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Nearly 500 cadets matriculated at Virginia Military Institute on Aug. 19, among them a couple of sisters and brothers of upper-class cadets.
The number of matriculants approximately matches the number of cadets who enrolled in the fall of 2021, following last year’s lower number of 375.
Matriculation Day included a fair in Cocke Hall where the students and their families were able to meet with various VMI agencies, local bankers, churches, and other community organizations. Also part of the process was a uniform fitting and issuing of their athletic uniform in Cameron Hall, completion of paperwork, meeting department faculty, and the traditional signing of the matriculation book in the Corps Physical Training Facility. Throughout the morning, the barracks were teeming with parents assisting their students moving into their rooms, and meeting their roommates.
In the afternoon, the Chaplain’s Prayer, an optional non-denominational prayer session for new cadets and parents was held in Memorial Hall, followed by the superintendent’s welcome in Cameron Hall.
Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85 addressed the incoming matriculants and their families, and the cadets took an oath during a ceremony.
With hugs, cheers, and a few tears, the cadets bid goodbye to their families, formed up with their companies for the first time, and marched up to barracks where they met their cadre, a group of cadets holding rank in each company, and are chosen based on performance and ability to serve as instructors for the newest cadets.
This year’s new cadets come from 39 states and five foreign countries, with 57% from Virginia and 43% from out of state. Seventy-one are female, and 176 are recruited NCAA athletes. Forty-nine percent have selected a major in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines and 51% are majoring in the liberal arts. -This year, two families who already have cadets at VMI sent two siblings to join them. Lucy and Tyler Hagan, sister and brother from Richmond, signed the matriculation book and joined their older brother, Joseph Addison Hagan V ’24, a civil engineering major and member of the cadre.
“I am excited to see my siblings be tested, endure hardship, and develop the same strong friendships that I have enjoyed. I look forward to watching them earn my full respect through their efforts in the Rat Line, and I am excited to see their transformation from individuals to a class,” he said.
The Hagans are part of a legacy family (generational graduates) at VMI, who include their father, Joseph Addison “Add” Hagan IV ’97; their grandfather, Joseph Addison “Ad” Hagan III ’68; their greatgrandfather, Joseph Addison “Add” Hagan Jr. ’42; and their great-great grandfather, Joseph Addison “Addi” Hagan Sr., VMI class of 1916. In addition, they have multiple cousins, and uncles who graduated from VMI.
According to “Add” ’97, his three children, Addison, Lucy, and Tyler, have all grown up with great respect for the Institute and its mission of producing educated and honorable citizen-soldiers willing to contribute to society.
“But there is a considerable difference between appreciating and attending VMI, and I never anticipated any - much less all - of my children would choose this less-traveled path,” he said. “As a VMI graduate and as a parent, it is fulfilling to see my children choose this more challenging endeavor for themselves. Having witnessed the incredibly positive impact of three years at VMI on our oldest, I am eager to see our younger two embrace, and benefit from, the same system. This is going to be a fun year, as we get to see the bookends of the life of a cadet through our three children’s experiences.”
The Townsend family from Cozier now have four children at VMI. Alice and Mark ’96 witnessed their son, David, and daughter, Margaret matriculate. They joined their older sisters, Anne Townsend ’24, a civil engineering major and Band Company commander, and Virginia Townsend ’24, a chemistry major and regimental S2 captain.
“We are excited for Margaret and David to be here this year! VMI already feels like a family, and with them here, it will even more,” said Virginia.
In addition to the Hagan and Townsend families, the Ahrens family welcomed a third sibling on post. Brothers Owen Ahrens ’24 and Noah Ahrens ’25 from Lynchburg welcomed their sister Tess as an incoming rat. “VMI is special. But there is a difference between knowing something is special from the outside, and experiencing it from within the walls of barracks. I could not be prouder of my sister’s decision to choose this special experience that will always hold a place in our family’s legacy,” said Owen.
The matriculation process continued throughout last week with the cadre leading the new arrivals in military drills and physical training, culminating with the Rat Crucible on Sunday, Aug. 27. The new cadets will officially become the class of 2027 in the spring semester, after Breakout.
Members of the Old Corps returned Sunday, Aug. 27, and classes began Tuesday, Aug. 29.
