USMA is one of a small number of institutions across the country that takes developmental responsibility head on from day one. We are not building physical development facilities for students who must take a one hour PE requirement over the course of their college career. This holistic approach of developing academic, military, and physical excellence requires top notch facilities. We owe it to our cadets who will be sent into harm's way in this new century, just as many of us were sent in the last one. Not here at West Point.
Great leadership requires great influence.
Our cadets are not only immersed in leadership roles, they have great role models. Donors who were once the recipients of lessons in leadership at our Academy are now the role models for today's cadets. Today's ground breaking honors one such role model. The entire West Point community is deeply, deeply indebted to Jim Kimsey, Class of '62, for his extraordinary gift. Jim would tell us that he is a soldier at heart.