2023-2024: Recognizing Military Precision and Fitness

LEXINGTON, Va., May 18, 2024—Earlier this week, Col. Adrian T. Bogart III ’81, commandant of the Corps of Cadets, presided over the first awards ceremony of graduation week at VMI. In addition to recognizing cadets for outstanding achievement during the academic year, the Commandant’s Awards also recognize the accomplishments of companies within the Corps of Cadets. The Commandant’s Cup is presented for physical fitness and the Garnett Andrews Cup for military efficiency for the entire 2023-2024 academic year.  The two cups will be engraved with the winning company and displayed in the Visitors’ Center lobby area of Lejeune Hall.

The recipients for 2023-2024 are as follows:

The Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States President’s Medal was awarded to Bryson A. Minear ’24, an international studies major from Magnolia, Delaware. The recipient of this award must be a full-time cadet who has completed at least two years of school before being considered for the award and has demonstrated leadership potential, academic proficiency, and a high level of fitness in the eyes of the superintendent.

The Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States Purple Heart Scholarship Award was presented to Vaughn A. Hall ’25, a history major from Delray Beach, Florida. The selected cadet  for this award must be a direct lineal descendant of a Purple Heart recipient and a full-time student currently enrolled in college with a 2.75 GPA or higher.

The Lemuel Mackennie Long Jarman Award was established in 1940 by Dr. F. G. Jarman in memory of his son, a member of the Class of 1943, who died as a result of an accident during equestrian instruction March 31, 1940.  It is given to a member of the 4^th Class who has exhibited outstanding scholarship, conduct and character. The recipient receives a $100 credit toward tuition or fees which is applied automatically in the fall. This award was presented to Matthew D. Assouad ’27, an international studies major from Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The William Brent Bell ’67 Award was established in 1970 as a memorial to 1st Lt. Bell who was killed when his helicopter was shot down by enemy fire in Vietnam March 1969.  It was established by his parents, relatives, classmates and friends to recognize a 3^rd Class cadet who has shown excellence in military studies as did Bell while at VMI.  The recipient receives a cash prize of $100 and an engraved saber. This year’s award was presented to Reese E. Lassiter ’26, a mechanical engineering major from Lovettsville, Virginia.

The VMI Distinguished Third Class Leadership Award was established by Nathaniel W. Pendleton Jr. ’57 to encourage and recognize praiseworthy leadership in the proper practical education, training and development of fourth-class cadets by a member of the third class. It is given to a 3^rd Class cadet who has participated as a member of the new cadet training cadre or Rat Challenge training cadre, and who has exhibited the most praiseworthy leadership. The award recipient will receive a cash prize of $250 and a collection of books on leadership. This year’s award was presented to Ethan T. Aldridge ’26, a computer science major from Lexington, Virginia.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart National Leadership Award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership, exceptional service, and distinctive performance in all areas of cadet life, and for valuable and unselfish support of the Virginia Military Institute.  The award is a medal set, lapel pin, and a certificate.  The recipients of this year’s award are Carey E. Camp  (Army, presented at a separate event), Brian M. Pritchard ’25 (Marine Corps), Joshua G. Vissicchio ‘25 (Air Force), and Jiayi Li ’25 (Navy).

The Col. Thomas H. Trumps  Award, ’79 Commandant of Cadets Award established in 2014 by the Class of 1979, is given to a graduating 1^st Class private who has accepted an active-duty commission in one of the Armed Forces and has demonstrated active participation in and served in a leadership role in one of the VMI club sports.  The recipient is Nathaniel C. Mayfield ’24, an international studies major from Four Oaks, North Carolina, who received a $500 check and his name engraved on a perpetual plaque in the commandant’s office suite.

The Veteran’s Recognition Award was established in 2012 by the commandant of cadets, Col. Thomas H. Trumps ’79 to recognize a cadet who is a veteran of active-duty military service or currently serving, and has continued to serve through exemplary leadership and mentorship in the Corps of Cadets.  The recipient receives an engraved mug.  This year’s award was presented to Matthew D. Assouad ’27.

The Community Service Award was established in 2012 by the commandant of cadets, to recognize a cadet who served as an emergency medical technician (EMT), firefighter or rescue squad member.  The recipient receives a fully stocked medical travel kit and a $100 check. This year’s recipient is John A. Taxiarchou ’24, an economics and business major from Long Valley, New Jersey.

The next awards, presented by Gunner Lahah, VMI’s senior marksmanship instructor, were earned in September when the Combat Shooting Team attended the VA National Guard’s College ROTC Clash, where two cadets took first and second place and earned Excellence in Competition (EIC) badges. In second place, Kenneth A. Dinkel ’25 fired 130-6X out of 150 points to earn a Bronze Excellence in Competition Pistol Badge (Pin). In first place and match champion, firing 136-6X out of 150 points, was Alex J. Bodner ’26, earning a Bronze Excellence in Competition Pistol Badge (Pin).

The 3rd Class Marksmanship Award was established in 2012 by the commandant of cadets to recognize the company with the highest scoring average with the M-16 service rifle. The award is given to the company with the highest average score on the 25-meter alternate course “C” qualification target. Company scores also count towards the overall Commandant’s Cup award. The winner of the 3^rd Class Marksmanship Award is Company G.

The North Post Challenge Award was established in 2012 by the commandant of cadets to recognize the company team with the highest combined fitness and marksmanship score. The award is given to the company team with the highest score throughout all North Post Challenge events. Company score also counts towards the overall Commandant’s Cup award. The first, second, and third place company teams receive individual hand-crafted knives.

• 1^st Place: Company I
• 2^nd Place: Band Company
• 3^rd Place: Company A

On January 30th, 1959, the commandant of cadets, Col. Glover S. Johns Jr. wrote a letter to Gen. William H. Milton Jr., VMI’s eighth superintendent, proposing the establishment the Commandant’s Cup Award “to the cadet company making the best score in certain aspects of physical training.”  His proposal was approved.  Johns designed the sterling silver trophy, approximately 18 inches in height, bearing the distinctive VMI monogram, to be given to the company excelling each year in physical fitness.  His objective was to improve the physical condition of the Corps as a whole.

The cup is engraved as follows: “Virginia Military Institute Commandant’s Cup presented annually to the company most outstanding in physical training and fair specimens of citizen-soldiers.”

The awarding of this cup was discontinued in 1970 except for 1979 and 1985.  With the reinstatement of the Commandant’s Cup in 2010, the company with the highest average score on the VMI Fitness Test (VFT) for the academic year was awarded the cup.  In 2012 the 3^rd Class marksmanship competition and North Post challenge results were added to the computation along with the company VFT pass rate.

The winner of the Commandant’s Cup for physical fitness for the academic year 2023-2024 is Company F.

Mr. Garnett Andrews, VMI Class of 1890, donated the Garnett Andrews Cup in 1915 which was presented to the company scoring highest in military efficiency throughout the year.  Scoring for the Garnett Andrews Cup competition is based on the company’s general efficiency as a military unit which includes the company’s performance in drill, ceremonies, parade appearance, meal march-downs and guard mounts. The winner of the Garnett Andrews Cup for the academic year 2023-2024 is Band Company.

The final recognition of the ceremony was for the American Military Colleges and Schools of the United States PT Challenge. The team representing VMI placed second overall. Cadets on the team were Benjamin F. Bowen ’26, Dylan M. Colbert ’25, Jacob R. Kleinschuster ’24, Matthew A. Kleinschuster ’26, and Tanner L. Nelson ’24.

A full photo album is available on VMI’s Flickr account.

– VMI –