(Editor's note: This is the first part of a three-part Q&A series with Class of 2021 cadets who earned graduate school scholarships. See next week for part two.)
The U.S. Military Academy Class of 2021 will graduate approximately 1,000 members Saturday at Michie Stadium. Those graduating represent 80% of the 1,249 cadets who entered West Point nearly four years ago on July 3, 2017.
It is always daunting in some form for all cadets who walk the hallowed grounds of the granite fortress on the Banks of the Hudson. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last 14 months added another layer that confronted this group of cadets beyond the personal, academic and physical aspects that mark the 47-month West Point experience.
Nevertheless, with the intriguing words of their class motto, “Until the Battle is Won,” ringing loud, 40 cadets from the Class of 2021 will not only become new second lieutenants, but they earned graduate school scholarships and conquered the battle to receive higher education opportunities, both domestically and internationally, immediately after graduation.
These 40 cadets earned several domestic scholarships to include the Carnegie-Mellon, Draper Labs, Truman, East-West, GEM, Knight-Hennessy, MIT Lincoln Labs, National Science Foundation and the Purdue Mil Research Initiative scholarships.
They also earned international scholarships to include the Rhodes, Marshall, Anna Sobol Levy, Barry, Deutsche Akademische Austausch Dienst, Fulbright, GEM, Rotary and Southampton scholarships. Also, 12 undergrad cadets earned the Goldwater and Stamps scholarships, which they can use for research during their time at West Point.
Over the next three weeks, The Pointer View series titled, “In their own words: Class of 2021 cadets have ‘Won the Battle,’” involves various members of the class who earned post-graduate scholarships and tell their stories of their West Point experience.
In honor of the high-achieving members of the 223rd graduating class of West Point, here is the first installment of the three-part series with Class of 2021 Cadets Ryan Murphy (Carnegie-Mellon scholarship) and Tyrese Bender (Rhodes scholarship) sharing their own words of their West Point journey …
Class of 2021 Cadet Ryan Murphy
Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut. Branch: Aviation.
Pointer View: Earning the Carnegie Mellon Scholarship, how exciting was it for you to receive it?
Ryan Murphy: “I am so grateful to have received the scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University (in Pittsburgh) and I look forward to studying hard to develop my expertise in international security and conflict resolution issues so that I can take these skills back to the Army when I graduate from CMU.” PV: What was the process you had to go through to receive the scholarship?
RM: “I was invited to apply to the West Point Graduate Scholarship Program in my junior year based on my cadet performance scores. I applied and was accepted, then went through an internal application process where the West Point faculty reviewed my credentials and approved my application to CMU.
“I then completed my CMU application, which included essays, my CV, transcript, letters of recommendation and a ‘virtual essay’ explaining why I wanted to attend CMU and how I planned to use my degree to give back to the country and the world.”
PV: What field of study is your plan with the scholarship?
RM: “I will study for a Master of Science in International Relations and Policy with a concentration in international security issues and conflict resolution and prevention.”
PV: Throughout your life, how important has education meant to you in achieving your educational heights?
RM: “My parents always emphasized how important it was to work hard and put 100% effort into my studies. I am so grateful to them for the examples they set and the lessons they taught me.”
PV: What does service mean to you as you move into your Army career?
RM: “Service means using your skills and talents to make our country and the world a safer and better place.”
PV: How has West Point helped you become a “leader of character”?
RM: “West Point has taught me lessons about life I would have never learned anywhere else, let alone at another college. I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is how to work together with people from different backgrounds to accomplish a shared mission.”
PV: What has been your highest leadership position at West Point? And what did that position teach you in leading others?
RM: “I served as a Beast company commander in summer 2020. In addition to dealing with the challenges of the pandemic, I learned the importance of working with large teams to break down and accomplish very complex and challenging tasks.”
PV: What activities/sports were you a part of that helped shape your West Point experience?
RM: “I participated for four years on Company H-2’s Sandhurst Military Skills Competition team and served as the team leader my junior year. This experience challenged me mentally and physically but also allowed me to form close bonds with my teammates which will last well beyond graduation.”
PV: Best memory/achievement in your time at West Point?
RM: “In spring 2019, my company Sandhurst team captured fifth place (during) the international competition, including beating the Royal Sandhurst Academy, Air Force and, most importantly, Navy.”
PV: What was the biggest hurdle you faced while at the academy?
RM: “Training and going to school in the COVID-19 era has added extra difficulties to almost everyone’s jobs at West Point.”
PV: How tough has the West Point experience been over the past 15 months considering COVID-19?
RM: “Needless to say, it has made many things more difficult and cancelled or significantly modified many of the things cadets looked forward to or relied on for morale, especially for the firsties. I would like to say well done to everyone as we start to turn the corner and I hope West Point can return to pre-COVID operations as soon as possible.”
PV: Any one person who helped guide you toward success at West Point?
RM: “Hands down, my mother. Even though she was never in the military, she is still the toughest person I know and set me up for the success I enjoyed at West Point.”
PV: What advice would you give to the underclassmen or high school students contemplating on coming to the academy?
RM: “Increasingly, we live in a world where people prioritize their own interests to the detriment of their fellow citizens. I applaud you for considering attending West Point to prepare yourself to serve your fellow citizens and wish you the best of luck.”
PV: Describe what tossing your hat in the air will mean to you on graduation day, completing your journey at West Point?
RM: “Tossing my hat will be great, but not nearly as great as the giant bottle of Champagne I plan to pop to celebrate afterward.”
PV: Anything else you would like to add?
RM: “Thank you so much to everyone who supported me and made all of this possible. If I were to list everyone, I would need two full pages, but you are appreciated!”
Class of 2021 Cadet Tyrese Bender
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas. Branch: Field Artillery.
Pointer View: Earning the Rhodes Scholarship, how exciting was it for you to receive it?
Tyrese Bender: “It was surreal. When they announced my name, I experienced a range of different human emotions all at once. Disbelief, happiness and, most of all, gratitude. Gratitude for the family, friends and mentors who helped me become the person I am today. “Earning the Rhodes Scholarship certainly deepened my commitment to my passions and my story, but it also strengthened my appreciation for my amazing support system. This achievement is a direct reflection of the energy and guidance they poured into me. I will always be grateful for that!”
PV: What was the process you had to go through to receive the scholarship?
TB: “The first part of the Rhodes Scholarship application process includes submitting an academic transcript, a resume, eight letters of recommendation, and a 1,000-word personal statement to your U.S. Rhodes District Selection Committee. Central to this portion of the process is answering a simple, yet difficult question: Who am I and how will I change the world? Should the committee find promise in how you answer this question, you will be selected as a Rhodes finalist. As a finalist, you have the opportunity to further speak truth to your answer.
“The first part of these engagements is a rather informal social event with fellow finalists and the selection committee. This social event is followed by a 20-minute interview, whereby the committee will get to hear your story. Because of the pandemic, this was the first year that Rhodes finalists socialized and interviewed virtually. Nonetheless, the entire application experience provided me the much-needed time to reflect, and though it was all quite arduous, I can easily say that it was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.”
TB: “In September of 2021, I will begin reading for a Master of Science in Sociology at Oxford. I plan to learn as much as I can about our diversity and how I, as a future Army officer, can contribute to the organization’s commitment to becoming a more diverse, equitable, inclusive and effective force.”
PV: How exciting will it be to study in England?
TB: “I have no doubts that it will be amazing. There are quite a few West Point cadets either pursuing education in England or stationed in and around England, so it will be nice to share in that experience with my fellow classmates. But I am also incredibly excited for the opportunity to meet new people, learn from new cultures, and continue to grow as an open-minded leader.”
TB: “Education, in and of itself, has provided me with the opportunity to learn about what makes us unique, what brings us together, and what we can do to make our world a better place. It is this exciting learning experience that has helped make education such an important aspect of my life. As leaders in a constantly evolving world, we have to seek out new knowledge and pursue academic challenges, not for our own sake, but for the sake of those who depend on our strong and well-informed leadership.”
PV: What does service and leadership mean to you as you move onto your Army career?
TB: “Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of being a cadet, competing as a Division 1 athlete, and leading my classmates in various capacities. And in all these experiences, I have learned what service and leadership means to me — it means stepping up to face any challenge, standing up for what we believe in, and standing together with the team to produce positive change. As I move into my Army career and into a lifetime of service, I hope to continue leading and committing to people in this way.”
TB: “West Point is filled with countless examples of stellar leaders, and it is from them I have learned how to become a leader of character. From instructors who taught me the importance of integrity to the cadets who inspired me with their selflessness, personal courage and sense of duty — these personal exemplars will forever motivate me to become a better version of myself each and every day.”
PV: What has been your highest leadership position at West Point? And, what has that position taught you in leading others?
TB: “I have had the privilege of serving as the cadet Deputy Brigade Commander, the second highest ranking leader in the cadet Chain of command. And what this position has taught me about leading others is that no one can lead alone. Leading the Corps of Cadets during a pandemic was an especially difficult task, one that one woman or man could not accomplish by themselves. “So, as leaders, we have to build up and empower our team. We have to bring in new perspectives, encourage collaboration and provide consistent motivation to help bring about positive change during the most challenging of times.”
TB: “My time as a team captain and as an athlete for Army West Point track & field has been one of the most amazing experiences during my time at the academy. Leading our team to conference championships, battling against our rival at the coveted Army-Navy star meets, and sharing blood, sweat and tears with my sisters and brothers on the track has taught me a lot about the strength that exists within all of us.
“We can break records and we can make history. We are all capable of that greatness. But achieving these feats is only possible through our commitment to disciplined training and our collective commitment to one another. I am forever proud to call myself an Army track athlete!”
TB: “My best memory from my time at West Point was leading as the executive officer for Cadet Leader Development during the summer of 2020. Our team was charged with the task of bringing back 1,400 cadets amidst a pandemic, race and political riots and the murder of Vanessa Guillen. Though the challenges were difficult, we brought the Corps back. We safeguarded everyone’s health. And we provided every cadet with the space and time to confront the world’s problems by empowering them to listen, understand and learn from their peers. Our Corps grew closer and grew as open-minded leaders, and for that reason, it exists as one of the best memories during my time at West Point.”
TB: “My mother has been battling cancer during my time at the academy and, as a full-time cadet, not being able to consistently support her throughout her battles has been trying. But the resilience she has demonstrated never fails to inspire me, not only to be more resilient myself, but to make my life matter for others in any way I can.”
TB: “The COVID pandemic fundamentally changed how we operated this year. We conducted some of our classes virtually. Our parents and friends could no longer visit us. And prior to vaccine distribution, the Corps could not leave post. “This obviously led to a host of leadership challenges related to safeguarding health and preserving unit morale throughout the year. But even with these challenges, we were able to walk away with some amazing experiences. We finished our classes, we beat Navy, we created some socially-distanced fun along the way, and, most importantly, we did this all TOGETHER. So, despite how trying this year has been for the us and for the world, I am glad I was able to lean on friends and mentors to make it to this point.”
TB: “My mom constantly pushed me to do my best and to be my best. By persevering through her own struggles, she inspired me to search for ways to make my life matter for others. I am who I am because of her!”
TB: “Be good and be good at it. Believe in your individual capability and responsibility to change the world. Believe in yourself. Seek new challenges. Find and maintain relationships with your mentors. Call your mom, family, friends, etc. Be open-minded. Never give up.”
TB: “It represents an end to a long and fulfilling journey and the beginning to a lifetime of service. It represents years of blood, sweat, tears, failure, triumph and hard work. It represents the joy of 1,000 future leaders and the new heights they will continue to reach. And it means that YOU can do it, too.”