West Point has been buzzing with activity these past few weeks, as your cadets have been busy with final projects, term end exams and the variety of holiday activities that take place here. Of course, all of this activity and energy increased exponentially when our football team defied the odds in Baltimore and led Army to a victory over the Navy Midshipmen for the first time in 15 years. If you saw the game, you witnessed an indescribable excitement on the field and throughout the stadium, and I suspect that feeling isn’t going away any time soon. As you prepare to celebrate the holidays with your sons and daughters, I’d like to thank you for your continued support of West Point and the Corps of Cadets.  You can be very proud of these incredible young men and women, and I hope you’ll enjoy your time together over the winter break. As you’re celebrating, please remember those who are deployed this holiday season around the globe, and keep them, and their families and loved ones, in your thoughts and prayers. From our family to yours, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

On Dec. 10, Army fans around the world celebrated the long-awaited victory over Navy, ending Navy’s 14-year unbeaten streak. Army completes its 2016 season with a trip to the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl to face North Texas on Dec. 27 at 12pm ET. The bowl game will be Army's first since 2010 and will be played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Tickets are still available, and you can find information about hotel rooms and the Army tailgate on our website. The game will be televised on ESPN.

On December 16, 24 cadets became the newest members of the Long Gray Line. As the December Class of 2016 received their diplomas, Mr. Robert Cresci, from their 50-year affiliate Class of 1966, presented each graduate with their 2LT bars. "Hats off" to the most recent West Point graduates! Story and photos.

WPAOG provided snacks for cadets on to offer support and encouragement as they prepared for Term End Exams starting Dec. 13. WPAOG staff and volunteers handed out 300 apple cider donuts from Jones Farm, 500 $2-off coupons for Grant Hall, and 500 WPAOG gift shop coupons offering 10% off their purchase (this is in addition to the 10% discount cadets always receive). This is the second year that WPAOG has supplied snacks for our cadets as they prep to BEAT THE DEAN! Story.

On December 1, the Corps of Cadets gathered in the Mess Hall for the annual Winter Holiday dinner, which included stuffed chicken breast, shrimp cocktail, fingerling potatoes, and a chocolate holiday log for dessert. Each table was decorated for the season, cadets dressed in their finest festive apparel, and the West Point Band added music to the celebration. The Superintendent and even Santa came for a visit!  Here’s a look behind the scenes with a Holiday Dinner video by Cadet Austin Lachance ’17.

On Dec. 2, WPAOG hosted all Cadet Class Officers as well as Company representatives, Class Advisors, and Officers in Charge. At the Class Officers Luncheon, cadets have the opportunity to meet our staff, tour the building and attend breakout sessions to discuss the ways in which WPAOG serves them, as well as how they can serve their classmates during cadet years and after graduation. Photos.

CDT Sam Ruppert was named a Marshall Scholar, one of up to 40 young Americans selected to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom. CDTs Mark McGinnis, Collin Parker, Timothy McLaughlin, Bethany Russell, and Don Dalisay were announced as Schwarzman Scholars. Schwarzman Scholars receive an award for a year of graduate study at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing. CDT Christian Nattiel was named as one of 32 U.S. 2017 Rhodes Scholars. The Rhodes Scholarship is an international award for graduate study at the University of Oxford.

The First Captain of the United States Corps of Cadets is the highest rank one can achieve while at the Academy. Hugh McConnell ’17 not only has his responsibilities to the Corps, but he is also a vital member of the strength team and acts as a Strength Coach to the Army West Point sprint football squad. Story and Video.

West Point Parents play an important role in supporting the Academy and Margin of Excellence programs that benefit the entire Corps of Cadets. So far in 2016, 2,603 non-alumni parents have contributed a total of $2,016,573 to support a myriad of opportunities including cadet clubs, internships, research projects, travel abroad, and athletics, as well as ceremonies and traditions such as the Class Ring Memorial and 50-Year Affiliation programs. Thank you to all of our parents for their phenomenal generosity and dedication. Every gift makes an impact—give a gift today to support your cadet and all those who will follow.

The USMA Cyber Policy Team placed first at the Inaugural NY Cyber 9/12 Student Challenge at Columbia University on Nov. 6. Competing against 21 other teams, mostly from graduate schools, the USMA team was the only undergraduate team to make it to the finals, beating three other teams (two from Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and one from Tuft's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy). The cadets formed an interdisciplinary team that drew upon their knowledge of international affairs, cybersecurity, national security, and international law to demonstrate their mastery of policy concepts in the cyber domain.

After graduating from USMA in 1959, GEN (R) Frederick M. Franks ’59 served for more than 35 years. Since 1999, he has been the Class of 1966 Chair and Visiting Scholar of the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic (SCPME). On Nov. 1, Franks’ 80th birthday, his career came full circle as he bid a soldier’s farewell to the Corps. “Gen. Fred Franks has done more to advance the Army profession than anyone I know,” Superintendent LTG Robert L. Caslen Jr. ’75 said during Franks’ farewell dinner. “His drive, his commitment to excellence, and his passion for our Army has never faltered. He is, above all, a Soldier.” Story. Read full text of Franks’ remarks.

Organizers of the Class of 2017 tailgate (Nancy Fabi, Lisa Lutz, Kim Vander Yacht, Terri Cotton, Jeanne McGuire, and Kathy Bender) arrived as early as 7:00am to stake out the best spot in parking lot B and set up for what would prove to be an epic tailgate! Over 90 people registered for the event, but many more showed up, and the cold and windy weather did not put a damper on the festivities. Said Kim Vander Yacht, “The Class of 2017 is a pretty special group and has truly grown to be one big family through their time at West Point. The friendships forged will last a lifetime.”

The WPPC of MD, DC, VA is raffling off tickets and hotel rooms for the 2017 Army-Navy game, along with other prizes. All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the West Point Parents Fund. The club launched the fundraising campaign at this year’s WPAOG Tailgate before the Army-Navy game in Baltimore, and will continue to sell tickets to parents, grads, and other friends of West Point until June 10, 2017, when the winning tickets will be drawn at the club’s annual New Cadet Meet & Greet.

From our fabulous Holiday Sweater party to yours, WPAOG wishes you and yours a joyful Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year!  See you again in 2017!