WPAOG is pleased to announce that Mr. Kenneth "Ken" Fisher, Chairman & CEO of Fisher House Foundation, will receive the 2022 Sylvanus Thayer Award. The Thayer Award will be presented on October 6 at West Point. The Sylvanus Thayer Award is given annually to a U.S. Citizen whose outstanding character, accomplishments, and stature in the civilian community draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” The Thayer Award is the highest honor currently bestowed upon a non-graduate by WPAOG. Learn more.

Check out the digital edition before print copies arrive in mailboxes soon. The winter issue explores character education at West Point. Read how the Simon Center for Professional Military Ethic and other classes and initiatives teach cadets to be leaders of character. Read the digital edition now.

Please join us in congratulating WPAOG’s 2022 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients. This annual award is bestowed upon those West Point Graduates whose character, distinguished service, and stature draw a wholesome comparison to the qualities West Point strives for in keeping with its motto "Duty, Honor, Country." The 2022 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients are Frederick C. Lough Jr. ’70, Lee A. Van Arsdale ’74, John F. Campbell ’79, Rebecca S. Halstead ’81, Alex Gorsky ’82 and Nadja Y. West ’82. Visit our website for more information about the award and our past recipients.

Class of 2022 Cadet Zorian Flowers received the Henry O. Flipper Award during the Henry O. Flipper Dinner February 10 at Washington Hall. The award has been given out during Black History Month each year since 1977 to a firstie cadet who, like Flipper, persevered through unusual adversity during his or her time at West Point. Full story.

WPAOG, in partnership with the Highland Falls Intermediate School (HFIS), launched CONNECT—an after-school program to provide students with high-quality experiences that support their academics and expand their interests. The theme of this CONNECT session was discipline, health, and fitness. West Point Cadets participated as mentors, discussing nutrition, instructing volleyball and team handball skills, and leading students in activities. The CONNECT program continues on March 3, expanding to a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math curriculum with an aviation session studying flying drones. Read more.

In close coordination, WPAOG and its sister alumni associations have decided to sunset the All Academy Challenge (AAC). For eight years, this collective effort energized our graduate bodies and communities and raised participation and support for our institutions to new heights. Thank you to Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine for being such worthy opponents. Please save the date: May 1-5 for the first West Point Challenge! We welcome your input on how to rebrand, retool, and reenergize our upcoming West Point-centric annual effort launching this spring. This is an opportunity to create new engagement with parents and Parents Clubs, along with West Point classes, companies, decades, and affinity groups. Learn more. Please volunteer, provide feedback, or ask questions here.

Army Cadets and Navy Midshipmen met on a different field of friendly strife on February 5, a STEM competition, and beat Navy to win the Army-Navy STEM trophy. Thirty-two high school students from Maryland and Virginia attended this competitive engineering event in Annapolis, led by near-peer cadets and midshipmen. Cadets Cynthia Sun ’25, Caleb Peterson ’25, Keno Deary ’23, and Dhyuti Gopalakrishna ’23, advised by faculty members, led sixteen students on the Army Team through a STEM curriculum that included Website Design, Electric Circuits and Soldering, Robotics Coding, Fluid Dynamics and Rocket Design, Structures and Triangles, and Bridge Building. The Army team won two out of the three competitions (Robots and Rockets).

The U.S. Corps of Cadets hosted the 500th Night Banquet for the Class of 2023 on January 22. The 500th Night Banquet celebrates the Class of 2023, having 500 days until graduation and commissioning as Army officers. The guest speaker was LTG Xavier T. Brunson, who spoke about the importance of hope within the ranks of the military and the nation. Photos. Full story.

Commemorate this wonderful occasion by engraving your soon to be Second Lieutenant's name on a brick or paver at the Herbert Hall Alumni Center! The Graduation installation deadline is March 1. Learn more.

WPAOG held the annual Class Ring Memorial Ceremony on January 21, where a record 71 West Point class rings were melted into a legacy gold bar. This legacy gold will be used to make the Class of 2023’s West Point class rings, which they will receive in August. This Class Ring Memorial Program creates a tangible bond between the members of the Long Gray Line. Including this year’s rings, the total donated West Point class rings is now 740. Eleven of this year’s rings were from the 50-Year Affiliate Class of 1973. For more information about WPAOG's Class Ring Memorial Program, please click here. Video. Full story.

Army West Point Women’s Basketball claimed their third-consecutive Star Game victory after holding off Navy 70-66 in the Star Game at Christl Arena. CDT Alisa Fallon ’22 led the way with 17 points, five assists and eight rebounds. She was one of three Black Knights to record double-digit points, joined by CDT Sabria Hunter ’23, who poured in 11 to go along with five assists and seven rebounds, and CDT Lauren Lithgow ’24, who went 4-of-6 from the arc for 14 points. Read more.

Now that our Firsties have celebrated 100th Night, it is time to get ready for graduation. You’ve waited nearly 47 months to add this yard decoration! Celebrate your new graduate with one of our Class of 2022 Yard Signs. These signs, designed to withstand the weather, are a great way to share your happiness. Select from one of our designs or customize your own. Signs ship directly to your home from the vendor in about four weeks. Check out the entire collection online at WPAOGGiftshop.com. Call us at 800.426.4725, M-F/10-5 to customize or with questions.