The eighth annual All Academy Challenge begins next weekend! From May 16 - 20, West Point will compete for the title of highest alumni participation. No matter the size of your gift or where you choose to designate it, your participation counts and will support Margin of Excellence programs. The All Academy Challenge takes on special significance as West Point joins together with the other military academies to support the future leaders of our nation. Do you see one of your classmates in WPAOG’s AAC Spirit Video? During the Challenge, please go to AllAcademyChallenge.com to donate and see the real-time standings. Thank you for your support!

The Class of 2021 will become part of the Long Gray Line on May 22. The U.S. Military Academy will celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2021 and their perseverance as they complete their 47-month West Point experience and commission as the next generation of officers for the U.S. Army. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III ’75 will serve as the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony. For livestream links and information about graduation week events and the graduation ceremony, click here.

The West Point Association of Graduates held its annual 2021 Donor Tribute Day event virtually on April 29, highlighting the Margin of Excellence at West Point. WPAOG took the opportunity to thank the dedicated supporters of West Point, ensuring that current and future members of the Long Gray Line benefit from the extraordinary range of opportunities and experiences that make up the Margin of Excellence. These opportunities include many of the cadet projects seen throughout this year’s Virtual Projects Day. Donors' generosity is critical to enabling cadets to achieve their highest potential and attracting our nation's best young people to West Point for years to come. Ceremony video. Photos.

West Point held the 22nd Annual Projects Day on April 29 to showcase the intellectual capital of cadets and their important work with faculty and external collaborators. This event also provides an opportunity to strengthen their role in the academic community, exercise self-reflection to deepen their knowledge base, and celebrate bold innovation. Cadet teams from all departments work with a faculty advisor to create unique and useful approaches to solving problems. This year, cadets entered 319 projects and over 800 cadets presented. Many of the cadet projects each Projects Day are made possible through Margin of Excellence donors, with over 78 sponsors this year. Photos. Website.

USMA announced April 29 that COL Shane Reeves ’96 will become the 15th Dean of the Academic Board. Nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination. Reeves, a native of Rock Springs, WY, currently serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Law and will replace BG Cindy Jebb when she retires on May 28. Full story.

Two West Point teams earned first and second place titles at the 2021 Warfighter Innovation in Science and Engineering Challenge during a live virtual event hosted by the Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center on April 27. Team Superstrand, a West Point multidisciplinary cadet team, won the competition by defeating 11 teams from four U.S. Service Academies. They brought home the top spot with their state-of-the-art design of a biosensing conductive textile material for military uniforms using synthesized carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofiber composites. Additionally, Team Defenders, another West Point multidisciplinary cadet team, tied for second place in the WISE Challenge. Full story. More info.

Join us on Wednesday, June 9 at 2pm ET for our first virtual series, “Updates from Inside the Gates,” featuring COL Nicholas Gist, Master of the Sword. Come and learn more about the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) with exclusive behind the scenes footage of the physical test. Sign up today. Registration closes on Monday, June 7 at 5pm ET.

WPAOG Career Services is excited to host a USMA-only Tech Career Fair on June 25 from 12-5 pm EST.  Employer registration is now open for this industry-focused virtual hiring event, showcasing job opportunities in core Technology and enabling functions from Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing Tech startups. This event is open to all West Point graduates and is a great opportunity to find or change to a new job, learn from experts in the Tech or Digital space, and expand your network in the industry. To register, go to: https://careereco.com/events/WPAOG.

Leave a permanent legacy and commemorate your West Point experience by purchasing a Brick or Paver. Your personally inscribed stone will forever be located at West Point, on the historic grounds surrounding the James K. Herbert Alumni Center. Visit WestPointAOG.org/brickandpaver for more information and to place your order, or email us at bricks@wpaog.org. Brick and Paver purchases are tax-deductible.

The fourth annual WPAOG Entrepreneur Summit will take place November 3-4 in Austin, TX. Click here to view a draft agenda and make a hotel reservation. Registration will open in the summer. Only graduates we have coded in our system as Entrepreneurs will receive invitation announcements, so be sure your business information is up-to-date. Would you like to sponsor this event? Or know someone who may? See our sponsorship brochure. Contact us with any questions.

West Point Cadets had a chance to showcase their love of the arts on April 22 at the 6th Annual John Calabro Night of the Arts held at Jefferson Hall. The annual Margin of Excellence event showcases cadet talent and achievement in the arts, including music, film, poetry, prose, photography, and studio arts. The Virtual Calabro Night of the Arts was endowed by Fred Gretsch (a childhood friend of John Calabro ’68) and his wife Dinah. Event video. Full story.

Our USA-made clock partner, New Hampshire Clocks, now provides the Gift Shop with clocks featuring West Point marks. Select from one of our West Point clocks or customize one with your favorite logo or class crest. Each is carved from a solid block of wood with your choice of finish and face. Our clocks make great retirement, PCS, or graduation gifts. Time is running out to shop for graduation, so place your order today. Shop online at WPAOGGiftshop.com or call 800.426.4725, M-F/10 am – 5 pm.

In an all-new update of WPAOG’s most historic publication, the 2020 Register of Graduates & Former Cadets contains more than 77,000 individual entries recording the names, classes and careers of every West Point graduate from 1802 to 2020. The 2020 Edition features a premium “Red Sash” red cloth binding embossed with gold foil, suitable for display in your office or home library. Order now online or call us Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm at 800.426.4725.