For Jerry and Danielle Sargent of Massachusetts, supporting West Point began as a way to stand behind their son, Daniel ’29, as he started his journey at the Academy. Very quickly, it became a family commitment that spans generations.
Jerry, a U.S. Army veteran and construction professional, and Danielle, a retired dental hygienist who now serves as a design consultant for their family business, Sargent Builders LLC, have built their lives around family, service, and community. Married for 25 years, they are parents to Daniel and his younger sister Chloe. Their values of hard work and commitment mirror the ideals of West Point.
The Sargents first visited the Academy in August 2024 for an official tour. Their experience felt very formal and sterile. “West Point just felt so military,” said Danielle. “It felt like we were going to drop him off and be done with him.”
After speaking with WPAOG Parent Giving Officer Shelisa Baskerville, they decided to return to West Point with Danielle’s parents, David and Suzanne Maisonneuve. Shelisa gave the family a personal tour which “made West Point feel like a family. We left feeling fully energized.” Danielle continued, “This is not just a military school. They pour so much into the cadets while they are here; and when they graduate, they STILL pour into the grads! It was astonishing, and we realized Daniel was set for life.”
That visit solidified the family’s decision, and they all came away understanding what the legacy of West Point means for Daniel. Jerry and Danielle chose to join that legacy by contributing to the West Point Parents Fund. Danielle explained, “Whenever our kids are involved in something, we support them 100 percent. We believe we should be all-in with them, we want to help, and we want to be fully invested in this opportunity. While we can’t be there physically, we want to contribute. My parents were so impressed, they want to contribute too. We have a family legacy of investing in our future, and we pass that down.”
For the Sargent and Maisonneuve families, supporting West Point is truly a family affair. “This kind of multi-generational commitment is what makes this community so special,” said Shelisa. “They have shown up in full force to support the Class of 2029!” Their generosity to the Parents Fund helps provide the resources and opportunities that prepare cadets—like Daniel and his classmates—to become leaders of character for the nation.
While only in the middle of his first semester, “Daniel absolutely loves it,” said Danielle. “He wanted to go somewhere he would be able to keep doing hard things. Beast met those expectations for him.” There was one surprise, however: not being called by his last name. On paper he is unequivocally Cadet Sargent; but, Daniel quickly learned he will probably not hear his own last name for another two years. In Beast, the cadre referred to him only as “New Cadet New Cadet.” In the academic year, they call him “Private Private.”
Photo 1: Left to right: Jerry Sargent, Suzanne Maisonneuve, Chloe Sargent, Daniel Sargent, Danielle Sargent, David Maisonneuve.
