With another publishing of your Associations’ Annual Report, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the remarkable community we share. Our time together—bound by tradition, shared values, and enduring friendships—reminds me that West Point is so much more than an institution. The Long Gray Line is a family woven together by stories, memories, and a steadfast commitment to one another. In that spirit, I am honored to share our journey and highlights from 2025, celebrating the connections and milestones that unite us all.
FY 25
Annual Report
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With another publishing of your Associations’ Annual Report, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the remarkable community we share. Our time together—bound by tradition, shared values, and enduring friendships—reminds me that West Point is so much more than an institution. The Long Gray Line is a family woven together by stories, memories, and a steadfast commitment to one another. In that spirit, I am honored to share our journey and highlights from 2025, celebrating the connections and milestones that unite us all. In partnership with the Academy, last year was a record-breaking one for fundraising as the ambitious West Point Ready Campaign, supporting 50 plus Academy and WPAOG needs, held its Launch Gala in April. WPAOG’s assets under management ($890M) increased 13 percent from the year prior. WPAOG also was an essential link for the Long Gray Line. More than half of West Point graduates actively engaged with our programs— whether it was Grad Pass, Reunions, Veterans Services, Ring Memorial Program, 50-Year Affiliation Program, and more.
Creating Connections with Purpose Bringing West Point to You Strengthening Partnerships Recognizing Excellence
You can read highlights from your Association’s 2025 notable accomplishments in the following sections:
Remembering Every Name Stewarding Your Association
The Board of Directors and senior staff at WPAOG also spent 2025 reviewing the Association’s strategic goals and collecting extensive feedback from graduates, which resulted in WPAOG’s 2035 Strategic Plan, Our Enduring Link. The Link Plan calls upon us to deepen our commitment to one another and to West Point by strengthening the bonds that connect us and increasing the impact we can achieve together. We identified seven high-impact initiatives that will guide our work over the next decade and reflect our shared belief that the Long Gray Line is not just a legacy but a living, thriving network of service, leadership, and lifelong relationships. We are committed to placing graduates at the center of every decision, ensuring that your needs and aspirations guide our programs, services, and outreach. This graduate-centered approach is more than a strategy—it is a promise to deliver relevant, impactful opportunities for engagement at the moments that matter most. As always, we welcome your feedback as we work to ensure that our graduates and West Point remain at the center of our efforts. I hope you see that the Link Plan is already in action as we continue to build on our momentum and report back to you in 2026.
Grip Hands!
Mark D. Bieger ’91 Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired) President & CEO *
* A position generously supported by the Honorable & Mrs. Robert A. McDonald ’75
2 West Point Association of Graduates
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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Creating Connections with Purpose The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) builds relationships among graduates, the Academy, and the Association through programs that develop connection and engagement.
4 West Point Association of Graduates
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Creating Connections with Purpose
Grads Helping Grads Program
Veterans Services WPAOG’s Veterans Services initiative—led by WPAOG’s Veterans Services Specialist Sue Irons ’89—helps graduates and associate members during times of transition or need, especially in navigating the complexity of the VA, the largest health care system in the world. The program was awarded a CASE Circle of Excellence award for Veterans Services Resources Through a Volunteer Network. Survivors Community Outreach
WPAOG launched Survivors Community Outreach on Sallyport in 2025. The initiative connects the community of survivors who are linked through the loss of a loved one and their love of West Point, providing programming, resources, and a crucial space for individuals to heal, find support, and build resilience.
50-Year Affiliates
Career Services 345 Grads Advised 434 Grads Hired 91 World-Class NPS
For the 26th year, WPAOG’s 50-Year Affiliation Program has helped solidify partnerships within the Long Gray Line. Thank you to the Class of 1975 for partnering with the members of Class of 2025, greeting them at R-Day and supporting them through 47 months before personally presenting the new second lieutenants with new butter bars at the 2025 graduation in June. WPAOG also extends gratitude to the Class of 1979’s new partnership with plebes in the Class of 2029 as they embark on their West Point journey.
6,569 Career Navigator Members 426 Industry Advisors 38 Career Events
38% Yearly SACC Participation of All Academies 14 Employer Partners
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Creating Connections with Purpose
Publications
West Point magazine In 2025, West Point magazine—the flagship publication for WPAOG— launched a new digital version to complement its quarterly print issues.
302 Articles published in TAPS, WPAOG’s annual memorial magazine
6 West Point Association of Graduates
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Creating Connections with Purpose
Digital/Multimedia Communications
20.3K LinkedIn page followers
WPAOG connects with graduates through conversations sparked via:
64K Facebook followers
Online interactions (social media dialogue, the Army- Navy button contest) USMA Class of 2025 Graduation recap 21k likes 1.1k comments 344k views
Video interviews Old Grads share their advice prior to Branch Night for the Class of 2026.
20.4K X (Twitter) followers
20.4K Instagram followers
Reached 100 th episode in 2025
WPAOG recorded its 100th podcast in 2025. In it, Mark Bieger ’91, WPAOG’s president and CEO, discussed service, connection, and building community across generations of West Point graduates.
75.8K YouTube views 1.7M Lifetime
10,671 Number of Lifetime Podcasts Downloads
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Bringing West Point to You
Grad-centered experiences highlight moments that matter: Ranging from class reunions and Founders Day festivities to away football tailgates and WPAOG’s Rockbound Highland Home Program, your Association of Graduates leads the way in making members of the Long Gray Line feel at home.
8 West Point Association of Graduates
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Bringing West Point to You
Representing WPAOG worldwide, our societies serve as a vital connection to local communities, while our Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) support graduates via specific interests. In January 2025, WPAOG introduced a new SIG: Alumni Leaders for International Growth and Networking (ALIGN) celebrates the impact of international graduates, fosters cross-cultural exchange, and supports future international cadets. 137 Total Societies worldwide 11 Total SIGs
2025 Founders Day Events 101 Graduates traveled across the nation and overseas to celebrate the history and legacy of the U.S. Military Academy
Rockbound Highland Home
Grad Insider Tour The Grad Insider Tour escorts graduates and their guests on an insider experience to areas no longer open to the public: Visits can include Central and North areas, the Mess Hall, Taylor Hall, and the Cadet Uniform Factory, among other locations.
83 USMA classes supported 5 Class elections 29,342 Graduates with active accounts on Sallyport (communications and event support portal for classmates and surviving spouses)
15 Class reunions hosted 7,000 Total graduates and guests at reunions
261 Tours guided
Special Event 23
Staff and Faculty 8 Other 2
VIP/Donor 10
1,695 Guests hosted (including grads)
Funeral Tours 45
Grad Insiders 168
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Bringing West Point to You
Events
Tailgates and Spirit Events WPAOG assisted classes and societies with home and away tailgates before Army West Point games, as well as other spirit events. The 2025 WPAOG Army-Navy Tailgate at Topgolf in Baltimore, MD hosted nearly 1,400 graduates, family members, and friends of Army Football, as well as die-hard fans from around the country. Entrepreneurship Summit Throughout 2025, WPAOG hosted and supported seven Entrepreneur Roadshows and Summits in Texas, Ohio, New York, Maryland, Tennessee and Washington.
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2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Bringing West Point to You
In addition, Retail Operations provided memorabilia support and/or merchandise for:
WPAOG Gift Shop
2.1% Percentage of overall growth of WPAOG Gift Shop in 2025 11% Percentage increase of WPAOG Gift Shop online sales 14 More than 14 classes (including a pre-reunion order for 1976 and 2019 events)
Pop-ups/Tailgates PPW, USMAPS graduation, Alumni Football event (2-day), Army-Air Force event/tailgate (3-day event), Arm-Navy Tailgate
Celebrating America’s 250th!
Cadet Shopping Event Collaboration with Cadet Engagement • Provided purchase pick-up/free gift wrapping/craft for cadets at Grant Hall • Special discount week of Army-Navy and TEE week
West Point Women (WPW)
Our Travel Program offers WPAOG Travel Program 89 Graduates served 25 Trips alumni-centered, enriching travel experiences that deepen graduates’ connections to West Point and to each other.
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Strengthening Partnerships
WPAOG unites alumni, cadets, donors, and stakeholders in collaborative efforts that elevate the Academy’s mission, enrich the cadet experience, and revitalize surrounding communities.
4%
The West Point Ready Campaign Launch Gala was held in April. It marked an important milestone in the $600.5M West Point Ready fundraising effort, which began in 2021 and is set to conclude at the end of 2027. The campaign targets $550.5M for the Academy’s Margin of Excellence initiatives, which supplement the academic, military, physical, and character-development programs that support the Corps of Cadets, and $50M for WPAOG.
96% Percentage of West Point Ready goal raised for 50 plus funding needs (as of December 31, 2025)
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2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Strengthening Partnerships
2025 Special Initiatives
Thank you to all the Old Grads, parents, and friends who participated in the 2025 West Point Challenge in May and encouraged
The 2025 Army West Point Athletics Giving Day, held in December, achieved record-breaking
results, raising $2.93 million from 4,486 gifts and 3,981 donors. The campaign, which supports cadet- athlete training and equipment, saw significant participation, with men's lacrosse, wrestling, and baseball topping the donor leaderboards.
others to join. With gifts totaling $5.7 million, every part of West Point will be positively impacted. Over 345 different funds received Margin of Excellence gifts from 15,200 donors, enhancing the experience of 4,400 cadets.
$95M Cash Receipts 34%
2025 Giving
23,910 Total Donors
Alumni Giving Rate
Who Gave in 2025
Where Donors Directed Their Gifts
Superintendent’s Priority Programs 1%
Surviving Spouses 1%
TBD 6%
Corporations/ Foundations 2%
USCC 6%
Academics 22%
Friends 13%
WPAOG 21%
Parents 11%
Facilities 20%
Alumni 73%
Supts Fund/ Endowment 8%
Athletics 16%
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Strengthening Partnerships
Programs
Hudson Valley Program In 2025, WPAOG’s Hudson Valley Program hosted a Developer’s Conference and partnered with Highland Falls and the greater West Point community to create visible change, strengthen relationships, and elevate local opportunity.
Revitalized Main Street with four new businesses
Created 37 new jobs through new businesses
Generated over $1.1M in taxable revenue by new enterprises
Partnered with the Village to support 60 plus families with Christmas gifts and fed hundreds during the government shutdown Brought the Village, Town, County, State, and West Point leadership together for coordinated revitalization
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2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Strengthening Partnerships
29 CONNECT instructors and staff 320 CONNECT cadet volunteers 203 CONNECT students
WPAOG, in partnership with the local Highland Falls Intermediate School, operates CONNECT, a free, after-school program focusing on STEM and other enrichment activities for students in grades 3-8. CONNECT Awards Fall 2025, CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Circle of Excellence Award for “the best work in educational advancement,” highlighting the program’s creativity, innovation, and impact.
2025 WPAOG Preparatory Scholarship Program
34 Total candidate recipients 30 Scholar-leaders 4 Athletes
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Recognizing Excellence
At WPAOG, excellence is not a goal—it’s a baseline. And we celebrate our grads and others who exceed that with honors such as Distinguished Graduate, Distinguished Society, and Distinguished Parents Club awards, as well as the annual Thayer Award and Nininger Award.
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2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Recognizing Excellence
Awards
2025 Distinguished Graduate Awardees
LTG (R) David H. Ohle ’68
GEN (R) Joseph L. Votel ’80
LTC (R) Clyde A. (Pete) Selleck III ’77
Kathy Medaris Widmer ’83
LTG (R) David D. Halverson ’79
SEC Mark T. Esper ’86
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Recognizing Excellence
DGA Fireside Chat In November, prior Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) recipients COL (R) Frederick C. Lough Jr. ’70 and Kathleen S. Hildreth ’83 spent a jam-packed day of cadet engagement that concluded with an intimate fireside chat among cadet leadership; BG R.J. Garcia ’96, 81st Commandant, U.S. Corps of Cadets; and COL (R) Mark Bieger ’91, WPAOG President and CEO, who led a discussion and a Q&A session with Hildreth and Lough.
61 Distinguished Society Awards
22 Distinguished Parents Club Awards
West Point societies and parents clubs provide lifelong connections among West Point graduates and their families, promoting a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
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2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Recognizing Excellence
2025 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms
COL Kyle Walton ’01 Presented for saving the lives of U.S. and Afghan soldiers during the 2008 Battle of Shok Valley in Afghanistan.
Captain
Promotions Our graduates are exceptional leaders with the skills and talent to lead our most important formations across the U.S. Army. We celebrate promotion selections. A promotion signals the Army’s confidence in a graduate’s future potential as a leader of character, ready to make a positive impact for years to come. Serving as an Army officer is an honor and a great responsibility, and your West Point Association of Graduates is appreciative and thankful for these individuals’ continued service and example in the defense of our great nation.
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
Tom Hanks Actor/writer/director/producer/philanthropist
68th Annual Sylvanus Thayer Award
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Remembering Every Name From the Cullum files to Brick and Paver program, annual Class Ring Memorial event, and multi- faceted Memorial Support, WPAOG leaves no grad behind, no grad forgotten.
Cullum File WPAOG maintains a record (“Cullum File”) of every USMA graduate, beginning with documents relating to appointment to USMA. Each graduate is encouraged to provide information relating to his/her military career and all other aspects of life for inclusion in the file. This file becomes more important for historical research every year. It also is useful for writing a memorial article. No one can access your Cullum File while you’re alive without your or the Association Secretary’s prior approval. After death, information can and will be provided, upon request, to family members, historians, etc.
Register of Graduates We’ve enhanced our online Register of Graduates & Former Cadets search experience! The online “Find a Grad” and “Register of Graduates” searches are now combined into one streamlined tool. You can search by name, class year, cadet company, city, or state to quickly find what you need. Search results now display biographical details, individual Register entries, and genealogical succession, all in one place. We’ve also added the ability to scroll through results for easier browsing and print option for your convenience.
2,800 Register of Graduates updates in 2025
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2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Remembering Every Name
Memorials
Brick and Paver Program 83 Bricks and pavers installed honoring the legacy of donors Memorial Support 140 Funerals and memorials at West Point Cemetery 5,023 Visitors to West Point Cemetery
West Point Cemetery App The West Point Cemetery app, a smartphone app and system funded via Ghostly Assemblage, launched in 2025 with the vision of breathing new life into the Cemetery. Honoring almost 11,000 veterans buried in the Cemetery, the app includes (where available)
Class Ring Memorial Program In January 2025, WPAOG honored the Long Gray Line in the 25th annual Ring Melt. Donated rings were melted into Legacy Gold and added to the gold used for the class rings of the Class of 2026. Shavings of Legacy Gold were retained to add to the 2026 Ring Melt, with a twist: Some shavings, encased in a locket, flew with NASA Astronaut COL Anne McClain ’02 aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station and was added to the Legacy Gold. a written summary of their life, photo arrays, and personalized video. Users also can view the provided information remotely (where internet is available) via the app. Survivors Community Outreach The Survivors Community Outreach initiative—launched in 2025—connects the community of survivors who are linked through the loss of a loved one and their love of West Point, providing resources and a crucial space for individuals to heal, find support, and build resilience.
Class of 2026 Ring Melt
73 Rings donated 1924 Oldest donor’s Class 2006 Youngest donor’s Class
67 Rings donated during 2025 for Class of 2027 Melt
1,035 Total rings donated since Ring Melt inception in 2002
1896-2006 Class years of all donated rings
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Stewarding Your Association
Through careful risk assessment, data-informed decision-making, and the highest industry standards, WPAOG manages your gifts, other resources, and the tradition of the Long Gray Line in forward- thinking, innovative ways, forming a foundation of trust, stability, and longevity.
92 Cyber and IT courses taken by WPAOG employees 300 Hours of cyber courses safeguard the WPAOG systems and data in the current environment Information Technology
PCI Compliance renewed allowing credit card transactions and confidence in privacy 12 simulated phishing exercises to keep WPAOG employees vigilant
22 West Point Association of Graduates
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Stewarding Your Association
$890M Total assets were up to $890M, an increase of over 13% from the prior year. $753M Included in the total were $753M in assets under management, which earned a return of 15% for the year, net of investment fees.
$121M New gift revenues, consisting of cash, pledges and other planned gifts, a 44% increase over last year $32M WPAOG granted over $32M in 2025 to USMA and AWPAA
Finance
The 2024 audited financial statements were given an unmodified (unqualified) opinion, meaning that they were presented fairly in the view of our independent auditors at Baker Tilly. The 2025 audit will take place in March 2026.
WPAOG’s investments are managed in a three-way collaboration between the
Investment Committee, outside consultant LCG Associates, and WPAOG’s Finance dept. The Investment Committee consists of 12 grads who are investment industry experts and volunteer their time in service to WPAOG. They collectively perform due diligence on potential new investments, and with the help of LCG, monitor and assess the performance of existing investments. WPAOG benefits from the committee’s knowledge, dedication, and experience.
It is essential that we have strong, committed governing bodies dedicated to the mission of your Association of Graduates—Serving West Point and the Long Gray Line—creating greater connections with the Academy and each other. To that end, 11 nominees were elected to Board of Director or Advisory Council positions in November 2025. Nominees ranged from the Classes of 1969 to 1994 with experiences that include full military service; longtime involvement with West Point; broad volunteerism through society and class leadership; and deep and valuable skill sets in both corporate and not-for- profit sectors. Governance/Boards
At the WPAOG Annual Meeting held on November 18, 2025, the following members were elected to positions on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council, to serve their term from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028:
Directors Keirn C. Brown ’69 Guy C. Swan III ’76 James A. Gates ’81 Leopoldo A. Quintas Jr. ’86 Peter Carey ’92 Advisors at Large William C. Taylor Sr. ’70 Archie Eichelberg-Elam ’76 Vaughn G.A. Vasconcellos ’78 Timothy Trainor ’83 Joseph A. Simonelli Jr. ’87 Emily C. Schiffer ’94
Together, we carry forward the ideals of Duty, Honor, Country by honoring and preserving our history while embracing innovation and growth towards our future. Click here to read more about WPAOG Governance.
Bylaws Amendment Approved and Now in Effect: At the Annual Meeting on November 18, 2025, members approved amendments to Section 6.3 and 7.4 of the Bylaws—raising the petition signature requirement to 2,700 members and clarifying that any additional requirements will be posted on the Association’s website. These amendments went into effect immediately following the November meeting.
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Serving West Point and the Long Gray Line WestPointAOG.org | Herbert Alumni Center, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996
3/2026
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