LEXINGTON, Va. – A new round of "rats" are being admitted to the Virginia Military Institute. That's what the school calls its newly accepted cadets. More than 500 students make up this year's class of 2021. This year's Matriculation marks 20 years since female cadets began to be accepted at the institute. WSLS spoke with one young woman who is an incoming cadet this year, as well as several long-time students who described the impact the change in policy 20 years ago has had on the institution.
The gym in Cameron Hall was filled with excited prospective cadets Saturday morning, all of whom begin their journey by signing their name in the Matriculation Book. This year, 63 women did just that.
"I looked into it, and I saw that VMI was just a really good opportunity, especially for women, to go and just to serve their country," said new "rat" Nina Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is one of the more than 500 students eager to begin their education at VMI. Knowing the history, she sees the future ahead as a gift.
"I feel honored to have this opportunity that, 20 years ago, many women didn't have, and there are women like me who want to serve, and just to get that opportunity is amazing," said Rodriguez.
In the school's past 20 years, many women have risen to leadership roles at the institute, like First Platoon Lieutenant Alexandra Hill.
"I really think a positive attitude, and showing that there's really not a difference between male and female, it's just cadet here, it's just brother RAT, helped me rise to the top," said Hill.
This year, VMI also saw its first ever female representative on the school's honor corps. That achievement also has a big impact on the school's male cadets.
"It's very personal to me because my little sister, without VMI letting women in, she wouldn't be here, she wouldn't be getting the great training and academics that she'll be getting now," said Rat Mass Battalion Commander Matthew Esnardo.
Following the service, cadets began to march toward their new home, but not before saying goodbye to loved ones.
"My whole family is here, and they're very supportive of it too, so it's going to be a great experience, a life-changing experience, which is something that, there's no words to describe it, it's amazing," said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez now marches toward that life-changing experience with the second largest female cadet corps in school history.
Those students also heard from the school's Superintendent, General J.H. Binford Peay III, who described VMI as the toughest school in the nation, but the school says it's a test that it hopes more women choose to take in the future.