Headlines
![](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/Deborah-Lee-JamesHOZ-375x300.jpg)
A former secretary of the U.S. Air Force will address the Corps of Cadets at a convocation marking the 180th anniversary of the Founding of VMI on Nov. 11.
![Army General (retired) Joseph Votel speaks in Cameron Hall.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/LeadershipVotel2020KN30-1-400x266.jpg)
Retired Gen. Joseph Votel spoke at the 10th annual VMI Leadership Conference. This year's conference was titled "Disruption: Challenging Leadership at Every Turn."
![A headshot of Bruce Gottwald Jr.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/Gottwaldhoz-384x300.jpg)
A memorial service for Gottwald, a prominent alumnus, will be held Friday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Richmond.
![New cadets pose for a photo atop House Mountain.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/RCHouseMountain2020KN08-1-400x266.jpg)
This year, new cadets are once again scaling Lexington's iconic landmark, House Mountain, as part of Rat Challenge.
![PE Students with Anatomage Table](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/AnatomageLab2020KN16.jpg)
VMI’s superintendent, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III '62, announced his support for a business-inspired higher education campaign, Growth4VA.
![Cadets walk to class during the first week of classes at VMI.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/FirstWeekClass2020KN16-1-400x266.jpg)
The Institute maintains its status among the top four public colleges nationwide, according to U.S. News, and 72nd out of more than 200 national liberal arts colleges.
![Nancy Giordano speaks to the VMI community in Cameron Hall.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/AcademicConvocation2020KN046-1-400x266.jpg)
Strategic futurist Nancy Giordano, speaker at VMI's academic convocation, told cadets that qualities such as empathy and integrity will be essential in the future.
![Cadets stand in front of barracks at the end of the day as the evening gun is fired.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/EveningGunSept2019KN57-1-400x266.jpg)
VMI is ranked 22nd overall among national liberal arts colleges, and 11th nationwide for social mobility, in recently released 2019 college rankings.
![A Parents Council member walks and talks with the family member of an incoming cadet.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/VMI_8875-1-400x267.jpg)
The second largest class in VMI's history, numbering 515, arrived Saturday, Aug. 17, to begin their VMI cadetships and the Rat Line.
![A portrait of Nancy Giordano](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/Giordano-to-be-edited-for-web-400x267.jpg)
Nancy Giordano will speak at VMI's 2019-20 academic convocation, to be held Wednesday, Sept. 4, in Cameron Hall.