Class of 2025 Cadets Selected for Knight Hennessy Scholarship

Stanford University recently announced that Cadets Olivia Raykhman, Erick Rodriguez and Zoe Winston have been selected as Knight-Hennessy Scholars, allowing for continued graduate study at Stanford University following graduation and commissioning on May 24.

“Olivia, Erick, and Zoe’s accomplishments are a testament to their exceptional character and dedication to both scholarship and service,” said Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves. “We are honored to have supported their journeys at West Point, and we look forward to the leadership and innovation they will bring to our military and to the world.”

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, the largest fully endowed scholarship program in the world, is designed to build a multidisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. The program annually identifies a group of up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world with demonstrated leadership and civic commitment.  

About the Scholars

Cadet Olivia Raykhman, Class of 2025, is a Russian language major with minors in Terrorism Studies and Cybersecurity from Brooklyn, N.Y.  Olivia was inspired to serve by her family's escape from antisemitic persecution in the former Soviet Union. At West Point, she led research on election security, the impact of emerging technology on the international order, and how disinformation threatens democracy. Her internships span the OSD War Plans Division, the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of the Army, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Olivia will commission as an Information Operations Officer in the U.S. Air Force and pursue an MA in Journalism at Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar.

“Even before I read about the Knight-Hennessy core values — purposeful leadership, civic engagement, and independence of thought — I had been striving to live them. For me, this scholarship is not just a personal milestone but a shared achievement with the family, classmates, and mentors at West Point who believed in me. It reminds me that leadership is about using every tool, including storytelling, to build understanding, bridge divides, and turn information into action that protects and uplifts others. I’m humbled to join a cohort of like-minded leaders coming together across continents and disciplines to make the world a better place.”

Cadet Erick Rodriguez, Class of 2025, is a Nuclear Engineering major with research in nuclear nonproliferation from Senath, Mo. The first to attend college in his immigrant family, he serves in gratitude of the American Dream. He has conducted prize-winning research on China’s underground nuclear testing program, and his paper on China’s nuclear fuel cycle was presented at international conferences. Erick has interned with MIT’s Laboratory for Nuclear Security and Policy, US Army Special Operations Command, the Air Force Institute of Technology, and works on Stanford’s CISAC imagery intelligence research group. Upon graduation, he will be commissioned as a Military Intelligence officer and study as a Knight-Hennessey scholar for an MS in Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University. 

“I couldn’t be more excited to become a part of the Knight-Hennessey cohort. To join a community of globally minded leaders committed to solving the world’s most pressing issues will be an incredible avenue to continue my leadership development as an officer in the U.S. Army.”

Cadet Zoe Winston, Class of 2025, is a Mathematical Sciences major from McLean, Va. Passionate about biostatistics, her research focuses on the relationship between nutrition and maternal health. She interned at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Zoe leads the Math Forum and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. For her work, she has been awarded the Stamps Scholarship, Astronaut Scholarship, and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Upon graduation, she will be commissioned as an Officer in the Adjutant General Corps and study for an MS in Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessey Scholar.

“I am incredibly honored to have been chosen as a part of this year’s Knight Hennessy cohort. The opportunity to engage with multidisciplinary leaders who are passionate about making an impact on their community is humbling, and I’m grateful for the chance to learn from their perspectives and experiences.”

About the Dawkins Scholars Program

The Brigadier General Peter M. Dawkins 1959 Scholars Program is West Point’s official sponsor for cadets competing for prestigious scholarships for all disciplines. The Program’s curriculum, mentorship, and outreach enable cadets who demonstrate exceptional service, leadership, and scholarship to reach their potential as thoughtful leaders in the Army and for the Nation. Learn more at www.westpoint.edu/academics/scholars-program/graduate. 

About West Point 

The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal service academy located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission is to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and Nation. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.