USMA has announced that James N. Mattis, the 26th Secretary of Defense, is the commencement speaker for the Class of 2017. You can watch the ceremony live online beginning at 9:55am ET on Sat. May 27. Please join us in welcoming the Class of 2017 into the Long Gray Line!

When Vinnie Viola ’77 wanted to get back into horseracing in 2011, the first person he reached out to was Terry Finley ’86 – owner of West Point Thoroughbreds – whom he first met in 1998 at a thoroughbred yearling sale in Lexington, KY. In 2016, Viola partnered with a lifelong friend, Anthony Bonomo, in the ownership of a promising young horse purchased by Bonomo a year before. In March of this year, Finley became part owner as well. On May 6, Always Dreaming won the 2017 Kentucky Derby by almost three lengths. In this video, Finley describes what it’s like to own the horse that wins the Kentucky Derby. Full Story.

Graduates can now book a Grad Insider Tour, a service offered exclusively through the new Rockbound Highland Home Program. Grad Insider Tours include access to select locations not available to the public, allowing graduates to share their unique experiences of West Point with their families and guests. Tours will be conducted Monday through Friday at 10am and 2pm. WPAOG provides transportation for the tours, which begin and conclude at Herbert Hall. To learn more and sign up, visit the Grad Insider Tour webpage.

On May 4, WPAOG welcomed donors back to West Point for Donor Tribute Day, giving them an opportunity to see firsthand the impact they have at West Point. This annual celebration, held in conjunction with West Point Projects Day, demonstrates how the generosity of donors and their commitment to the Margin of Excellence truly makes a difference for the Corps of Cadets. Projects Day illustrates the diversity of challenges cadets undertake, with projects that represent the best of cadet intellect, creativity, and tenacity. Cadets develop their projects through their work in Academic Individual Advanced Development opportunities, research projects, and other academic endeavors—activities that would not be possible without private funding. Thank you to all who support West Point and the Corps of Cadets. Projects Day Photos.

5 Teams. 7 Days. 1 Mission. On May 31, the fourth annual All Academy Challenge will begin! Help USMA beat Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine by making a gift between May 31 and June 6. The school with the highest alumni giving participation rate during these 7 days wins, so no matter the size of your gift or where you choose to designate it, your participation counts toward victory! By giving, you will not only help us win, you’ll also support Margin of Excellence programs at West Point that are vitally important to the education and development of the Corps. Stayed tuned for emails and bookmark this page to track our success. GO ARMY!

Rumi Spice co-founders Emily Miller ’08, Kimberly Jung ’08 and Keith Alaniz recently appeared on the ABC-TV entrepreneur-pitch show “Shark Tank,” and secured a $250,000 deal with investor Mark Cuban. The deal for Rumi Spice, which markets Afghan saffron, marks the third time (after Stella Valle and Combat Flip Flops) that a company founded by USMA graduates has successfully sought funding on the show.

In partnership with Army West Point Athletics, WPAOG dedicated the new Goldstein Field on May 6. The field is named in memory of Carl Goldstein, a longtime West Point supporter and dedicated Army fan. Lead donors to the project are the Goldstein and Lichtenberg families, with additional gifts from Chris C. Casciato and Anthony Guzzi. Story.

100 years from now, USMA personnel will crack open the 2013-2017 brick on the front of Davis Barracks to find a time capsule. Inside will be a variety of “old-fashioned” construction contracts, maps and aerial photographs. In addition, there will be letters from Superintendent LTG Robert L. Caslen Jr. ’75 and First Captain Hugh McConnell ’17, insignia and letters from each of the 36 cadet companies, and coins from each member of the West Point Command team. It will also contain a written history, including the winter edition of West Point magazine, featuring Army West Point Football’s win over Navy! Full Story.

On May 8, Mike Krzyzewski ’69 returned to West Point for the annual “Coach K” Awards recognizing West Point athletes, coaches and sport educators for their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership. This year’s recipients are: CDTs Nathaniel Librizzi ’18, Sarah Soliven ’17 and Parker Gahagen ’17, MAJ Cameron Turner '06, MAJ Robert Peterson and Mr. Joe Alberici. Pointer View Story.

In the spring of 1994, the Class of 1994 started a new tradition of asking their classmates to support West Point after graduation. It has evolved over the years with the Class President of each class working with the AOG to develop a culture of philanthropy among their classmates to support Margin of Excellence programs at West Point. Since 1994, Firstie participation has averaged 47%, a much higher percentage than our overall annual alumni participation rate of 33%. So far this year, the Class of 2017 has a 37% participation rate, and has pledged over $312,000 for academic departments, DCA clubs and teams, NCAA teams, the Superintendent’s Annual Fund, the Long Gray Line, and their class gift fund. The Class of 2017 is truly living up to their class motto—So Others May Dream!

The USMA Department of History conducted its annual Historic Weapons Shoot April 22 at West Point. During the shoot, cadets and faculty fired various historic weapons and received a demonstration of weapons technology through the ages—from the matchlock to the M-14—presented by the West Point Museum. Watch Video.

TAPS is the official and unique annual memorial magazine of the Long Gray Line. In it, you will find the fascinating and inspiring life stories of West Point graduates. The 2017 edition will be our largest ever, with over 250 Memorial Articles! To guarantee your copy at the best price, order online now through May 31. We will print a very limited number of extra copies for sale at an increased price. Order online or call 845.446.1645 to order now.

Offer ends May 27, 2017! Time is running out to get the 2015 Register of Graduates & Former Cadets at a special discounted price of $89 (plus shipping). The Register, WPAOG’s most historic publication, is the ultimate West Point reference book. It contains a wealth of information on the careers of 72,413 West Point Graduates from 1802-2015, including 218 class mottos and crests, West Point generational family ancestry, USMA leadership, Medal of Honor Graduates and more! Deluxe clothbound edition with custom-designed West Point map endpapers. Visit our Gift Shop online or call 800.426.4725 to order your copy!