Shank ’27: A Rewarding Challenge

VMI cadetship has been a rewarding challenge for Cadet Kevin Shank ’27, a cross country and track athlete and mechanical engineering major, who says the Institute is preparing him mentally and physically for a bright future.

Running in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, Shank does not get an off-season break. He balances his heavy course load, ROTC, and cadetship demands while competing year-round.

The Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania, native first became interested in VMI because of his sister, Gretal Shank ’25, who also competes in cross country and track and field alongside her brother. His sister’s account of her cadetship and the Rat Line, his parents’ military service in the U.S. Army, and his interest in the VMI’s engineering program all led Shank to apply to VMI. On some level, he knew what he was getting into with expectations of the Insitute, but Shank says even so, it was still a shock and challenge as a matriculating rat.

“We were sitting down in Cameron Hall, and they were calling up people to go to the front and form up, and I knew, all of a sudden, I just wouldn’t be with my parents or family anymore, and that would be the official start. And so, as I was sitting there waiting, I definitely got very nervous,” said Shank. “I didn’t think it would be as hard as it was going to be. I thought I was prepared, but it was a lot.”

But Shank prevailed—largely, he says, because of brother rats and his sister’s example. “What kept me here was definitely my sister being here, and I really did not want to disappoint her by quitting,” said Shank. “The Rat Line wasn’t fun, but I’m glad I did it. It’s a really cool experience that I’ll be able to hold on to the rest of my life.”

Since the Rat Line, Shank has not only prevailed but thrived in and out of the classroom. “I think the math professors are absolutely wonderful. Their teaching style is super helpful; it’s super easy. It’s not saying the classes themselves are very easy, but their teaching style makes it seem easier,” said Shank. Wearing academic stars as an Institute Honors Program cadet has also given him confidence that he can keep up with coursework and his stellar performances as a cadet-athlete.

In the fall 2024 cross country season, Shank earned All-Southern Conference Second Team honors for the second year in a row as he placed 10th overall with an 8K time of 25:05.9 in the Southern Conference Cross Country Championships in Greenville, South Carolina, Nov. 2, 2024. Shank consistently leads the team in finishes.

Balancing being a cadet-athlete has been difficult, but Shank said it has taught him time management. “With three sports, it definitely makes the workload seem a little bit heavier, and it makes me definitely have a lot less time because it’s three hours committed every day, at least to the sport … But it also gets me good physical exercise and helps me stay mentally there throughout the day. It’s definitely a good break from work, and it’s gotten me a lot better at time management.”

At graduation, Shank will commission into the U.S. Army, where he looks forward to a career applying his love for math with hopes of joining the Army Corps of Engineers.

Despite receiving his Army ROTC scholarship, however, Shank could not have attended VMI without the financial help of the Call to Duty scholarship covering his room and board. The opportunity his scholarship gave him to be a VMI cadet and cadet-athlete is one Shank feels incredibly grateful for. “I am incredibly appreciative of all the alumni who make this [scholarship] possible. Without them, a lot of people would not be able to afford to come to VMI—I wouldn’t have been able to afford it either.”

“I’ve just really enjoyed my experience here,” said Shank. “The classes can get tough, the days can get long, but all in all, I just really love it here. The brotherhood, the classes, the teachers—everything about it. I’m glad I came here.”