Class of 2026 Cadets Earn Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

WEST POINT, N.Y., May 13, 2026 – Stanford University recently announced that Class of 2026 cadets Sophie Campagna Fernandez, Henry Kaye and Jack Maraziti have been selected as Knight-Hennessy Scholars, allowing for continued graduate study at Stanford University following graduation and commissioning on May 23.

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, the largest fully endowed scholarship program in the world, is designed to build a multidisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. The program annually identifies a group of up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world with demonstrated leadership and civic commitment.  

About the Scholars

Sophie Fernandez, Class of 2026, is a native of Memphis, Tenn. She is a Russian major with a minor in Terrorism Studies. Her academic and professional experiences reflect a deep commitment to Eurasian regional security. She studied abroad at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Kazakhstan, completed language training in the Baltics, and worked with the Estonian Defence Academy. She also attended Georgia’s Sachkhere Mountain Warfare School. Beyond Europe, she worked with the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade in Korea. Stateside, she interned with the Defense Intelligence Agency and Joint Special Operations Command. In the Corps of Cadets, she served as a Battalion Executive Officer and worked alongside German liaisons to plan and execute two German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge events. Upon graduation, she will commission as a Military Intelligence Officer and aspires to use her language proficiency and regional expertise to support intelligence operations, strengthen strategic partnerships, and address emerging security challenges. Sophie will also attend Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar to pursue a master’s degree in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.

Henry Kaye, Class of 2026, was born and raised in Rockville, Md. He is a double major in International Affairs and Spanish. He is committed to representing and serving the United States in Latin America and across the world. During his time at West Point, he has traveled with the Army to Puerto Rico, Peru, El Salvador, Israel, Mexico, and completed a semester abroad at the Chilean Escuela Militar in Santiago, Chile. He has also completed Air Assault School and the Combat Diver Qualification Course. Within the Corps of Cadets, Henry served as the Cadet Field Training Regimental Commander, leading approximately 1,500 Cadets through summer Field Training. Henry currently serves as a Cadet Regimental Command Sergeant Major, implementing military discipline for over 1,000 Cadets. Henry will commission as an Infantry Officer and will pursue a master’s degree in Latin American Studies as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University.

Jack Maraziti, Class of 2026, hails from Sparta, NJ. He is a Mechanical Engineering major and a member of West Point’s Black and Gold Sandhurst Team. He has conducted multiple research projects focused on engineering and innovation, including research on the fluid dynamics of a nuclear inertial fusion system and the design of a field-expedient medical storage device. He has also completed two internships focused on advanced military technology. The first, at Picatinny Arsenal, focused on development of a speed loader for the Army’s new rifle, resulting in a provisional patent. The second, in collaboration with MIT Lincoln Labs, Special Operations Command, and partner forces, developed rapid-prototyping solutions for counter drone operations. In the Corps of Cadets, he served as a Battalion Commander, leading training and professional development for more than 300 other cadets. Upon graduation, Jack will commission as an Engineer Officer and will pursue a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar.

About the Dawkins Scholars Program

The Brigadier General Peter M. Dawkins 1959 Scholars Program is West Point’s official sponsor for cadets competing for prestigious scholarships for all disciplines. The Program’s curriculum, mentorship, and outreach enable cadets who demonstrate exceptional service, leadership, and scholarship to reach their potential as thoughtful leaders in the Army and for the Nation. Learn more at www.westpoint.edu/academics/scholars-program/graduate. 

About West Point 

The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal service academy located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission is to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and Nation. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.