Graduation - Graduation - Virginia Military Institute MyVMI Offices A-Z Calendar Give Institute Awards Commissioning Commencement Ceremony Change of Command Memorial Parade Media Coverage Graduation Graduation at the Virginia Military Institute is an exciting time for cadets, family, faculty, staff, and the VMI community to celebrate the achievements of 1st class cadets as they complete their journey at the Institute. With ceremonies held for Institute Awards , Memorial Parade, Change of Command/Graduation Parade, Commissioning , and Commencement , Graduation celebrates the achievements and excellence of all aspects of a cadetship at VMI. May 2026 Events Please note, any changes to this schedule will be posted to this page if and when they become necessary and will also be noted on the VMI homepage. Livestream Events : Video feeds will be added as they become available on the individual event pages linked below for: Joint Commissioning and Commencement. SCHEDULE Friday, May 15, 2026 10 a.m. - Memorial Parade and Reading of Alumni Names (Names being read starts at 9 a.m.), Parade Ground 2 p.m. - Joint Commissioning , Cameron Hall The ceremony will be livestreamed over the website 6 p.m. – The Commanders/Glee Club & The Strings Ensemble,  Memorial Hall Saturday, May 16, 2026 10 a.m. - Cadet Change of Command/Graduation Parade , Parade Ground 2 p.m. – Institute Awards, Memorial Hall 6 p.m. - Baccalaureate, Memorial Hall Sunday, May 17, 2026 8 a.m. - Post is open to parents and other visitors. No access to post prior to 8 a.m. will be permitted without a valid VMI identification card. 11 a.m. - Commencement , Cameron Hall The ceremony will be livestreamed over the website VMI has a clear bag policy for all major events which limits the size and types of bags that may be brought into any of our facilities. Only clear tote bags that do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12", or one-gallon plastic freezer bags.  Small handheld clutch purses no larger than 4.5" x 6.5" will be permitted. Cameras and smartphones are permitted to be carried into VMI facilities. This information is subject to change, check this site frequently for updated information. All activities occur at VMI. No tailgating is permitted on post from 14 to 17 May. Commissioning This ceremony, in which new officers take their commissioning oaths, marks the end of a four-year journey of education, training, and self-discovery and the beginning of a journey of military service. Details Institute Awards Numerous awards recognizing the accomplishments of cadets are presented. Awards are presented by civic groups and the Institute, as well as the ROTC components. Awards presented Frequently Asked Questions Where do I order announcements or invitations? There are two companies VMI deals with when ordering announcements: Balfour Herff Jones Are tickets required for events? Tickets are not required for December Commissioning and Commencement. We do ask that families have no more than 10 guests. What should I wear? Casual business attire is appropriate for all events. Are there public restrooms? Restrooms are located in Foster Stadium, Memorial Hall and Lejeune Hall (located at the end of Third Barracks.) Contact Katrina Butner P: 540-464-7123 F: 540-464-7660 butnerkk@vmi.edu Operations & Planning 101 Smith Hall Mailing Address: For USPS: NAME (If to an individual) Operations & Planning 510 Burma Road P.O. Box 1839 Lexington, VA, 24450 For Other Carriers: NAME (If to an individual) Operations & Planning 510 Burma Road Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA, 24450 VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders