On December 17, thirty-five members of the Class of 2021 graduated, receiving the chance to toss their hats in celebration. BG Shane Reeves ’96, the Academic Dean, presided over the ceremony in Eisenhower Hall, while the families and loved ones of the graduates watched excitedly from the auditorium seats. Also lending their support to the event were four members of the Class of 1971, the graduates’ 50-Year Affiliation Class. The four “Old Grads” joined the Dean on stage as the graduates received their diplomas, presenting each one with a set of second lieutenant bars. Read more.

Congratulations to firstie Max Dorman ’22 on his recent publication in RealClear Defense! Max is a systems engineering major pursuing honors research in cybersecurity under the direction of Ms. Zhanna Malekos Smith. Max’s piece, titled “FBI Warns of New Type of Cyber-Enabled Fraud—Missing Persons Scams,” discusses how scammers are using missing person reports posted to social media to target friends and family of victims. Read Max’s work.

On October 22, 2021, CDT Paolo Bou ’22 was sitting in a hotel room with her sister, getting acclimated to the 12,000-foot altitude of La Paz, Bolivia, preparing to represent her home of Puerto Rico on the tennis courts at the Billie Jean King Cup. This experience did not seem possible to Bou four years ago when she began the admission process into USMA. Bou’s relentless perseverance and drive helped her overcome the numerous obstacles in her path to becoming one of the most important pieces to the success of the Women’s Tennis Team at Army West Point over the past four years. Full story.

A game-winning field goal from kicker Cole Talley ’24 was the difference in the Army Black Knights' 24-22 victory over Missouri in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Though Army (9-4) did not gain the lead until the fourth quarter, which saw 16 combined points scored, Talley’s 41-yard boot helped the Cadets improve to 4-0 in the Armed Forces Bowl as the game clock expired. In addition to Talley's efforts, the team was also boosted to the win by linebacker Arik Smith ’22, who was named the game’s MVP. The team captain finished the night with 12 tackles and a pair of sacks for 13 yards. Full story.

The Army West Point Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field teams had several standouts during the Virginia Tech Invitational: CDT Jamir Gibson ’22 broke a 49-year-old service academy record in the weight throw; CDT Emily Mikoud ’22 broke the school and service academy record in the weight throw; and CDT Anna Tovkach ’22 had two solid races in winning the 400m. The Black Knights will be at University Park, PA, to compete at the Penn State National Open on January 21-22. Read more.

CDTs Thomas Lake ’23 and Jake Huarte ’24 always find time to play tennis with their respective fathers whenever they’re home visiting. They play not only to stay sharp and fit but also to spend quality time with the men that introduced them to the game they love. Thomas and his father, Andrew, and Jake and his father, Mark, participated in the annual United States Tennis Association (USTA) Father and Son Hard Court Championships in La Jolla, CA from December 3 to December 5, 2021. Read more.

Army West Point Hockey was represented by three players on the 2022 Hobey Baker Award nomination list. Goaltender CDT Gavin Abric ’24, forward CDT Colin Bilek ’22, and defenseman CDT Anthony Firriolo ’23 were all named to the 80-player field that makes up the most talented student-athletes in college hockey. The 2022 Hobey Baker fan vote is open now, and you can vote every day for the 2022 Hobey Baker Award!

Add a little “class” to your entryway with WPAOG’s Cadet Class doormats customized with class year and motto. These mats are available as a pre-sale now with an April delivery. The mats are made of natural materials, including coconut fibers for strength and durability. The 18x30-inch mats are excellent dirt trappers and make a fun, class-themed gift. Order now at WPAOGGiftShop.com and add the desired class year to the comment section at check out. Call with questions or to place an order over the phone: 800.426.4725.