Parents Bacheller II and Hazera Place High Value on VMI Education by Scott E. Belliveau ’83, Director of Communications, VMI Foundation
It is a truism associated with VMI that cadets’ parents often are the most ardent supporters of VMI and its way of educating young people, and they believe wholeheartedly in the goals of VMI. It is also true that parents often perceive the benefits of a VMI education well before their cadets do. Burton Bacheller II and his wife, Ramona Hazera, definitely can be counted among that group of parents who value highly the education that their cadet, Burton Bacheller III ’11, received. They also are among that group of parents who appreciate the Institute enough to provide it generous private financial support. Specifically, in October 2012, they signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the Burton Bacheller III 2011 Scholarship. As with most cadets, their family did not have any connection to the Institute before their son attended. Yet, they did know an alumnus who strongly influenced their son’s decision – John Duke Anthony ’62, Ph.D., a renowned scholar and recognized expert on the Near East and North Africa. In the late 1990s, Anthony invited Bacheller II and his son to accompany him to a foreign policy conference at VMI. Not long after the conference, Anthony presented the son with a VMI hat brass. Although he and his family had lived in northern Virginia for many years, it was the first visit to VMI and its surrounding area for Bachellor II. He – and later, his wife – fell in love with the area. In 2003, Bacheller II retired and moved to Lexington, while his wife and son stayed in northern Virginia to complete the son’s secondary education. “We admired the school, of course,” said Ms. Hazera, “and we suggested he apply to VMI, Washington and Lee, and other schools, which he did. However, we never pushed VMI.” So, it was something of a surprise when, in 2007, their son, then a high school senior, announced he would be applying to VMI as an early decision candidate. “To us, it was an excellent choice,” said Bacheller II. “We knew it was strong academically, and the low student-to-faculty ratio was encouraging. Yet, even more than the academic program, we thought that our son would get a lot from the Rat
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Burton Bacheller II, left, and Ramona Hazera, right, with their son, Burton Bacheller III ’11, at his graduation. Photo courtesy of Ramona Hazera.
Line and the Honor System.” With a house in Lexington, Bacheller II and Hazera were able to see the development of their son and his brother rats during their time in barracks in a way that few parents do. “We later adopted three rats,” recalled Hazera. “It was great to have the opportunity to mentor young men. It was quite rewarding.” She continued, “In the earliest days of the Rat Line, our adopted rats were overwhelmed and just couldn’t think. A couple swore that they would leave after Christmas furlough, [but] … they returned and admitted to feeling a little bit better about VMI. They learned to laugh at all the disasters that befell them. All cadets, I think, learn to live through the challenges, and that means they learn character.” Bacheller II also picked up on the changes that cadets go through. “I distinctly remember General Peay telling parents on Matriculation Day, ‘You will not recognize your child when you next see him or her,’ Bacheller said. “He was right, of course, but the transformation doesn’t end with the cadre period or rat year. You just watch these young people continue to grow throughout their years in barracks. It’s truly remarkable.” While it takes some alumni many years to appreciate a VMI education’s benefits, for the younger Bacheller, they were made
apparent early in his career. Not long after he was hired to work at a prestigious financial institution, his supervisor, a graduate of Virginia Tech, explained his reasons for hiring him. Bacheller II related the explanation: “He told our son that there were 10 strong candidates for the position. Then he said, ‘I’m a Tech grad, and I understand how the Rat Line and VMI work. I also know all about the Honor Code. That means that I can be sure of your integrity.’” Asked about their giving to VMI, they noted that they had started contributing to VMI while their son was a cadet. “We believed in the mission of VMI, and we were deeply committed to help it from the very beginning,” Hazera said. When asked what they would say to a parent of an alumnus who asked why he or she should give to VMI, Hazera responded, “How could you not give to this school, considering the education your child has received?” She added, “There also are lots of opportunities to give, and you don’t have to be a big donor in order to have an impact.” Initially, they gave to the Foundation Fund, the Friends of Preston Library and the rugby team, of which their son was a member. They now focus their philanthropy on the scholarship. Although the direction of their giving has changed, the basic reason underpinning it has not. “VMI gave so much to our son,” explained Bacheller II, “that we wanted to give back.”
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