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VMI Celebrates December Graduates
Cadets throw their gloves in celebration of their commencement.鈥擵MI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin
LEXINGTON, Va., Dec. 21, 2021鈥擩ust shy of 40 cadets crossed the stage in Memorial Hall during the commencement ceremony on Dec. 21.
This semester鈥檚 graduates and their guests heard from Lara Tyler Chambers 鈥�03, vice president of the VMI Board of Visitors. Chambers is founder and co-owner of Tyler Development Group LLC, an engineering and real estate development group, in Richmond, Virginia. She graduated with a degree in civil engineering. During her cadetship she achieved the rank of regimental cadet captain, serving as the Institute鈥檚 first S7 staff, responsible for cadet life and Corps morale. She is a third-generation graduate of VMI.
Chambers offered the graduates tips and recommendations she has learned along the way, including telling them to drink water, have respect for others, and to have a life outside of work鈥斺�渒eep your day job your day job.鈥� She also encouraged them to never stop learning. 鈥淟earning gets a little easier once you鈥檙e away from school because it鈥檚 easier to see the relevance.鈥�
Chambers wrapped up her advice with something they hear a lot through their cadetship: never give up. But she also told them to make life fun. 鈥淚 hope you make lots and lots of goals, just make having fun one of them.鈥�
The evening before was a time to recognize the seven commissionees who were graduating. Three commissioned to the Army, three to the Marine Corps, and one to the Air Force. Offering officer remarks and administering the oath of office was Maj. Gen. Johnny K. Davis, the 15th commanding general of U.S Army Cadet Command in Ft. Knox.
Davis emphasized the intelligence and strength of those commissioning this year across the nation, including more than 800 this month alone. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in really good hands,鈥� he said. He reminded the seven commissionees to always be positive regardless of circumstances, always love their service and those who serve beside them, invest in the soldiers assigned to them, and stay humble.
Graduates were excited to have loved ones in attendance, as those the year before weren鈥檛 as lucky. The December ceremony in 2020 was a virtual event, also recognizing May graduates since they were not able to have a graduation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Maj. Michelle Ellwood
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE