Please join us in congratulating WPAOG’s 2023 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients. This annual award is bestowed upon those West Point Graduates whose character, distinguished service and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto "Duty, Honor, Country." The 2023 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients are: HON James B. Peake, M.D. ’66, LTG(R) David F. Melcher ’76, Mr. Richard L. Dalzell ’79, Mrs. Marene N. Allison ’80, GEN(R) Daniel (Dan) B. Allyn ’81, and GEN(R) Austin S. (Scott) Miller ’83. Visit our website for more information about the award and our past recipients. Learn more.

Grip hands tho' it be from the shadows... Since 2001, the West Point Association of Graduates’ Class Ring Memorial Program has been symbolically echoing this passage from “The Corps,” by incorporating rings worn by members of the Long Gray Line into the new rings being made; thereby allowing each graduating class a tangible way of "gripping hands" with previous graduates. During the annual Ring Melt, graduates’ donated class rings are ceremoniously placed into a crucible, melted to form a single gold bar, and this gold is gifted to the Second Class to be used in the making of their class rings. Through this process, the figurative aspects of “grip hands” become literal, imbuing each new West Point class ring with all the strength, wisdom, and principles of the Corps of an earlier day. Their legacy lives thanks to the Class Ring Memorial Program.  Read More. Photos.

The Class of 2024 finally reached a pivotal milestone during this academic year as they gathered at Washington Hall to celebrate the annual 500th Night Banquet on Saturday, marking 500 days until they graduate from West Point. During the ceremony, the keynote speaker, LTG(R) Nadja West '82, 2022 WPAOG Distinguished Graduate Awardee, shared some important lessons about leading a team during a crisis and the importance of effective communication and humility.  Read more. Photos.

This latest WPAOG podcast episode features an interview with classmates Michael Mazzocco and John Nawoichyk, Class of 1993, who worked on the new Netflix movie “The Pale Blue Eye,” a fictional tale about a detective hired to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet. The detective, played by Christian Bale, enlists the help of one of West Point’s eeriest cadets to unravel the case—a young Edgar Allan Poe. Mazzocco and Nawoichyk worked alongside Director Scott Cooper, the crew and the cast as technical advisors and military historians. In this episode, they talk about their friendship on the set, maintaining historical accuracy, and how implementing the military decision making process learned at West Point guided them in recreating the West Point experience on the big screen. Listen. Read more.

On January 23, USMA launched West Point Press, the official publishing arm of USMA. According to BG Shane Reeves ’96, 15th Dean of the Academic Board, for an institution of higher learning a university press is essential for sharing the results of the research and academic pursuits by faculty and cadets with the global community beyond the Academy walls. Existing and future West Point publications will be nested under the Press and focus on five main areas: peer-reviewed academic journals, e-books and dynamic digital resources, print books, reports, white papers, timely articles, scholarly works, and podcasts. Dr. Hitoshi Nasu, the first author to publish through the Press, was on hand with faculty and cadets at the West Point Club Ballroom to celebrate his book “The Concept of Security in International Law.” The West Point Press is a WPAOG priority funding need. Learn more. WestPointPress.com

Career Services has a lineup of featured employers, professional development webinars, cohorts, and job fair events kicking off in 2023! Starting February 1, tune in every Wednesday from 12-1pm EST via Zoom to gain insights and learn from industry advisors. Join our Job Search Accelerator Program Cohort (JSAP) February 13-14 & 16-17 from 12-1pm EST each day on Zoom. Learn more.

On January 21, the Jonathan Turnbull Army Fencing Invitational, the first since 2020, was held at Ike Hall. A highlight of the event was the opportunity for alumni fencers to enjoy breakfast with the Army West Point Fencing Team and fence against the team prior to the Turnbull event. Organizer Tom Watson ’69, along with Terry Bresnick ’69, Archie Elam ’76, Steve Kalish ’82, Michael Hill ’90, and Troy Hively ’95 all came to USMA to participate in the inaugural grad event. The Fencing Team is one of the many cadet clubs at West Point including athletic, recreational, academic, religious, hobby, and diversity clubs (something for virtually every interest) made possible by donors supporting the Margin of Excellence. Learn more about the Army West Point Fencing Team in the West Point Magazine.

The Service Academy Career Conference starts off in 2023 in sunny Jacksonville, FL on February 23-24! Start your registration at sacc-jobfair.com and attend our Career Services JSAP program to help you be best prepared to meet employers, industry leaders and network.

The Army West Point Women's Basketball team defeated the Navy Midshipmen by a score of 75-61 at Christl Arena on January 21 in the first game of a doubleheader between the men's and women's basketball teams. Sabria Hunter '23 logged her 12th double-double of the season recording 23 points and 17 rebounds as teammate Reese Ericson '26 scored a career high 24 points. Read more.

The WPAOG Gift Shop has all you need to keep those resolutions going throughout the year. Exercise more, travel more, or get organized with our handcrafted journals and logs. Made in the USA, these leather assistants are good looking and an easy way to keep track of important events and experiences. View the entire collection at WPAOGGiftShop.com or call the store for more details at 800.426.4725.