The USMA Concrete Canoe Team:  As part of their CE489 independent study, Cadets Mark Owens, James Mcloughlin, Nate Ryba, Aaron Schares, and Alex Pingis, all class of 2013 CE Majors, completed casting of their entry for the 2013 ASCE Northeast Regional Concrete Canoe Competition.  The craft was christened the River Rat! in honor of the 1099th Medium Boat Company that was the "workhorse" riverine unit for direct support of tactical units throughout the Mekong Delta and other inland waterways during the Vietnam Conflict.

USMA an American Concrete Institute Excellent University:  USMA is one of only 16 universities receiving the highest level of the ACI award for 2012. This is the second time the USMA ACI student chapter received the award since starting the first ACI student chapter in New York state last year.  The chapter has competed in ACI and other concrete related competitions in Toronto, ON, Canada and Montreal, QB, Canada, attended educational seminars with their sponsor chapter the Concrete Industry Board (CIB), the American Concrete Institute Chapter for New York City, and completed a concrete theme service project at the Walter Hoving home in Garrison, NY.

Mali Expert's Insight:  Olivier J. Walther, visiting scholar at Rutgers University, spoke to cadets about the role that Islamists play in the on-going conflict in Mali. His work, which suggests that a few key individuals serve as brokers between competing armed factions, offers an interesting exploration of the applicability of Social Network Analysis to the study of violent non-state actors.

Cloisters:  Seven cadets from the Elise Sannes-Pinnell Art Appreciation Forum travelled to the Cloisters medieval art museum in NY and enjoyed a lecture by Prof. Jeanne-Marie Musto of Fordham University. Following the lecture, the cadets toured the permanent collection.

BG(R) Capka at CE400 Seminar:  BG(R) Capka ‘71 presented a seminar on public practices and policies in civil engineering. BG Capka commanded two USACE Divisions, managed the Big Dig for the MA Turnpike Authority, and served as the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). He emphasized the importance of infrastructure to the Nation and the investment required to assure its quality. He also discussed the challenges inherent in managing complex public projects. 

Morgan-Luster CE400 Seminar:  Mr. John Smalley of Morgan Construction Enterprises and Mr. James Titolo of Luster National presented a seminar on the construction management of the Kellar Army hospital addition.  They emphasized the importance of resolving change orders in a timely manner on any construction project.

Undergraduate Philosophy Conference: Art, Philosophy, and Literature majors Emily McCarthy and Kathleen Fitzpatrick participated in the Mid-Hudson Valley Undergraduate Philosophy Conference hosted by Marist College.  Cadet McCarthy presented a paper titled "Justice and the Defense of Marriage Act", while Cadet Fitzpatrick served as the commentator for a paper titled "Intuitions and Experimental Philosophy".

Soil Drilling Demonstration:  Cadets in the CE371 Soil Mechanics and Foundation Design course witnessed a demonstration of soil drilling techniques.  Drillers from the subsurface exploration company Aquifer Drilling & Test, Inc. demonstrated various drilling, in-situ testing, and soil sampling techniques.

2013 Aviation Week Laureate Award: Cadet Matt Gallup was West Point’s recipient of the 2013 Tomorrow’s Leader Award presented by Aviation Week. Every year, one cadet/midshipman from USMA, USNA, USAFA, and USCGA travels to the Laureate’s Dinner, held in Washington DC, to receive the award. Matt was selected on the basis of his outstanding performance as a future Army Aviator in the Aeronautical Systems subdiscipline within the Mechanical Engineering major.

ME450 Welding Class: 39 cadets took part in the ME450 (Mechanical Design of Army Systems) Welding Class. Cadets were taught how to weld steel strips using basic welding techniques similar to what they will see in motor pools and maintenance shops while they are serving in the Army.

MX400 Guest Lecture:  SGT (R) Rick Yarosh and Ms. Gloria Gilbert Stoga, President of Puppies Behind Bars, provided a guest lecture in MX400 ―The Adaptive Leader. SGT Yarosh is a national-level motivational speaker invited to convey his story of being a wounded veteran and discusses how “these scars gave me the confidence I needed”. The discussion provided an insight into some of the leadership attributes that he valued in his LT, a 2004 graduate of USMA, to save his life and his follow-on experience within the Warrior Transition Unit until his medical retirement.  Rick’s inspirational story and message can be viewed at http://rickyarosh.net/.

Gamma Theta Upsilon Induction Luncheon:  G&EnE hosted the annual Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) Spring Luncheon and inducted 7 cadets as new members into the USMA Lambda Mu chapter GTU. They are Cadets Steven K. Billington, Michelle L. Bullock, Dak A. Kibler, Christopher B. Mittuch, Christian E. Reeves, Andrew J. Riekenberg, and Max D. Vandervort

Guest Lecturer – European Energy:   Dr. Christian Burgsmuller,  Counselor, Head of Energy, Transport and Environment section, Delegation of the European Union to the United States gave a  guest lecture titled "European, Energy, Policy, Past and Present". 

Dirtman Motivates the Corps to Recycle:  “Dirt Man” made an appearance at the Mess Hall to motivate all cadets to continue in their efforts for RecycleMania during the last two weeks of the competition. During lunch the 2013 RecycleMania video featuring BG Trainor and CDT Teddy Fong was also played along with RecycleMania slides. Of significant note, West Point’s RecycleMania video was voted "Most Fearsome" of all videos submitted to RecycleMania this year. West Point is currently in 6th place out of 347 schools in the Per Captia Classic category.

Dr. Charles King, Guest Speaker:  The Department of History was honored to host Dr. Charles King, Professor of Political Science and International History at the Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.He spoke to plebes in the HI108-Regional Studies in World History-Russia course on the nineteenth century history of the Caucasus region.  Dr. King also gave a lecture to Dr. Thomas Sherlock's Comparative Politics class  during Dean's Hour, where he talked about the tension between "procedural" and "substantive" descriptions of democratization in developing countries.

EV397 Trip Section to Phillips 66 Oil Refinery in Linden, NJ:  17 cadets from USMA’s Air Pollution Engineering class (EV397) travelled to Linden, NJ to view air pollution control devices at the largest oil refinery in the eastern United States.

C&LS Hosts DARPA Young Investigator Award Recipient:  Dr. Randall Goldsmith from the University of Wisconsin's Department of Chemistry visited the Department of Chemistry and Life Science.  He discussed exciting single molecule science research and defense applications of the work during a noontime seminar.

Matthew Shockley, 17, had his choice of military academies to attend after graduation. He completed the arduous process of applying to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy at West Point earlier this school year and was surprised to find out in March that he was accepted into all three.

"I was just hoping for one," Shockley said. "I was pretty excited. My parents brought it to me at school."

After his mother, Tonya, heard that West Point letters were being mailed, she said she would leave work every day at lunch to drive home and check the mail.

"On the third day, the mail was late, so I drove around until I found the mailman, climbed through a ditch and asked him if he had any mail for me," Tonya said in an email. "He handed me the envelope (from West Point) and I just started crying right there on the side of the road. I was so excited." 

They learned soon after that Shockley had received appointments to the other academies as well, leaving him with a choice to make -- which branch of the military to join.

He chose the Army, following in the footsteps of his father, who served five years in the Army in the late 1990s.

As an "Army brat" herself, Tonya said she was always rooting for West Point to be her son's final choice.

"I tried to be supportive while Matt was choosing, but the USMA shirts I was wearing every day may have given me away," she said.

Read more about how Matt earned his appointment.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) selects Cadet Adam Leemans '13 as a 2013 New Faces of Engineering-College Edition Representative.

Leemans, an ASME student member and fourth-year mechanical engineering student at the United States Military Academy at West Point, has conducted research on renewable energy integration at Army installations and is currently redesigning deployable barracks to improve energy efficiency.

Now in its second year, New Faces of Engineering College Edition recognizes the best and brightest third-, fourth- and fifth-year engineering students, whose academic successes and experiences in the engineering field have positioned them to make an impact.

As the Brigade Energy and Environmental Officer at West Point, Leemans creates, leads, and manages energy, water, and waste conservation policy and programs for all 4,400 members of the U.S. Corps of Cadets. He previously served as assistant to the Energy Manager at the Directorate of Public Works, Rock Island Arsenal, and as an intern to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy, and Environment). 

In addition, Leemans is a Engineers Without Borders board representative for the Military Academy's Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department, a College Reading & Learning Association-certified tutor in math, engineering, Russian, and economics, and team captain and member of the West Point Triathlon Team. Leemans was also a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship winner (2012), a Marshall Scholarship alternate (2012), a Rhodes Scholarship finalist (2012), and a USA Triathlon All-American (2011). 

Read more about the award

EV301 Trip Section to the Wheelabrator:  11 Cadets from USMA’s Environmental Science class (EV301) travelled to Peekskill, NY, to view the generation of energy from municipal solid waste. Cadets saw firsthand how 2,250 tons of waste per day is incinerated and then converted to mechanical energy before being distributed onto the electrical grid. Cadets also learned about air pollution control devices that are used to ensure that the exhaust gases meet federal emission standards.  Wheelabrator Westchester L.P. generates approximately 60,000 kW of electricity, enough to supply 88,000 New York homes.

General Electric (GE) Collaboration:  Dr. David Helmer of GE Global Research Corporation presented a class seminar on the topic of Computational Fluid Dynamics for each of four section-hours of MC 312, Thermal-Fluid Systems 2. Dr. Helmer covered the governing mathematical models, some basic numerical methods, and a few practical considerations for engineering simulations. He concluded with a brief summary of ongoing computational research efforts in gas turbine technology in industry. In addition, a Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) between General Electric and West Point is now in process. The CRADA will open new opportunities for cadet and faculty research and leverages GE’s large pool of research scientists and facilities

 Flight Test for Capstone Project:  Cadets Steven Billington, Jordyne Hayden, and Brian Tumolillo participated in flight testing of the system they are developing as part of their capstone project in Information Technology. The cadets designed and built a system that distributes real-time kinematic (RTK) correction data, which allows global positioning system (GPS) receivers to reduce the error of their locations to less than four centimeters.

MX400 Tactical Decision Exercise:  CALDOL conducted a Tactical Decision Exercise (TDE) with the MX400 section the team instructs. The TDE was based on Chapter 15 of The Outpost, by Jake Tapper, and interviews CALDOL conducted with the protagonist in the Chapter, CPT Aaron Perasall ‘04 who was a platoon leader at the time of the story. 

Energy Summit Brief:  As part of the energy summit on 27 March, Cadets Mary Prakel, Bill Lane, Wayne Pak, and Cheyne Rocha briefed the Honorable Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment, and the Superintendent on their capstone research projects. These projects deal with pricing methodology for micro grids based upon consumer preferences and conducting cost benefit analysis for energy security investments.  Cadets Lane and Pak also briefed the Army Science Board on 28 March on the micro grid pricing modeling. 

SIP-Hut Energy B-Hut Construction:  In spite of the delays imposed by sequestration, the SIP Hut Energy Evaluation Project at West Point is moving forward. Construction has begun on the B-Hut. The Cadet SIP Hut team will compete in the MIT Soldier Design Competition on Thursday 4 Apr. A team of Systems Engineering Cadets is currently evaluating the feasibility of using SIP Huts as disaster recovery housing.

Guest Lecture – EV482 (Military Geography):  Dr. Anne Knowles, Chair of the Geography Department at Middlebury College, Vermont, gave a lecture titled “GIS for Visualizing History” to Cadets enrolled in EV482: Military Geography.  Dr. Knowles specializes in Historical Geography, Historical GIS, the Holocaust, and cultural and economic landscapes.  Her lecture discussed the use of GIS to enable historical research and focused on her work on the Battle of Gettysburg as well as the emerging research on using GIS to further understandings of the spatial and temporal patterns of the Holocaust. 

Guest Lecturer CEO of CounterTack, Inc.:  Mr. Neal Creighton ’89, CEO of CounterTack, Inc., a security software firm that focuses on preventing cyber-attacks, spoke to the first class CS, EE and IT majors on how to create great products for any organization. Drawing on almost twenty years of successful innovation and entrepreneurship, his talk stressed the importance of seeing opportunities that others don’t, being passionate about success, and building great teams.  He also discussed collaboration opportunities with D/EECS and CRC leadership.

Defense Tech Seminar Hosted by MIT Lincoln Laboratory:  Nineteen cadets from the EECS department traveled to the Boston area to participate in a Defense Technology Seminar hosted by MIT Lincoln Laboratory.  They also enjoyed a tour of the MIT campus and lab facilities, and the Artist Asylum hacker space. While at Lincoln Laboratory, the cadets learned about the history of the lab, various mapping, communication, and sensor applications using lasers, new IED detection techniques, and satellite tracking.

ME450 Water Rocket Design Project – Launch Event:  39 cadets took part in the ME450 (Mechanical Design of Army Systems) Rocket Launch Event.  Teams were attempting to design and optimize a launch and delivery system that maximized hang-time of a 100 gram payload, accurately delivered that payload to a target site within a 20 foot radius, and allowed a small paratrooper to achieve separation during flight.  They will be presenting the results of their design, analysis, and recorded launch efforts in a class presentation and a formal design report.

K’NEXercise:  Cadets enrolled in CE450 Construction Management competed in the K’NEXercise.  The competition requires teams of cadets to prepare estimates and bids, construction plans, and schedules and then execute the construction of a project built with rapid setting concrete and K’NEX components. The winning teams in the Tower, Hall, and Bridge projects were led by Cadets Alex Pingis, Nate Gooden, and Dan Pinho, respectively.

Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant:  ME472 Energy Conversion Systems toured the nearby Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.  The tour showcased the two massive 1000 MW steam turbines, the containment buildings, the fish conveyor belt and cooling water intake systems, a $60M control room simulator, and the spent fuel pool storing decades of highly radioactive waste. All participants were treated to several Geiger counter tests, tight security, and a pat down. 

Newburgh Brewing Company:  A contingent of 40 AIChE Club Chemical Engineering majors and members of the CH362 course travelled to the Newburgh Brewing Company in order to tour the 1st Brewery in Orange County and learn about chemical engineering.  The CEO and brewmaster of the Newburgh Brewing Company, Chris Basso, invited the cadets and sponsored the tour.  This trip was tied directly into the CH362 objectives and chemical engineering goals, and the cadets came away with a new sense of appreciation for the science and engineering of a large scale process like a brewery. 

CE400 Seminar:  Mr. John Tawresey of KPFF Consulting Engineers presented a seminar on the role of technical institutes in civil engineering. These organizations produce standards, distribute educational materials, publish journals, and conduct professional development for the benefit of the engineering profession and the public it serves.

Security Seminar to CDX Team:  Mr. Ed Skoudis, a world renowned security expert, author, and educator visited the EE&CS Department and gave a security seminar to the 2013 Cyber Defense Exercise team. Mr. Skoudis is a founder and Senior Security Consultant with security consulting company InGuardians and is also the author of the CS482 Cybersecurity course text, "CounterHack, Reloaded.” He has demonstrated hacker techniques against financial institutions for the United States Senate and is a frequent speaker on issues associated with hacker tools and defenses.

WPNP Panel:  BS&L's Negotiation Project hosted a panel on dispute resolution for cadets enrolled in Negotiation for Leaders (MG390) and cadets enrolled in Conflict Analysis, Resolution, and Negotiation (SS476). The panel was collaboration between the two courses, but open to all. Panelists Doran Pelly,  Executive Director of the Sulfa Research Center, and Ahmed Khan, UN political officer, discussed with cadets dispute resolution practices in Muslim/Arab cultures.

Climbing Team:  Team members spent six hours climbing a number of routes at the Ubber Falls.   Highlights included Cadet Caroline Grigsby successfully sending at difficult 5.11 known as “Retribution,” and CDT Cameron Prince nearly sending a 5.12 appropriately named “No Solution.”

Civil & Mechanical Engineering Club:  The Civil & Military Engineering Club has been named the #1 ASCE Student Chapter in ASCE Region 1 (the entire northeastern U.S.).

Debate Council and Forum (Speech & Parliamentary Debate):  West Point novice teams picked up first and second place out of 20 teams at the Cornell American Parliamentary Tournament. Cadets Jeremy Hunt and Meyer Ungerman bested Matthew Waldrep and Dalton Combs.

Cadet Fine Arts Forum (Hudson Valley Cultural Forum):  The CFAF immersed itself into the Hudson Valley art scene. The Wing's Castle owner gave the cadets a personal tour of this unusually eclectic construction.  They also enjoyed a very special engagement at the local Cocoon Theater.

Debate Council and Forum (Domestic Affairs):  The Domestic Affairs Forum sent eighteen cadets to Canada to view U.S. government and foreign relations from the other side of the border. Highlights of the trip included meeting the Honorable David Jacobson, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, and Minister of National Defense, Peter MacKay. Cadets also visited the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and meet with Ms. Roxanne Dube, the Director General of the North American Policy Bureau and Derek Kunsken, the acting Director of Social Policy & Programs for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Crew Team:  The West Point Crew team competed at the Murphy Cup Regatta on the Cooper River in Camden, NJ. This 2000 meter race was the biggest one to date, with more than 20 colleges competing. The Men’s Novice team won bronze medals and one of the two Novice Men’s Fours qualified for the finals. The Women’s Varsity team finished 14th out of 27 boats.

This weekend marks the public launch ofFor Us All: The Campaign for West Point. This is only the second comprehensive fundraising campaign in the Academy’s history and the largest one to date. It seeks to raise $350-million to sustain and advance the United States Military Academy and the Long Gray Line.

Read more by clicking here.

From the Athletic Director, the lacrosse team won its second straight conference game, earning a 10-4 road victory at Colgate. It was the team’s first win in Hamilton since 2006, and moved Army into a tie for third place in the Patriot League standings.  John Glesener was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week, goalkeeper Sam Somers picked up his second Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week award, and defenseman Brendan Buckely was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week.  The softball team opened its Patriot League schedule by splitting four games with Colgate, and thus put the team into a tie for third in the conference standings.   

On the track, Nick Snoad was the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week after winning the hammer throw at the Dick Shea Open. His throw of 62.8 meters was the second-best throw in Academy history and the best by an Army athlete since 1996. It is the top mark in the league and the third best in the NCAA East Region this season. Kyler Martin won his second straight Patriot League Track Athlete of the Week honor by running the Academy’s fifth-fastest 110-meter hurdle time and winning the event in 14.24 seconds. Jacob Drozd also posted a historical performance, winning the javelin with a throw of 63.42 meters, the fifth best in Academy history.

U.S. Military Academy Cadet Matthew Gallup has been named the 2013 Saint Andrew's Society scholarship recipient, making him the first cadet to earn the opportunity to attend the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

A Temple, Texas native, Gallup is a mechanical engineering major. He is expected to be commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation in May and will serve in the Aviation branch of the U.S. Army.

The Saint Andrew's scholarship offers one year of graduate study valued at $30,000. Gallup plans to earn a Master of Science in Aerospace Systems while in Scotland.

BUFFALO, New York -- A West Point cadet from Buffalo is making a difference at home and across the country. He's on a mission to change the world, by helping one veteran at a time.

James Long Jr., just 22 years old, has set himself a challenging mission. He said he saw a problem where there was an opportunity to make a difference.

While enrolled in the Academy, the Western New York native formed a non-profit organization last spring called Trek for our Troops.

Through mountain climbs, mentorship, and community events, Trek helps veterans transition from military to civilian life -- something that isn't easy.

Long said, "We're dealing with psychological issues, PTSD, drug addictions as they try to cope, physical ailments, and loss of limbs, so there's this desire to say 'what now?' "

Long said he wants to help veterans find their personal missions. Last year, Long climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and helped a veteran who lost both arms get back on the right track at home.

Read more and watch the WIVB news segment

West Point opened its gates to approximately 200 graduates, parents, families, and friends who came to observe the launch of For Us All: The Campaign for West Point this past weekend. While the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) has been securing lead gifts since 2009 toward the campaign’s $350-million goal, it publicly announced the campaign over the weekend and celebrated its successes to date. Read more.

Army defenseman Cheyne Rocha was named the hockey Senior CLASS Award winner. A three-time Atlantic Hockey Association academic all-star, Rocha was recognized for his work on and off the ice.

Rocha, a native of Rye, N.H., was chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men's hockey coaches, national ice hockey media, and fans. 

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence -- classroom, community, character, and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

Rocha is the first hockey player to win the award and just the second Army athlete joining 2010 lacrosse winner Andrew Maisano.

"I am humbled and honored to accept the Senior CLASS Award," said Rocha, who will commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Branch of the U.S. Army following graduation. "I have been blessed with great teammates, coaches, and instructors during my time at West Point and this award is a result of their mentorship and support. I want to thank my family for their unwavering support and guidance.  This was a great group of finalists and I would like to thank all of the fans, media, and head coaches who voted for me during this process. I also want to thank the hard working people behind the Senior CLASS Award for their support of college athletics, especially those who succeed on and off the ice."

Read more

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation announced today that Cadets Ahmad Nasir, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Erin Mauldin, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, earned 2013 Truman Scholarships! The Academy was one of only eight schools to earn two scholarships. 

The 62 new Truman Scholars were selected from among 629 candidates nominated by 293 colleges and universities. They were chosen by 17 independent selection panels on the basis of their academic and leadership accomplishments and their likelihood of becoming public service leaders. Selection panels met across the United States and included distinguished leaders, university presidents, elected officials, federal judges, prominent public servants, and past Truman Scholarship winners.

Each new Truman Scholar receives up to $30,000 for graduate study. Scholars also receive priority admission and supplemental financial aid at some premier graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government. Recipients must be U.S. citizens, have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills, be in the top quarter of their class, and be committed to careers in government or the non-profit sector.

Read more

Pipes & Drums:  The United States Corps of Cadets Pipes & Drums participated in the 2013 Tartan Day Parade in New York City. The Pipes & Drums marched as the first unit in the parade with the NYPD Mounted Colorguard and also leading the Grand Marshall of the Parade, noted Scottish actor Kevin McKidd (Rome, Grey’s Anatomy) and members of the Scottish Parliament. The band was proud to participate in the 10th Annual New York City Tartan Parade, which is the largest Tartan Day parade in North America.

Rugby (Men’s):  Rugby defeated University of Delaware 55-17 to win the Rugby East Championship and host the Sweet 16 match at West Point.  Rugby hosts Navy this Saturday at 1800 at Anderson Rugby Complex.

Fencing Team:  Led by Cadet Marvin Hargraves who defeated the returning champion from Northwestern University, West Point captured its first national championship crown in the weapon of epee. The remaining men’s epee squad of Cadets Mark Owens and Dave Maynor placed 3rd overall. In Sabre, Cadets Blake Gordon, Dom Casinelli, and Zach Leonard placed 2nd – the highest national finish for sabre as a squad. The women’s team had impressive victories by Cadets Darcy Parks, who tied for 2nd Place in sabre and Alexandria Rodgers, who came in with a solid 3rd place finish in epee – both the highest finish for a West Point woman. All record breaking accomplishments. The Fencing Team won a total of 21 medals at Nationals. In addition, the team BEAT NAVY in 5 out of 6 weapons and racked up more points than Navy at all times during the event. The Fencing Team was awarded the “National Spirit and Sportsmanship Award” by a vote of all Coaches on the Executive Committee.  The team was grateful for the support of West Point Family and Friends including Mr. Bill Hargraves ‘82 and Mrs. Melissa Gordon wife of David Gordon ‘85.

Team Handball (Women):  Women’s Team Handball travelled to Rockville, MD to compete in Northeast League play.  Black defeated Ocean New Jersey but lost to a mixed UNC alumni and college team and DC team in their following games. Gold also played well in their games, tying New York City, the team which took second in West Point’s Laura Walker Tournament last weekend and coming from behind to beat New Jersey’s Handball club. The team would like to thank Brigadier General (Retired) and Mrs. Swan for inviting both teams into their house for dinner on Saturday dinner. Special thanks to the DC/Maryland Parent’s Club for their outstanding support as they provided food and beverages throughout the weekend.

Team Handball (Men):  West Point Team Handball (Black) secured a berth in the Elite Division of Open Nationals by finishing second in the Northeast League.

Civil & Military Engineering:  The Civil & Military Engineering Club teamed up with the Mechanical Engineering Club to support the White Plains Annual Engineering Expo. Eleven cadets from the Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering presented at the event with models of internal combustion engines, K’Nex sets for bridge building competitions, and ten workstations for the West Point Bridge Designer program. Hundreds of parents with their middle and high school students cycled through West Point’s stations (one of the largest at the expo). Cadets aptly answered questions about the admissions process to West Point, what it was like to be a cadet, how they enjoyed studying engineering, and what they hope to accomplish in their future Army career.

Society of Women Engineers:  The USMA Section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) attended the annual Regional Conference that included an outreach event to raise awareness of and encourage women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. 

Mechanical Engineering: The Mechanical Engineering Club visited the facility that designs, builds, and tests the gas turbines that power Army helicopters along with several other aircraft used by sister-services. Cadets received several presentations showing how their knowledge from MC312 Thermal-Systems II, specifically the Brayton Cycle and external fluid flow analysis, applies to real world systems. Cadets had the opportunity to then witness highly restricted gas turbine assembly floors, testing facilities, collaborate with GE scientists and engineers, and finally conclude with an open panel discussion with USMA graduates currently employed by GE Aviation.

Cadet Fine Arts Forum (Opera): Cadets of the West Point Opera Forum visited Lincoln Center to watch a matinee performance of Richard Wagner’s “Das Rheingold”.

Debate Council and Forum (Investment): The Investment Club/Finance Forum travelled to Boston, MA.   The visit began at Fidelity Investments where cadets learned about mutual fund and ETF portfolio selection/development and also toured the historic chart room where technical analysis in valuing stocks has been taking place since the founders of Fidelity [Johnson family] started it years ago. The second stop was to Regiment Capital, a hedge fund that specializes in investing in distressed companies, where they learned about high-yield bond investments, leveraged loans, and then reviewed a case on the General Motors bankruptcy deal. Cadets then visited MIT Sloan School of management and the Harvard MBA programs, talking to current military students who will return to West Point to teach economics in the Social Sciences Department and gaining insights into the graduate school application and selection process. Cadets also met with West Point graduates who have transitioned to graduate school in a civilian capacity to understand their decision process.

Astronomy Club: The Astronomy Club travelled to the Hayden Planetarium and American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Climbing Team:  West Point Climbing Team attended the CCS Regional climbing competition in Chatham, New Jersey and earned the Northeast Region championship over rivals from RIT.   Zhiana Myrzakhanova and Chris Price took second place in individual competition.  For top climbers in the region honors, Zhiana Myrzakhanova and Jennifer Lenihan tied for first place.  After an exhilarating lead climb off, Zhiana from West Point edged Jenifer for the regional title.  Julian Barker took the second place medal for the men’s category. 

Sailing:  The team participated in Day 1 of the Greater New York Dinghy Regatta in City Island, NY.  Ten total races were sailed before the wind died and racing was called for the day. On Day 2, the team was met with a strong southerly breeze from 10-15 knots at the start of the day. B Fleet completed two races, defeating two other boats in each race. A fleet began its race in a steadily building breeze. Army's plebe skipper, Drew Beckmann led all 18 boats at the first mark of the race, but took two large waves over the bow, swamping the boat, and forcing him to retire. At the completion of the race, the wind had built to 20+ knots of wind with several boats capsizing. Due to weather conditions, the race committee cancelled racing for the rest of the day. 

Snow Sports (Snowboarding):  The Snowboard Club competed in its last competition of the season, the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) Nationals Competition at Copper Mountain, Colorado. The club had a total of six members qualify. Three members competed in the Slopestyle event. Wes Sickman was able to earn an eleventh place finish in his nationals debut. Matt Clidas finished 18th and Adam Pasque finished 29th. The other three cadets competed in the BoarderCross event. Jesse Montgomery, Kyle Kilroy, and Chris Beatty finished 17th, 18th, and 24th respectively.

Gospel Choir: The West Point Cadet Gospel Choir was the guest of the 105th Airlift Wing of the Stewart Air National Guard Base.

Skeet & Trap:  The West Point Skeet and Trap team competed in the 2013 ACUI Clay Target Championships in San Antonio, TX.   In skeet, USMA A squad put up a highly respectably score, led by Cadets Mo Khan and Andrew Laib, shooting a 97/100 and 96/100 respectively. This earned them 5th place as a team, a strong showing for the team given the stiff competition from larger schools at the competition. Finally on Sunday, the team closed out with American Trap. High gun for Sunday went to Derek Brown, with an impressive 98/100 birds.   The team also travelled to Manorville, NY on Long Island and joined the Peconic River Sportsmen's Club for a sporting clays competition. The Peconic River team proved to be great shots in addition to gracious hosts. 

Mixed Martial Arts (Kendo):  The West Point Kendo Club competed against teams from around the nation in the annual Greater Northeastern US Kendo Federation championships at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  Cadets Andrei Pop and Ryne Flores both earned promotion to 3 kyu (two ranks below a black belt) and Kevin Pak earned 2 dan (one rank above a black belt).

Jewish Chapel Choir: On Friday, the Choir performed at Conservative Synagogue B’nai Torah and on Saturday the choir held a concert for members of the Hadassah (a philanthropic organization supporting hospitals and medical research). On Sunday, the choir presented a program of songs to the Sunday School and families of Reform Synagogue Kol Tikvah.

From the Athletic Director this past week, the men’s tennis team scored a 4-3 win over Navy.  Plebe Caison Best Brok hiss opponents’ serve to capture the match-clinching victory.  The women’s team also bested Navy with a historic 6-1 victory, giving the program its first ever “Star” match win.  Gymnast Kip Webber claimed the program’s first ECAC all-around title since 1995 when he tied for the championship last week.  Firstie Garrek Hojan-Clark, the No. 1 rated pommel horse competitor in the nation took gold for the second time in three years.  Plebe Jesse Glenn was honored as the ECAC Rookie of the year.  Women’s tennis player Carolyn Pittman and Webber were recognized as Army Athletic  Association Co-Athletes of the week.

Mary Prakel highlighted the women’s track team’s competition, breaking the Academy record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.  Her time of 10:51:77 broke the previous mark set in 2004.  Other standout performances this week included Megan Gemar’s Patriot League Track and Field Rookie of the Week selection.  Megan won the pole vault at Navy with a height of 3.72 meters.  Baseball’s  Firstie Chris Rowley was the conference Pitcher of the Week after tossing a six-hit shut-out in the team’s 1-0 victory at Lehigh. 

On Saturday, April 6^th, the Men’s and Women’s Novice teams represented West Point Crew at the Sacred Heart University (SHU) Invitational Regatta in Shelton, CT.  Four West Point boats raced down the 2000 meter course, competing against seven other schools (Fordham, Iona, Fairfield, SUNY Maritime, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, and Drake).  In the Women’s Novice eight, West Point placed 2^nd out of four boats, leaving a large gap (28 seconds, to be exact) between their stern and the 3^rd place finisher’s (Sacred Heart) bow.  The Women’s Novice four placed 4^th in a field of 5 boats.  The Novice Men also competed in two races.  Their eight won by 27 seconds in a face-off against Fairfield, and their four placed 4^th out of 5 boats.

The Department of Military Instruction at the US Military Academy, West Point has planned another physically and mentally challenging (and fun!) military stakes competition which seeks to achieve, in order, the following four outcomes:

Graduating cadets from West Point are participating in a training exercise in cybersecuity defense against potential threats to national security.

The 28 cadets will spend 24 hours a day for one week monitoring their system against simulated attacks from members of the national security agency posing as hackers. Lt. Col. David Raymond '89 says the exercises have special significance in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing.

"There's more to defending infrastructure than just putting police forces out," said Raymond.

Watch video from News 12

Read about the team's last win

When Cadet Alexis Salmon '14 was asked to speak at the WPAOG's recent For Us All Campaign launch, she thought she was just going to be speaking about her company newsletter. Instead, she came away from the launch with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the services provided by the WPAOG and her role as a member of the Long Gray Line.

One Cadet's Introduction to the WPAOG and to the Long Gray Line

Ding! I heard the mail alert of my inbox go off and quickly looked over to see if I had a meeting to attend that night. To my surprise the heading of the email read: AOG...

"Great," I thought, "They want my money, and I haven't even graduated yet!" After further perusal of the email, I found that in fact, the email was about the C-3 Coyote Column. The West Point AOG was about to host a conference reaching out to returning graduates entitled For Us All: The Campaign for West Point.

The objective of the campaign, as stated in the email and on the AOG website, is to ask graduates and friends to support the Margin of Excellence -- additional programs, facilities, and opportunities the West Point Superintendent and other Academy leaders have determined are most important for preparing ethical and agile leaders of character and that are complementary to the core mission of the Academy. With our help, West Point cadets -- those on whom we will all rely to defend democracy everywhere -- will have everything they need to succeed and serve with honor in an uncertain and volatile world.

In regards to the campaign, AOG was asking me to speak at one of their venues about how the Coyote Column/Gamecock Gazette reaches out to graduates and how information is passed on from current cadets to past cadets through the company newsletter. AOG wanted to highlight how graduates see their donations in use through the opportunities offered to cadets who are featured in the Coyote Column.

What's important about this story is that I ended up attending the event, speaking, and being forever altered by the stories and other speakers I heard.

Read more from Cadet Salmon and check out the latest edition of the C-3 Coyote Column

The lacrosse team had its fifth straight win over Navy this past weekend, 14-7.  John Glesener led the team scoring seven points and was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week.  Plebe Alex Daly had a career-high nine ground balls, and was named both patriot League Rookie of the Week and Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week.

Both tennis teams completed undefeated Patriot League seasons to claim the No. 1 seeds in the upcoming conference tournaments.  The baseball team had a four-game sweep at Lafayette, thus moving the team into a tie for second place in conference standings.  Chris Rowley struck out a career-high 11 hitters in a 2-1 win to start the series.

The golf team won the Last Chance Classic at West Point.  Marcus Plunkett was the individual medalist, highlighting five Black Knights in the top eight.  The team heads to the Patriot League Tournament at Lafayette on April 27-28. 

And while the season has been over for awhile, basketball players Firstie Ella Ellis and Plebe Kelsey Minato were named second-team All-Metro New York on the men’s and women’s sided respectively.