The 2026 VMI Foundation Scholarship Banquet, celebrating the philanthropy making cadetships possible for so many members of the Corps of Cadets, was held Saturday, April 18, 2026.
On a warm April afternoon that felt more like June, members of the VMI family gathered in Marshall Hall to acknowledge and celebrate the philanthropy making cadetships possible for so many members of the Corps of Cadets. This year’s VMI Foundation Scholarship Banquet, held Saturday, April 18, 2026, attracted approximately 200 fund representatives and their guests, along with almost 100 cadets. The annual event, hosted by the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees each spring, is held in grateful recognition of donors’ philanthropy.
At the scholarship banquet, donors are seated with cadets holding their scholarships, allowing donors to get to know the men and women benefiting from their generosity and cadets to become acquainted with the individuals who have made supporting academic scholarships a priority.
Kicking off remarks at this year’s banquet was John Williams ’88, Alumni Agencies Board of Directors chair and VMI Foundation president, who began by noting that private support greatly lowers the cost of attendance for VMI cadets. “Out of 15 colleges and universities surveyed in Virginia, VMI’s total cost of attendance on campus is the fourth most expensive college, but because of your generosity and your philanthropy, the actual cost of attending across all bands of family income is the lowest of those 15 or close to the lowest of those 15,” Williams shared.
Next, he welcomed Lt. Gen. David Furness ’87, superintendent, to the podium. Speaking at his first Foundation Scholarship Banquet, Furness emphasized the far-reaching impact of scholarship donors. “The impact of a college education on a young person’s life is almost incalculable,” he stated.
“You are the difference between attending and non-attending, or attending an institution like ours that truly transforms young men and women into the best versions of themselves,” the superintendent continued. “It would not happen without your hard work and generosity.”
That generosity has an eye-popping number behind it: Furness told those attending that since the year 2000, scholarship donors have provided almost half a billion dollars in direct support for cadets. “The Foundation Scholarship Banquet is a special event where we can see the results of the investments you have made in the Institute that we all share today,” he stated. “Today, you can connect with the many cadets you have directly benefited from your donation, and they, in turn, can thank you for your assistance, help, and gratitude.”
Like Williams, Furness pointed to the economic benefits that flow from a VMI degree. “Each of us knows that VMI is an excellent choice, not only because we provide such a strong foundation in leadership and honor, but because pursuing a VMI degree is a great economic decision,” he said.
After graduation, VMI alumni move directly into their chosen paths, with 97% employed or pursuing graduate studies within 5 months, the superintendent noted. “VMI is the only school in the Commonwealth that boasts a six-figure positive return on investment for every degree program, including a $600,000 positive [return on investment] for our English majors,” Furness remarked. “Our graduates are successful and make an impact in the Commonwealth and the workforce, as well as our military.”
As he wrapped up his remarks, Furness turned his attention to the Institute’s greatest strength: The people who make up the VMI family. “Our greatest asset of VMI has always been our people and the positive effect they have in our communities, Commonwealth, and nation,” he stated. “We all play an important role in our ongoing success and mission moving forward. Your loyalty is unwavering and absolutely essential to our success.”
Speaking last and offering a heartfelt tribute to the power of philanthropy to shape lives was Cadet Skyleigh D’Ambrosia ’26, a biology major, lieutenant on the S5 (public relations) staff, EMT, and cadet chaplain. A biology major who wears academic stars, she’s fallen in love with research under the mentorship of Col. Ashleigh Smythe, Ph.D., Department of Biology head, and plans to go to graduate school in that field.
An out-of-state cadet hailing from Massachusetts, and the child of a single mother, D’Ambrosia was in danger of not being able to return for her 1st Class year when family finances took a sudden turn last summer. Not sure what to do next, D’Ambrosia found her way to the Office of Financial Aid, where she was told that scholarships would be provided so she could complete her cadetship. “I had built a very strong foundation over nearly 3 years at the Institute, and when it all felt like it was going to crumble, it was you [donors] who were there to back me up,” she explained.
“It was your generosity and your kindness and your continued support through the Foundation that was the answer to my prayer,” she said. “Because of your kindness and your generosity, not just me, but all the members of the Corps are able to come to [VMI] and succeed.”
“I can only hope that you will continue to support VMI as much as you have long before I was here,” she concluded. “I can only hope that I’m as amazing and as generous with hopefully my future fortune as all of you. I really don’t think I have all the words to thank all of you, not just for what you’ve done for me, what you’ve done for the Corps.”
The communications officer – features leads the creation of compelling, mission-driven written content that often supports fundraising and donor engagement efforts. In addition to crafting development-focused communications, this role contributes to the editorial success of key Alumni Agencies publications through strategic, long-form storytelling and by maintaining close working relationships with volunteer leaders.
