National Endowment for the Humanities Grant
Supports West Point’s American Foundations
The West Point Association of Graduates has been awarded a matching grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support the American Foundations program, an initiative dedicated to deepening cadets’ understanding of the U.S. Constitution and America’s founding principles.
Established in January 2023, American Foundations was created to deepen West Point cadets’ understanding of the U.S. Constitution and America’s founding principles by offering an academic minor, a guest speaker program, and academic enrichment experiences. Inspired by the Federalist Papers’ enduring question—whether societies are capable of establishing good government “by reflection and choice”—the program set out with modest goals. Its success has far exceeded expectations.
Since its approval, American Foundations has become one of the most popular of West Point’s 17 academic minors. Cadets pursuing the minor complete a rigorous curriculum that includes two cornerstone courses: Political Thought, taught by Dr. Hugh Liebert, which examines the philosophical foundations of the American Republic, and a course on the history of the American founding and the ratification of the Constitution taught by Dr. Rob McDonald. Cadets then select electives from departments across the Academy and culminate their studies with a Firstie-year capstone tutorial focused on primary texts and a comprehensive oral examination.
“American Foundations allowed me to study the United States founding—one of my lifelong passions—from various perspectives, enhancing my knowledge of the period and my appreciation for those who established the United States. Understanding this era more thoroughly, including the military’s role in securing Americans’ liberties and the nation’s independence, immensely contributed to my sense of purpose as an officer in the United States Army.”
—2LT Adam Azmeh ’25
Beyond the classroom, American Foundations brings history and ideas to life through academic enrichment experiences. Recent trips have taken cadets to Valley Forge and Philadelphia, Fort Ticonderoga, and Washington, DC, where they engaged directly with historic sites, handled period weapons, and met with national leaders. These experiences reinforce the program’s mission by connecting constitutional principles to lived history and contemporary civic leadership.
The program also extends its reach across the Academy by hosting high-profile lectures open to the entire Corps of Cadets. Since 2023, American Foundations has welcomed distinguished scholars and public intellectuals, including Judge Janice Rogers Brown, Dr. Arthur Brooks, Prof. Randy Barnett, and Ms. Amity Shlaes. The program oversees the annual Sol Feinstone Lecture on the Meaning of Freedom and sponsors popular celebrations of Constitution Day and Patriots Day.
“American Foundations is an outstanding program that facilitated exploration of my personal and professional interests relating to the founding. The connections with faculty mentors and insights gained through courses, guest speakers, and other activities left me with a profoundly different understanding of who we are and how our fundamental values came to be.”
—2LT Eli Nelson ’25
As the first federal grant in WPAOG history, the NEH grant, awarded through the Endowments for Advancing the Humanities program, affirms the national significance of American Foundations and supports the continued growth of its academic and public programming. The grant also reflects growing external recognition of the program, including its designation by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni as an “Oasis of Excellence” in American higher education.
American Foundations resonates deeply with cadets, whose education culminates in an oath “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” The program meets cadets’ desire to better understand and better serve the country they will lead.
The success of American Foundations is made possible by the generosity of alumni, donors, and faculty partners across the Academy. With the support of the NEH and the West Point community, the program looks ahead to continuing its role in “preserving good government by reflection and choice” for generations of future Army officers.
This historic opportunity arrives as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary. It represents more than funding—it is a commitment to strengthening cadets’ understanding of America’s founding principles, civic heritage, and constitutional ideals at a defining moment in our national story.
At the end-of-year American Foundations BBQ at South Dock, cadets and faculty gathered to celebrate the graduating Firsties and the work of a year grounded in ideas that shaped a nation.
Each graduate received a copy of Power and Liberty: Constitutionalism in the American Revolution by Gordon S. Wood, a fitting tribute to a year spent studying the foundations of American constitutionalism and leadership.
Pictured left to right: Dr. Rob McDonald, Professor of History and Co-Director of American Foundations; CDT Sam Mulvey ’26; CDT Mason Harris ’26; CDT Anthony Petracca ’27; 2LT Eli Nelson ’25; CDT Nick Murphy ’27; 2LT Adam Azmeh ’25; Dr. Hugh Liebert, Professor of American Politics and Co-Director of American Foundations; CDT Julius Lord ’28; and CDT Jack Gerber ’28.
From January 31, 2026, through January 31, 2029, every philanthropic dollar brings us closer to unlocking an extraordinary federal match. $5.5 million unlocks its full potential—creating a permanent $11 million endowment to sustain this program for generations to come. This is a rare, time-limited opportunity to help secure a lasting legacy of learning, character, and service at West Point. AMB Al Hoffman ’56 helped establish the American Foundations Endowment, advancing momentum toward fulfillment of the initial match requirement. For more information about the American Foundations Endowment, please contact [email protected].
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