VMI Alumni Association

Determined and strong of character are two descriptors of a successful cadet at Virginia Military Institute, so when Cadet Andrew Kiddie ’29, who was diagnosed with deafness just before his second birthday, chose to come to arguably the hardest senior military college in the country, he used his disability as a motivator.

Cadet Uses Disability to Motivate - VMI Alumni Agencies Lou Ferrigno, a bodybuilder and actor best known for his role in “The Incredible Hulk,” has been profoundly deaf for most of his life. He once remarked, “I think my hearing loss helped create a determination within me to be all I can be and gave me a certain strength of character too.” When ...

The Next Step: Katelin Patrick '27

This summer, Katelin Patrick '27 is stepping into a leadership role, empowering youth with ADHD and learning differences through outdoor adventure and hands-on mentorship.

From canoeing to confidence building, Patrick is gaining real-world experience that bridges psychology and practice — while making a lasting impact on the next generation.

Read more here: https://pulse.ly/khgbp7xp8y

“So to me, what’s fun with the undergraduates is you’re there at the ‘aha’ moment, when they really start to see how what they learned really can be applied.” That’s what Col. Joseph “Joe” Blandino, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering, has to say about the joy he receives from teaching and mentoring cadets. It’s a joy he shares with his wife, Col. Joyce Blandino, Ph.D., also professor of mechanical engineering, who holds the distinction of being the first tenured female faculty member in the engineering disciplines at VMI. What’s more, the Blandinos are not only faculty members but generous supporters of VMI, as well, having established two scholarships in the mechanical engineering department.

Blandinos Establish Scholarships in Mechanical Engineering - VMI Alumni Agencies “So to me, what’s fun with the undergraduates is you’re there at the ‘aha’ moment, when they really start to see how what they learned really can be applied.” That’s what Col. Joseph “Joe” Blandino, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering, has to say about the joy he receives fr...

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Bond with your BRs in private class groups or find your local chapter group to connect with alumni in your area.

To register, visit www.myvmialumni.org today!

There aren’t many people who can say they’ve directly impacted 35,000 lives for the better—but in his quiet, unassuming way, retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Woodson “Woody” Sadler ’66 has done just that. Over the past 12 years, through his work with Rotary International, Sadler and his fellow Rotarians from western Virginia have distributed more than 5,000 wheelchairs to individuals in 14 Latin American nations. Add in all the cadets Sadler taught during his 33 years teaching mechanical and civil engineering as an adjunct professor at VMI, and the number of lives he’s touched grows even larger, like an ever-expanding web.

Sadler ’66: “A Mindset of Helping Others” - VMI Alumni Agencies There aren’t many people who can say they’ve directly impacted 35,000 lives for the better—but in his quiet, unassuming way, retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Woodson “Woody” Sadler ’66 has done just that.

This Class of '26 grad is already doing big things!

The Next Step: Hunter Sipe '26

What started as a goal in bridge engineering turned into a passion for transportation, which led Hunter Sipe '26 to a highway design role with AECOM.

From the classroom to Interstate 81, Sipe is ready to make a real-world impact — bringing VMI grit and engineering precision to the roads ahead.

Read more here: https://pulse.ly/acfqhskcma

Eight 1st Class cadets majoring in electrical and computer engineering at VMI recently presented their capstone project, which they worked on throughout the academic year, with the goal of improving a disabled veteran’s quality of life.

ECE Cadets Aid Disabled Veteran with Capstone Project - VMI Alumni Agencies Eight 1st Class cadets majoring in electrical and computer engineering at VMI recently presented their capstone project, which they worked on throughout the academic year, with the goal of improving a disabled veteran’s quality of life.