Interview with Delegate Tara Durant

&emsp;&emsp;On Tuesday, April 26th Co-Editor in Chief of The Cadet, James Mansfield, was offered the opportunity to go to Richmond to meet Virginia State Delegate Tara Durant. Delegate Durant was recently elected to office and inaugurated in January 2022. One of Durant's first contributions to the state of Virginia was the sponsorship of a bipartisan resolution to commend The Cadet and Cadet Foundation, acknowledging The Cadet as one of the oldest independent newspapers in Virginia, celebrating its 115th anniversary. The Cadet staff traveled to Richmond to be receive the Joint House Resolution and interview Delegate Durant regarding the Virginia Military Institute, for which she had to say: QUESTION: What do you feel VMI's value is to Virginia and our nation? What is your experience with VMI, the cadets, and its alumni that brought you to this opinion? RESPONSE: Consistently, the cadets and alumni that cross my path have tremendous integrity, are well respected in the community, and are often serving in a leadership capacity. VMI is a proud reflection of higher education in our Commonwealth, producing high-caliber citizens that go on to serve in our communities. QUESTION: If you could give one strong, clear message to VMI alumni and especially the Corps of Cadets at VMI, what would it be? RESPONSE: I'm incredibly proud of VMI, the cadets, and the alumni. The caliber of character in those who've graduated from this institution is remarkable, and you can count on my support. &emsp;&emsp;It is refreshing to see that the reputation of VMI continues to proceed itself, and that there are leaders in this county willing to support the Institute and Corps of Cadets. &emsp;&emsp;From the whole staff at The Cadet, we sincerely thank you, Delegate Durant!