Can’t make it to West Point for graduation? Join the celebration online as members of the Class of 2016 take their oath, receive their diplomas and toss their hats high at Michie Stadium beginning at 9:25 am EDT Saturday, May 21. Vice President Joe Biden will be the guest speaker. Link to watch: https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/8563

President Obama has nominated Colonel Cindy Jebb ’82 to be the next USMA Dean of the Academic Board, the first woman to hold this position in West Point history. Jebb holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science from Duke University, and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. She has authored or coauthored three books, conducted human security research in Africa, and completed study projects in Iraq, Djibouti and Afghanistan. She has been head of the Department of Social Sciences since 2013.

This year, cadets have earned more than 25 prestigious scholarships for graduate study, including Churchill, Marshall, Mitchell, Schwarzman, Fulbright, and East West Fellowships. Read more details and join us in congratulating the Class of 2016 on their achievements.  Truly they embody their motto: With Honor We Lead.

The first TEDxWestPoint, a cadet-organized TED event, debuted at USMA on April 22.  Inspired by the popular TED Talks (a convergence of “Technology, Entertainment and Design,” with online viewership of more than 1 billion to date), TEDx events are independently organized in local communities, sharing TED’s purpose of spreading new ideas through short, powerful talks. Co-organizer CDT Zach Cohen ’17 said, “I’ve always loved public speaking, it’s been my passion, and getting an opportunity to bring that to West Point, spread ideas, make people feel pretty good, and maybe spark some new ideas, is really the whole point.” Full story.

GEN(R) Martin Dempsey ’74, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and 37th Chief of Staff of the Army, spoke with Cadets on leadership and defense topics on April 26 at the Class of 1952 Distinguished Lecture Series. Knowing Dempsey’s love of literature, cadets presented him with a check made out to Edgar Allan Poe (ex-1834) from his USMA classmates toward funding publication of Poe’s first volume of poetry.

The plebes of MA104 and MA255 had unique guest lecturers on May 2 who took “distance learning” to a whole new level. COL(R) Jeff Williams ’80 and COL(R) Tim Kopra ’85, Expedition 47 astronauts aboard the International Space Station, spoke with cadets in Robinson Auditorium via a video teleconference. Full story.  Watch a video of Cadets and Astronauts doing “The Rocket”

More than 500 Graduates, faculty members, cadets and guests gathered at West Point April 28-30 for Athena’s Arena, a conference commemorating 40 years of women’s achievements at the U.S. Military Academy. Highlights included keynote speeches by GEN(R) Ann Dunwoody, America’s first female 4-star general, Gayle Lemmon, author of Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield, and the first three female graduates of U.S. Army Ranger School: MAJ Lisa Jaster ’00, CPT Kristen Griest ’11, and 1LT Shaye Haver ’12.  View Conference Photos.

Be sure to check out the new design of the WPAOG Gift Shop website where you will find a great selection of gifts for graduation, weddings, mom, dad and Old Grads. You can find diploma frames, wallets, shirts, jewelry, home decor and more—all displaying their West Point pride!

On April 23, the History Department presented its annual Cadet Historic Weapons Shoot with support from the West Point Museum. In this event, a perennial favorite, Cadets meet reenactors from various wartime eras, and are introduced to historic tactics and weapons, including Civil War muskets, an 1863 Napoleon cannon, the M1919 .30 Browning Machine Gun, and AK-47s.  Photos.  View videos on West Point Department of History’s Facebook page.

The 75th Edition of the Register of Graduates & Former Cadets is here! The original and most historic publication of the West Point Association of Graduates has been comprehensively updated in a new, limited edition. Inside this ultimate West Point reference volume is a wealth of information on service to the nation by all 72,413 West Point Graduates from 1802-2015, including 218 graduating class mottos and crests, West Point ancestry/genealogical relationships, USMA leadership, Medal of Honor Graduates and more! Makes a handsome graduation or Father’s Day gift. Order yours today at the WPAOG Gift Shop! 

The Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic sponsored the 11th annual Inspiration to Serve Cemetery Tour to help prepare the Class of 2018 before the class formally commits to the Profession of Arms in the Affirmation Ceremony August 14. “The tour is the single most impactful program we have because it connects the yearlings to the selfless service of the Long Gray Line,” said Col. Scott Halstead, director of the SCPME.  Full story.