Fairfax Army Cadet Awarded Scholarship To Study At Oxford

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Denton Knight of Fairfax recently earned a Barry Scholarship, becoming the first cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to receive this distinction. Knight, a member of the academy's Class of 2021, is majoring in International Affairs with a Persian minor.

“National and international scholarship competitions continue to recognize the hard work and dedication of our cadets,” said U.S. Military Academy Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Cindy Jebb, in a release. “We are incredibly proud of Cadet Knight; he is an outstanding young scholar. His graduate work will enable him to make significant contributions as a future leader in the U.S. Army.”

Funded by the John and Daria Barry Foundation, the Barry Scholarship is awarded to graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Candidates are nominated by their professors and the award supports the students' studies at Oxford University for two years.

“I am honored and excited to receive this scholarship and have the opportunity to study International Development at Oxford," Knight said, in a release.

Knight went on to thank all of his mentors, including Dr. Hugh Liebert, associate professor of American Politics in the Department of Social Sciences, and Maj. Robert Van Wey, the former regimental executive officer at West Point.

"The past five years have been intermittently challenging, frustrating, fun, and always unpredictable," he said. "It’s only through the friendship and care of those around me that I’ve made it through. To the upcoming class of 2025, bring an empathetic and humble attitude, don’t judge other’s failures too harshly, and always seek to learn from each person you meet. A new adventure awaits.”

Knight grew up in Fairfax and focused his studies on understanding the international community. This proved helpful when he spent a year in a small town in Tajikistan, working with a non-governmental organization, teaching English, and building assistive devices for children with disabilities. As an intern with the Security Governance Initiative at the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Bureau, he also taught school children in Tanzania.

At West Point, Knight commanded a Company of Cadets through their summer field training. He is also a leader in the cadet Trust program, which supports efforts to fight sexual assault and harassment.