1980 - First African American Woman Graduates from West Point

On June 1, 1980, Andrea Hollen became the first African-American woman to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. A Rhodes Scholar finalist and top academic performer, Hollen broke dual barriers of race and gender at one of the nation’s most elite military institutions. Her accomplishment came just four years after West Point began admitting women, and during a time when Black cadets faced intense discrimination. Hollen’s achievement signaled a slow but steady shift in military inclusion and inspired future generations of women of color to pursue leadership roles in defense and service. Her story is a milestone in the ongoing journey to diversify America\’s most historically exclusive institutions, and June 1 stands as a testament to perseverance in the face of structural resistance.