Thomas Novinger

My name is Thomas Novinger, and I am a cadet at VMI studying economics and business. At a young age, I started my own landscaping and trash can cleaning company after struggling to find someone willing to hire me due to my constantly changing schedule from my athletic commitments. Building that business from the ground up taught me how to earn trust and adapt to different types of people. It showed me early on that if I wanted an opportunity, I had to create it. I am grateful that no employer was willing to take a chance on me because it allowed me to grow as a leader both in business and as a captain of my cross-country team.

Alongside academics and entrepreneurship, I competed as an All-State cross country and track athlete and served as a hockey captain. Endurance sports and team leadership taught me how to stay consistent, compete under pressure, and lead from the front when things get hard. Balancing school, athletics, and running a business has shaped me into someone who values accountability, work ethic, and continuous improvement in everything I do which all led me to choose to become a Cadet at the Virginia Military Institute to enhance my future