On October 19, WPAOG presented the 2017 Sylvanus Thayer Award to George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States. According to CDT Kelley Ericson ’21, the Corps of Cadets had been buzzing with excitement all week, and when Bush entered Washington Hall for the award dinner and ceremony he received what CDT Jackson Luff ’18 called, “Some of the loudest cheers I ever heard in the Mess Hall.” Read the full story. View photos. Text of acceptance speech. USMA Video.

On October 20, almost 600 families came to West Point for Family Weekend and enjoyed events such as the Cadet Drill Team demonstration, a Pipes and Drums performance, the football homecoming game against Temple, and the volleyball game against Bucknell. Academic departments held open houses and presentations for families to learn more about the curriculum and offerings both in and out of the classroom. The weekend provided families with a view of West Point from the cadet perspective. On Saturday, October 21, several Parents Clubs held tailgates for cadets and their families. Read more.

During the Army vs Temple football game on October 21, Rona Wenik P’18, Gleam Davis P’19, Ann Johnston P’20 and Jennifer Tarry P’21 represented West Point parents in presenting a check for $2,600,000 to the Academy. Joining them on the field were the President and CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates, Todd Browne ’85 and Shelisa Baskerville, Annual Giving Parent Relations Manager. Accepting on behalf of West Point was LTG Robert Caslen Jr. ’75, 59th Superintendent. This outstanding gift raised by West Point Parents will support Margin of Excellence programs which allow all cadets to reach their highest potential. Thank you to all our parents and families for their tremendous support!

The Fall 2017 issue of West Point magazine focuses on West Point’s newest barracks, named for Benjamin O. Davis Jr. ’36, the four-star general and commander of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Read about his contributions, service, and accomplishments and learn how he was truly a pioneer in many ways. Also included are articles about the building of the barracks and the naming process. Your copy should be arriving soon, but if you’d like a preview, you can view the digital edition, always available for reading on the go via your tablet or smartphone. All back issues are available in this format as well.

With a 31-28 overtime victory over the Temple Owls on October 21, Army West Point Football secured its sixth win of the season, and accepted an invitation to the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. The game is scheduled for December 23 in Fort Worth, TX. Tickets are on sale now, and are available at different price levels and locations. Fans who cannot attend may show their support by participating in the “Donate to a Cadet” program to donate tickets for cadets to attend the game. Fans may purchase tickets online or at the Army West Point Ticket Office near Gate 3 of Michie Stadium.

Despite grueling humidity and high temperatures, West Point Marathon Team members placed first and second out of 76 Military Academy and ROTC cadet teams to clinch the championship for the third year in a row on October 8. The team’s top male and female runners, Class of 2018 Cadets Aaqib Syed and Paige Dougherty, ran a blazing 0:55:51 and 1:11:00, respectively. Full Story.

The West Point Cyber Policy team won the inaugural Indo-Pacific Cyber 9/12 Student Challenge, September 28-29 in Sydney, Australia. The Black Knights beat 14 other teams from three different countries, including competitors enrolled in top graduate schools. According to atlanticcouncil.org, the Cyber 9/12 Student Challenge is an annual cyber policy competition for students across the globe to compete in developing national security policy recommendations tackling a fictional cyber catastrophe. Events are held worldwide in high-profile cities like Washington, DC, Geneva, Sydney and New York City—in each of which the West Point Cyber Policy team was successful.

On September 26, West Point and WPAOG dedicated the Malek Soccer Stadium, the new state-of-the-art home of Army West Point Men’s and Women’s Soccer. The project was fully funded by Frederic V. Malek ’59 (a 2014 recipient of the West Point Distinguished Graduate Award and former chair of the West Point Board of Visitors). The new stadium features enhanced spectator seating, restroom facilities, and new press box facilities for broadcast and photography. It was designed to integrate with the architecture of nearby buildings. Following the dedication ceremony, Malek was recognized on the field at the Army West Point Men’s Soccer match against Sacred Heart, which Army won 2-1. WPAOG is honored to construct and deliver top-quality gift-funded buildings and facilities to the U.S. Military Academy. With the completion of Malek Soccer Stadium, the number of brick-and-mortar projects delivered by the Association now exceeds 30. Read more. Photos.

Almost 2,500 cadets, cadet candidates, faculty, and staff from the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School volunteered to participate in the Tunnel to Towers 5K in New York City on September 24. Begun in 2002, the annual run commemorates the heroic act of New York Firefighter Stephen Siller, who was on his way home when planes struck the World Trade Center on 9-11, and ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel with 60 pounds of gear on his back to the Twin Towers, giving up his life to save others. Photos.

2LT Austin Lachance ’17 recently created a “hyperlapse” video of West Point, including footage of the new Davis Barracks, Grant Hall, Michie Stadium, Washington Hall and more. Similar to time-lapse photography, hyperlapse video is achieved by manually moving the camera a short distance between each shot. The result is a stunning view of West Point that has never been recorded before. Check it out!

On October 2-3, WPAOG hosted almost 300 cadets at the “Firstie Social.” This annual reception is made possible by a generous endowment from the Class of 1996, and about a dozen members of that class were on hand each night. The event is intended to congratulate the firstie class as soon-to-be members of the Long Gray Line, and to introduce them to WPAOG and the staff. Photo opps and door prizes added to the fun! Photos.

The West Point Center for Leadership & Diversity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) conducted a Mobile STEM outreach workshop in Huntsville, Alabama last month, with cadets teaching fun, hands-on STEM skills to our nation’s next generation of diverse scholars and leaders. These opportunities are made possible thanks to the generosity and partnership of Raytheon. Learn more.

Eight cadets, along with Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences faculty members Dr. Huang and Dr. Matthews, attended the 2017 Grace Hopper Conference in Orlando, FL. The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing is the largest consortium of women in computing in the world, and is named in honor of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, inventor of the compiler, and an early pioneer in many aspects of computing. Full Story.

Becoming a sponsor of the Army-Navy Pre-Game Tailgate, our largest event of the year, gives your business great promotional opportunities! Use this forum to showcase your product or services to more than 1,000 Army fans. As an added bonus, your sponsorship is viewed as a charitable (tax-deductible) gift. If you are interested in one of our sponsorship packages, please contact us now. And spread the word. If your referral results in a sponsorship, we will provide you with a special thank you gift!

The holiday gift-giving season is approaching, and for those seeking the perfect West Point gift, the time to buy is now. The price is now only $52.50! Copies of the 2015 Register of Graduates & Former Cadets, WPAOG’s most historic publication and the ultimate West Point reference book, are still available. Entries detail the military careers of every graduate from 1802-2015, along with class crests, mottos, and USMA history. Handsome gold-embossed clothbound vintage design includes custom-designed map endpapers. Visit WPAOG’s Gift Shop online or call 800.426.4725 to order your copy before the holiday rush.