小妲己直播

Cadets Participate in U.S. Air Force Academy Symposium

Kirsten Engel 鈥22, Glen Lash 鈥22, and Ryan Carpino 鈥23 at the U.S. Air Force Academy with backdrop of mountains

LEXINGTON, Va., Mar. 6, 2022鈥擪irsten Engel 鈥22, Glen Lash 鈥22, and Ryan Carpino 鈥23 recently attended the U.S. Air Force Academy鈥檚 2022 National Character and Leadership Symposium in Colorado. The conference鈥檚 theme this year was 鈥淓thics and Respect for Human Dignity,鈥 and the event featured several keynote speakers and sessions. This trip was part of the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics鈥 Cadet Leadership Enrichment Opportunities program that sends cadets to leadership conferences throughout the country each year.

鈥淣CLS was a great opportunity for us to meet and connect with other cadets from USAFA and colleges around the country who we鈥檒l have the privilege to serve with in the coming years,鈥 said Lash, who will be commissioning in the Air Force. 鈥淎lso, it exposed us to powerful speakers, including Dr. Ben Carson and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, who discussed how leadership founded upon ethics and respect for human dignity is crucial to our country's future.鈥

鈥淢y highlight from the week was connecting with USAFA cadets and hearing from a C-17 crew who worked in Operation Allied Refuge,鈥 Carpino said.

Engel, Lash, and Carpino were hosted by USAFA cadets in barracks for the event, which was 鈥渁 great way to apply some of the lessons learned throughout the conference,鈥 Engel said.

Eric Moore
Communications and Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE