Hokie Hindsight
Read stories by current Hokies about their favorite Virginia Tech tradition.
President Tim Sands and Dr. Laura Sands
“The present is a moving inflection point, but no moment at Virginia Tech more completely connects our past to our future than the graduating cadets tossing their caps at the Change of Command Ceremony on the Drillfield.”
Anisha Shrestha, president of the Homecoming Board of Virginia Tech
"Last year’s Homecoming Game was actually on my birthday. We had the parade earlier that morning, so I woke up at 4 a.m. in order to get all the floats organized. Waking up for the parade that day, I felt that crazy, child-like kind of excitement, almost like when you would wake up on the morning of a big trip or a holiday. You’re still tired, but the nerves and anticipation mask that groggy feeling. Going back to that day - it was extremely special to me because in addition to the love and support I received from the Homecoming Board, my family and friends also drove down to celebrate with me! It was incredible to be able to stand on the field in Lane stadium and watch my friends on the Homecoming Board walk across for the court winner reveal."
Kwabena Sarfo, Class of 2021
“I love Virginia Tech Homecoming because the events are huge, and tons of VT students get the chance to celebrate together. Being a person of color, I feel as if they have done a pretty good job at Virginia Tech of being more inclusive. Through BSA, we’ve been able to host some “big name” artists that allow students to experience a musical performance which truly reflects today’s hip hop culture, and some of the music I listen to. Music is such an awesome avenue of sharing perspectives, so this is something I love about Virginia Tech. Music influences our everyday lives so much. One of my favorite VT traditions is Enter Sandman. The reason why I love Enter Sandman is because you can't avoid it once it starts playing. The first few beats of the song has everyone going crazy. If you’re not in the crowd; you run to it. The music just draws you in and it’s so exciting seeing everyone expressing the same amount of enthusiasm for VT.”
Becky Crump, VTCC Academics officer and squadron commander
“I consider Virginia Tech to be home, I have my hometown and I love it there but this is just completely where I want to be. I want to come back and bring my kids and be like, “Hey guys this is where mom went to school.”
Kristen Lewellen, business manager of The Bugle
“I think that VT traditions really just remind us why we came here. I wanted to go to a school where people are proud that they went there. I feel like this is the school where people aren’t afraid to be a little “out there” with their spirit. It’s not weird to see a Tech novelty license plate or really anything decorated in orange and maroon because you can never have enough Hokie Pride. One of my personal favorite VT traditions is the Bugle. The Bugle is Virginia Tech’s yearbook. I love being a part of the Bugle staff because I get the opportunity to make my mark on Tech’s history. I can look back at my time here and know that I was an instrument of change. The way that we write and design the book captures the essence of that year, and it has such a huge impact on the student body, and the way that they remember their time here at Virginia Tech!"
Brant McKinney, member of Outdoor Club
“I went to Ring Premiere the fall of my freshman year. The cool thing about Ring premiere is that it’s different every year. Typically, there's fireworks, and it makes you feel important to celebrate your hard work and accomplishments. Part of the special thing about Ring Premiere that I actually didn’t get to experience is the time you spend waiting and looking forward to Ring Premiere. I received my associates degree in high school, and I will be graduating from Virginia Tech as a sophomore. Most people go to Ring Premiere with their friends, but I actually didn't know anyone there because I had just moved in a month beforehand. Now that I have built those social connections, there’s a weird dualism where a lot of my friends in my major are graduating with me, and at the same time I have friends who are my actual age that I lived with. Between the friends who are in my class and my friends who are also 19, we bond on different levels. Altogether, I’m glad that I’ve met people from both of those age groups, because it gives me the chance to branch out to a wider array of people that I possibly wouldn’t have encountered before.”
Heidi Hahn, The Environmental Coalition
“The Big Plant usually takes place in late February, to allow the trees a better chance of growing. That being said, on the day of the big plant last year, it was down-right freezing and Blacksburg was covered in snow. We were unsure of how many people were actually going to show up because it was so insanely cold. Despite the odds, we were pleasantly surprised by how many hokies came out to support Latin Link. During the 2019 Big plant, they planted around 600 trees, but this year they planted upwards of 12,000 trees. Somebody brought a speaker, and people started dancing to the blasting music. Eventually, we all forgot about how cold it was. This tradition is a great example of how hokies have such unconditional support for their community, and it is one that we would love to continue for years to come.”
Jack Longo, First Battalion Commander
“Ensign Sarah Mitchell was from my company, Alpha Company. She passed away the summer of our transition from freshman year to sophomore year. And I can’t speak for the whole corps on this, but I will say for my class, that when someone that just recently graduated dies while they’re serving, that struck everybody. But for us we’re thinking, excuse my language, “but, oh my God, this is real.” It was an eye opener for us. That only helped drive our initiative as a class because we looked at Sarah’s death and we were like “we don’t have that much time, we gotta do something now.
We started honoring her last year and will likely continue to honor her as the years go by. That’s a tradition my company set recently. But at the same time, every year for Armistice Day or 9/11, we always do honor taps. And I think it’s necessary to keep those traditions alive. There’s a lot of silly traditions in the corps, like the way we talk to one another or our mannerisms, but the stuff when we get serious, it means a lot. I still remember the family of Sarah Mitchell; she died while she was serving at just 22 years old, six months out of college. She gave her life valiantly for us, for the safety of her crewmates. It’s people like that we need to keep lifting up and can’t forget them. That’s my favorite tradition of Virginia Tech, it makes us unique, the way we honor our past Hokies."
Tabitha Ngo, Class of 2020
“The reason why I am struggling to think of a tradition that I like is because of the saying “People won’t remember you by what you said or did, but how you made them feel.” That’s how I feel about traditions at Tech. None of the traditions themselves stick out to me, but the why behind them do.
One of thoses why for me is valuing the relationships you are making, whether they are super intimate or someone just walking by, like a cadet running by with a game ball or you meet someone at Deet’s randomly because they’re wearing a cute sweater. Building relationships, valuing each and every person you’re encountering and you have a connection with them even though you know nothing about them. That’s what being a Hokie and a part of this campus community instills, no matter what we all have something in common."
Thomas Leffel, VTCC ’22
“When you show up on campus for the 3.2 for 32, the air is electric. So many people are here for the same reason, to honor our fallen, to never forget who they were. The night before 3.2 there is a candle ceremony where we as students stand at midnight for 32 minutes in silence at their memorial in front of Burruss Hall. I partook in this event as a freshman. As cadets, we all show up in our dress uniform. So the memorial event is more than just a run. The run is the culmination. And all of the Hokies that travel from around the world to be there, and all the friends and families that travel, so we never forget, are all here for that same reason.
I think it’s important to honor these 32 because they had their lives just yanked away from them. College is where a lot of people start to discover who they are and who they want to be. You shape your dreams and goals and are working towards them, and you’re on the verge of achieving your first step towards those goals. And these poor students had their lives taken.
And we need to remember the 33rd. There are Hokies out there struggling (and not just Hokies); we need to look out for our brothers and sisters.”
Camille Schrier, Miss America
“Traditions were one of the things that drew me to Virginia Tech. There is something incredibly special about sharing experiences with generations that came before you. Growing up, I was always eager to continue family traditions. Whether it was preparing a recipe written by my great-grandfather at Thanksgiving, or walking into ring dance with a class ring tied to my arm … taking part in traditions makes me feel connected to those I might have heard about in stories, but never had the chance to meet.
Now as a Virginia Tech alumna, I’m part of another tradition … as Miss Virginia, and now the 93rd Miss America, I seek to honor the historic traditions of the Miss America Organization, and the legacy of the many women that came before me.”