was wrong.

“My GPA the fall semester of my rat year was just atrocious,” he explained. “I thought I’m having so much fun here, being a rat with my friends, taking these classes, that I can’t really afford to lose it just because I’m not willing to do my homework. I need to do the work. That spring semester, I just really put the axe to the grindstone and did the work. Then I fell in love with doing the work as well.”

He was drawn to economics and business as a major because it applies to a lot in his life.

“I’d say it’s applicable to everyone’s lives,” he stated. “Whether it’s you’re learning about inflation rates or unemployment, you can read the news and understand it.”

As his classes went on and became more major-focused, his interest and devotion to learning grew.

He said his classes became more competitive and his professors found interesting ways to engage cadets. In his business finance class with Col. Jeffrey Smith, they’re presented with academic sporting events. Gibson explained that the approach to these events is not to be seen as studying for an exam but working hard and treating it like a race. He said switching the way he thought about preparing for it was more geared toward steady preparation.

John Gibson atop House Mountain in Lexington during a hike with the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Military Institute.

“I think of it as practicing for the exam in the same way as when I go for a run,” he explained. “I’m not just running to tire my legs out, but it’s to prepare for my upcoming race. It’s like building endurance in both instances.”

Col. Samuel Allen, professor in the Department of Economics and Business, said Gibson is thoughtful and good at asking questions that will help him, along with the rest of the class, better understand the content.

“John shines without taking the spotlight away from anyone else,” Allen said.

Allen said he saw great promise in Gibson when he was on the Rat Line and it was a challenging first semester.

“The rigors of being a rat knocked him down, metaphorically, yet he rebounded, redoubled his efforts, and emerged committed growing as a scholar,” Allen said.

Gibson said he knows the difference between when it’s time to work and time to play.

“I’ve become a much harder worker, and not just because I have to, but now I enjoy hard work,” he admitted. “When I matriculated, I was lazy. But with one of my brother rats, we joke about how we have figured out how to use all 24 hours of our day.”

Gibson tries to stay as involved as possible, with participating in cadre for Charlie Company and working at the Miller Academic Center.

John Gibson shows off his Virginia Military Institute ring.

“I try and interact with as many people as I can,” he said.

Capt. Meghan Ferguson, academic support coordinator at the Miller Academic Center, said Gibson is a highly sought-after peer tutor. This year he’s conducted nearly 50 tutoring sessions, she said. He also serves as the cadet facilitator for a health and performance wellness group study session.

“Through his work for the Miller Academic Center, he exemplifies both exceptional leadership and academic achievement,” Ferguson said. “As a further example of Gibson’s leadership, he has guided a struggling new cadet to the Miller Academic Center for advising and academic support. Cadets have great influence over one another, and we appreciate Gibson’s mentorship and promotion of our academic services. When he observes concern or struggle, he provides resources, support, and a plan of action. We are thankful that he uses his academic skills and leadership for the benefit of others.”

The Vanguard — Alexis Gonzalez ’25

Helping others is Alexis Gonzalez’ ’25 backbone. Anything she can do to help others,; she’s immediately on board. She plans on pursuing emergency management after graduating and going to paramedic school.

“I do it for the people,” she said about being an emergency medical technician (EMT). “I have to be the calm in the storm. I have to do my job, but it’s a Catch-22 because every time you do your job, somebody is having the worst day of their life. Being that calm in the storm for that person is a feeling that I can’t even describe. I’ve seen some incredible things and some horrific things. I’m happy to say, I don’t regret it one bit. It just gives me the opportunity to guide others getting into the field.”

The history major accidentally stumbled upon Virginia Military Institute. She admitted while searching for the University of Valley Forge, she ended up misspelling it and VMI popped up instead. It turned out to be the best mistake she’s made.

“VMI was the only school I got in early decision, and I haven’t looked back since,” Gonzalezs said. “My desire was to get out of Texas, so I was trying to go as far away as I could, and VMI was willing to give me an academic scholarship.”

She found the right fit in history. She loves learning about strategy, business history, military history, and constitutional history — which VMI has in spades. Her academics didn’t come without struggle, though.

“I’m not an academic weapon,” she admitted. “I’m a very physical, practice, tactile person, like if I can touch it, good to go. Books … can’t read. I’m highly dyslexic, the words jumble. Learning how to in college was fun.”

Her trick? Reading key parts of materials and gathering the overall sense of what is being studied.

“I worked really, really hard. My academic advisor, I give him a lot of credit, because he taught me how to read a book, because you don’t necessarily need to read all of it. You just need to read the key parts of it — the intro, the conclusion. That’s what I kind of focus on. If I need to read a chapter, I’ll skim it, and my brain will go from there.”

Alexis Gonzalez working as a cadet EMT. — Screenshot

She credits a class she took early on at VMI called Intro to Methods in helping her create her own system of learning.

“It teaches you how to be a historian and read all those things you need to read and pick out the pieces that you actually need to focus on,” she explained. “That class kind of helped me solidify the rest of my academic career, because I literally transferred what I learned there and just put it to every other class and it worked. I worked really hard at it, and it didn’t click until my 2nd Class year. My GPA started going up. Last semester, I had 3.4. I’ve never had a 3.4.”

Maj. Christopher Blunda, assistant professor in the Department of History and Gonzalez’ academic advisor, described her as a hardworking student and someone he could always count on coming prepared to class and willing to share her perspectives.

“Her participation promoted an environment that was conducive to learning and was therefore quite beneficial to her fellow students,” he explained. “Her accomplishments in the classroom are, in my view, quite impressive given the extent of her numerous obligations and responsibilities.”

She says she’s decent cadet who is active as a lieutenant for VMI’s cadet EMT and the president of the Cadet Equity Association (CEA). She said she likes being part of the community and participating.

Apart from figuring out her learning style, Gonzalez said her writing has improved during her time at VMI. She credits the Writing Center for it. The biggest growth has been her confidence.

“I want to say I’ve grown quite a bit just in my confidence level,” she said. “I’ve grown together with my brother rats. Just learning your place in the system, growing, and becoming a part of the team.”

Blunda said he and his colleagues view her with great respect.

“In my view, she is among the most promising 1st Class cadets because of her attention to detail, ability to present well, and commitment to teamwork and service,” he said. “The qualities mentioned above make her stand out. There are a great number of good cadets at VMI, I consider Cadet Gonzalez among the best. She learns from her experiences and is able to apply that knowledge effectively. She is not the sort of person who ever needs to be told anything twice. Hers is a consistent pattern of improvement. My colleagues in history will certainly miss her after she graduates.”

The Vanguard — Ryan Halverson ’26

Lessons learned outside the classroom at Virginia Military Institute are what push Ryan Halverson ’26 to do better. He’s never been one to really enjoy school, but once he was able to apply what’s he’s learning in class to the outside world, his drive grew.

“I’ve learned a lot more lessons in VMI classrooms just about myself,” he said.

One class he took on civic discourse presented him with a project on how to portray an argument and how to move an audience. He said that being at VMI, he knows it serves the greater good.

“I think that’s really important for not only business, but in the military as well. Understanding that from that perspective, and not just a school perspective, is important,” he explained.

Halverson, an English major, originally came to VMI as a civil engineering major.

“I instantly knew it was a mistake.”

Lt. Col. Pennie Ticen, associate professor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies described Halverson as a conscientious student, ever since the beginning of his cadetship. She had him as a rat.

“He came to class having done any assigned reading and/or writing, regularly contributed to class discussion — partly by listening carefully to his peers’ comments and then adding a synthesizing comment or a question designed to further discussion,” she explained. Halverson had approached her when he wanted to switch majors. “Demonstrating the care he brings to all his decision-making, he asked me for materials about the major, made an appointment to meet with me so he could ask questions, and then decided to submit his request to change departments.”

He switched to English because he saw it could really lend itself to what he wants to pursue after college, which is commissioning into the Marine Corps.

“It was best for me in terms of communication and in leadership,” he said.

Ticen, who is also Halverson’s advisor, said he is always the first cadet to get in touch with any questions or concerns about scheduling.

“[He’s] making sure he is making steady progress on his degree, taking his major courses in the order in which we suggest so that he can build up his skills in our challenging humanities curriculum covering — art history and visual culture, literature, philosophy, and rhetoric & writing, etcetera,” she said. “In his cadetship, Halverson has consistently demonstrated his desire to get the most out of his VMI experience.”

Ryan Halverson showing off his Virginia Military Institute ring with his brother rats.

By serving on the Rat Disciplinary Committee (RDC) and on cadre this year, he will move into the role of RDC president next year.

“I would just say I’m someone who likes to push those around me. I like to make people better and really show people what they can do,” he commented. “One of my favorite quotes is, as a leader, you don’t show people your superpowers, you show them theirs. I think that’s what I try to do at VMI.”

It’s a shift for him, he said. When he was in high school, he always wanted to help others but didn’t apply himself much to leadership positions. His time at VMI has helped that. He said the sense of camaraderie and the push to make everyone better was a turning point.

Although the daily grind at VMI can be challenging, Halverson said his roommates and friends help him keep going.

“There’s not one challenge here that you can’t overcome, but it’s being able to do that every single day is what’s hard,” he said.

Col. Michelle Iten, associate professor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies and the one who taught his civic discourse class, said Halverson is an insightful thinker who is strong at critical thinking. She said he also has a strong work ethic and puts in the time needed without cutting corners.

“From the work he did for my class and our conversations, it’s clear to me that Halverson sees college as a place to expand his knowledge — he wants to learn deeply,” she stated. “He puts in all the careful thought and hard work needed to truly learn. This sets him apart from many cadets who are in class because they have to be and are in college just to get a degree.

“He also stands out for his critical thinking skills,” she continued. “Ryan often impressed me with his comments in class — he’s insightful beyond his years in seeing cause and effect and in understanding what motivates people.”

Halverson said being honest with yourself on what you need to improve on is important, especially when you are a rat.

“It shows you where you’re lacking so that when it’s over, you can develop yourself through the next three years. Know your weaknesses, and I strive every day to become better in those areas,” he said. “You get put in so many stressful and uncomfortable situations that you get through. Doing that over and over just builds confidence.”

The Vanguard — Scott Streff ’25

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.

Scott Streff with his brother rats at Virginia Military Institute in barracks.

“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.”

The Vanguard — Virginia Price ’28

Challenges and a different college experience are a huge draw for those considering Virginia Military Institute. That’s exactly why Virginia Price ’28 chose it.

It’s a challenge she seems to accept and prospered at within just a few months of being at VMI. The English major has a passion for writing, especially poetry.

Dr. Duncan Richter, professor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies, said she’s been a model student in the course she’s taken with him. He said she was one of the top three students who he could count on to complete every assignment.

Virginia Price with her brother rat at Virginia Military Institute.

“I don’t know of any struggles she has faced, but already as a rat she has earned a high enough GPA to be a potential candidate for the Institute Honors program,” he said.

Richter also pointed out Price recently won a contest for her poetry — part of the VMI Writing Contest.

“She stands out, not by being loud or having a high opinion of herself, but by doing what she needs to do and always having a positive attitude. She never seems to feel sorry for herself or be anything but cheerful,” Richter added.

Price has always loved reading and writing; she excelled at them in high school and found them to be areas she wanted to pursue in college.

“I like that you can tell a story and that you can connect to your audience, but you don’t need that many words,” she said about poetry. “You can write a few lines and someone will feel the exact same way that you’re feeling. You can draw them in.”

She is highly focused on her academics and strives for the best. Currently taking 17.5 credits, she’s finding as she’s into her second semester, she’s enjoying the variety of classes more.

“I try to just get the most out of my academic experience here, because in the end, that’s what I’m paying for — a college education,” she explained. “I try to prioritize my classes; that’s my number one thing.”

Transitioning to college life on the Rat Line was tough, she said. It had been the first time in her life that she had been yelled at or commanded to do things. As a non-commissioning cadet, she’s here for the experience itself. Matriculation Week, though, helped her transition more into the Institute.

“I think it kind of showed me how to work well under pressure,” she said. “You don’t have time to miss home or anything, because you’re automatically in it. Then when you get out of Matriculation Week, you go straight into classes.”

She’s excited for what’s to come next during her time at VMI: Things like taking leadership positions, which she says sets you up for further success in life, as well as joining club sports and getting to know others in the Corps. She currently participates in the VMI Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club the VMI Rock Climbing Club.

“I feel like at any other college, you don’t really talk to people as much,” she admitted. “Everybody’s kind of in their own little world. But here, we all do things as a mass. You get to meet more people; there’s more of a connection.”

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