VMI Foundation Hosts Annual Institute Society Dinner

The VMI Foundation hosted the 51st Institute Society Dinner on the evening of Nov. 7, 2025. This event—which takes place annually in the Hall of Valor in Marshall Hall—honors the hundreds of alumni and friends whose generosity in support of the Institute marks them as leaders in philanthropy and, therefore, members of the Institute Society. Since the organization was established in 1973, thousands of members of the VMI family have been in the ranks of the society, and about 800 alumni and friends qualified for membership in the Institute Society in Fiscal Year 2025.

After the opening social hour, the VMI Herald Trumpets played the national anthem, and Meade B. King ’85, VMI Foundation chief operating officer, welcomed the evening’s 500 attendees. Col. John Casper ’04, the John M. Camp Class of 1905 Chaplain to the Corps of Cadets, then provided the invocation.

After dinner, John P. Williams ’88, VMI Foundation president, spoke. In his remarks’ opening, he said he felt “privileged to be in a room with people who are so unified and dedicated in the support of VMI and the Corps of Cadets.”

“You represent,” he continued, “those alumni and friends who signal their dedication to VMI through financial support that allows VMI to produce the high-quality graduates it does. It is you that makes that happen.” He cited the “generosity of the members of the Institute Society” as helping those on post “fulfill their responsibilities to our cadets and thus ensure that VMI will continue to produce the well-educated, noble, principled, purposeful graduates whose accomplishments, service, citizenship, and leadership have won for VMI an outsized reputation.”

Williams then noted that the leadership from the Institute Society had helped the VMI Foundation provide the Institute with almost $500 million from Fiscal Year 2001 to Fiscal Year 2025 in the form of scholarship aid, unrestricted funds, and support for academic programs and faculty.

He thanked the Institute Society’s members for their leadership and generosity and “what has always set the Institute Society apart … a generosity that doesn’t stop when a goal is met but keeps looking for the next opportunity to lift up VMI.”

Williams then recognized Eugene Williams ’74, who had received the Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award earlier that day at the Founders Day Convocation. “Gene has led a life characterized by an unshakeable resolution to serve others and an enduring love for the Institute.”

To close his remarks, Williams presented some of his memories of another alumnus. He related how, when he was a rat, his brother, Rich Williams ’85, pointed out a “particularly impressive third classman” and predicted he would be the first captain. In 1987, Williams admitted he had “lost his way… and was on the cusp of some real trouble.” Happily, the first captain—who was the man predicted by Williams’s brother—provided the leadership and mentoring that helped him correct his course, graduate on time, and realize his dream of becoming a U.S. Marine Corps officer. Nine years later, Williams recounted, he was serving as a company commander in 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, as was his mentor from VMI.

In what Williams described as “one of life’s few truly poetic moments,” he introduced the man he was referencing: “our 16th Superintendent, Lt. Gen. David Furness, Class of 1987.”

In his remarks, Lt. Gen. Furness, who was making his first address to the Institute Society Dinner, initially urged the audience to be confident in the Institute’s current condition. “I stand before you today to affirm that VMI has grown in stature and impact but has never compromised its foundational values. I am very pleased with what I observed during my first 2 months back on post. If you take away one point tonight, trust me when I say that VMI is on solid footing and has an amazing future ahead,” said Furness.

He thanked the Institute Society’s members for what he described as “your relentless support of VMI … We would not have the facilities and resources today without you.” Furness also expressed the value of the more intangible support offered by alumni and friends, saying, “From mentoring cadets, to supporting them at competitions, and offering employment after graduation, cadets notice your efforts and appreciate everything you do for them.”

After acknowledging the iconic value and inspiring nature of VMI’s infrastructure, Furness stated, “What makes VMI truly great is the human dimension. By that, I mean the people who went here for their undergraduate education were forever transformed through that arduous process, realized their God-given potential, and became all that they resolved to be. Some of you may have heard my story and know that, like many of you, my journey to VMI began with an encouraging word and challenge from my neighbor, who was an alumnus. I know my experience is not unique. I believe that overall, what I gained from my time at VMI is incredibly common among its graduates.”

The state of the Corps is good, he said. “Our cadets are working extremely hard and want to excel. They are putting forth an incredible effort and doing very well.

“Cadets still need to be challenged,” he continued, “but as Aristotle said several thousand years ago, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.’ It’s a habit I will instill in every cadet while superintendent. There are a few places where we could sharpen our actions, but that is not a systemic problem. … I believe that focus on ‘good order and discipline’ is always needed. Self-discipline must be embraced; it’s a lifestyle that we instill in our cadets every day.”

Furness praised the Institute’s faculty and staff, saying they “truly enjoy being here and working with our cadets. They invest an amazing amount of time and energy, not just during the working hours but in the evenings and on weekends.” He pointed out the often-unsung contributions of VMI’s staff. “Much of what they do on a daily basis goes unnoticed by cadets, but I see the pride they take in their work.”

He pointed out that “two key priorities will consume much of our time and resources. First and foremost, the Institute will focus on our recruitment efforts to bring in a large class of highly qualified cadets. This effort will include an all-hands-on-deck effort to reach every corner of the country and the world to attract the right type of cadets … Secondly, we will be working diligently to repair, restore, and build relationships with legislators and the new governor’s executive administration in Richmond.”

He then urged the VMI family to act on behalf of the Institute: “We must give our time, talent, and treasure to help sustain VMI’s traditions and core values. We must all engage local youth organizations, our neighbors, and coworkers. We must champion the tangible and intangible benefits of the VMI experience to help translate our own lived-out lessons to a modern audience. We must not shrink from this fight or assume it will be done by others. To do so is to risk becoming spectators as the VMI spirit that has burned so brightly for 186 years starts to dim.”

He closed by thanking the attendees for “your continued support of VMI. You are a tremendous part of our success and mission moving forward. We need each of you and all of your efforts.”

Williams then ended the event with thanks to the superintendent, the attendees, and the people who organized the dinner. The dinner closed with the singing of the “VMI Doxology” and a promise by many to return for next year’s Institute Society Dinner.

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