News
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Video ItemPathways to Engineering , video
Pathways for Future Engineers is a multi-year Virginia Tech College of Engineering program designed to support first generation students and their families on the pathway from high school to an engineering degree. High school students from across Virginia visit Virginia Tech to experience different activities and events around engineering academic programs.
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TRIO Programs open doors to college for first-generation students , articleThrough mentorship, encouragement, and a strong sense of community, high school students discover their strengths, build their confidence, and find their place in higher education. Now, they’re stepping confidently onto campus, ready for what’s next.
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Ed Berger appointed head of the Department of Engineering Education , articleAn interim department head and associate vice provost for learning innovation at Purdue, Berger joins Virginia Tech on July 25.
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Virginia Tech receives $4.5 million grant to expand university pathways for students in Virginia , articleThe grant will support multi-tiered programming designed to help K-12 students and their families engage early with college preparation and planning through STEM workshops and field trips and financial and academic support for students as they transition to college.
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Milkshakes fuel a global learning opportunity , articleNearly two dozen students in the Dairy Club at Virginia Tech traveled over 3,500 miles to explore agriculture across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and the cattle-breed birthplace islands of Guernsey and Jersey.
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Virginia Tech student named Goldwater Scholar , articleRising senior Lacey Ngo has been awarded a 2025 Goldwater Scholarship, a federal merit award for undergraduate science, mathematics, and engineering students.
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Jill Sible to serve as Virginia Tech’s vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs , articleSible will succeed Rachel Holloway, who announced her retirement after 11 years as vice provost and 36 years of service to Virginia Tech.
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Celebrating the first-generation student experience: Four years with GenerationOne , articleAs members of the first cohort of the GenerationOne living-learning community prepare for graduation, their achievements mark a milestone for First-Generation Student Success.
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Virginia Tech first-year applications approach 58,000, another record high , articleFor the fifth straight year, Virginia Tech has set a new high for the number of first-year applications for admissions with 57,622 first-year applications submitted for fall 2025 admission.
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Nakyah Vaughan emerges as a first generation superhero , articleAfter a rough first semester that ended with her on academic probation, Vaughan went on to gain an internship, found a student organization, and participate in study abroad.
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Former TRIO director’s impact lives on through scholarship aimed at expanding college access , articleTwo Hokies are among nine students to receive support from the Tom Wilson Scholarship.
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Class of 2024: Nicole Paz-Jimenez breaks barriers while building connections , articleAs a Latina pursuing civil and environmental engineering, Paz-Jimenez makes it her mission to inspire and empower underrepresented communities in STEM.
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Three ways scholarships make a difference for students , articlePaying for college is not just about tuition, it’s also about housing and food expenses and handling emergent costs when they arise. Scholarships can go a long way to ease the challenge of college for students looking for a world-class education.
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Virginia Tech and international team win global XPRIZE challenge , articleBiologist Julie Allen and team took first place in the $10 million XPRIZE Rainforest competition.
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Start your scholarship search this month , articleVirginia Tech offers a one-stop shop to help you look for scholarships. It will only take you about five minutes to apply, and you still have time to get your application in before the priority date.
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First-Generation Celebration Week uplifts Hokies with resources and connections , articleFirst-Generation Student Success offers a week of activities focused on the accomplishments and identities of first-generation students.
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Ancestry inspires Monacan student's passion for learning, art, and advocacy , articleAlicia Aldaz, a member of the Monacan Nation, started her journey at Virginia Tech more than 20 years ago. Now, she is back to earn her degree and is helping other Indigenous students feel at home.
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College of Natural Resources and Environment Dean Paul Winistorfer to retire , articleWinistorfer, himself a first-generation student, fostered a culture of forward-looking innovation in the college, creating successful degree programs and student initiatives while emphasizing the college’s research portfolio.
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Video ItemMore than a scholarship: First-generation Hokies form everlasting bond , video
Julie Byrd '95 and Rabihah Waheed, separated by nearly 30 years, have forged a connection through Virginia Tech's Beyond Boundaries Scholars program. Byrd mentors Waheed, a current student, showcasing how their shared experience and the program’s support bridge generational gaps and enrich both of their lives.
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Video ItemVirginia Tech student receives scholarship at Hoda Kotb birthday celebration , video
I'yana James, a first-generation student pursuing a degree in public relations from the School of Communication, was in New York City, along with her mother, Toshia, as part of the “Today” show live birthday festivities for famous alumna Hoda Kotb.
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Virginia Tech student receives scholarship at Hoda Kotb birthday celebration , articleI'yana James, a first-generation student pursuing a degree in public relations, was in New York City, along with her mother, Toshia, as part of the “Today” show live birthday festivities for famous alumna Hoda Kotb.
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College Access Collaborative shows Patrick County high schoolers ‘what college can be’ , articleFrom a county where only about a quarter of students go on to pursue higher education, a group of juniors and seniors spent the day on the Blacksburg campus to consider college and careers that could help them soar — around the world or close to home.
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Student Kedean 'Kay' Brown named as 2024-25 Newman Civic Fellow , articleBrown will participate in a year-long program that recognizes and supports student public problem solvers at Campus Compact member institutions.
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Class of 2024: First-gen student Deshawn Murchison graduates debt-free, thanks to Presidential Scholarship Initiative , articleWith a four-year, all-expenses scholarship, Murchison focused on his landscape architecture major — and enjoyed everything else campus had to offer.
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Finding the chemistry in persistence , articleKamber Lee is the 2024 recipient of the Persistence and Commitment to Success Award in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.
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Taking a swing in world of landscape architecture , articleA trip to a national conference two years ago led to an internship for Connor Nguyen, and now that internship has helped Nguyen obtain a full-time position with a landscape architecture firm in Pinehurst, North Carolina, one of the nation's premier golf destinations.
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Fellowships support student research on compostable cutlery, sustainable solutions, and shorebird conservation , articleUndergraduate Research Fellowships are helping students in the College of Natural Resources and Environment take their education into their own hands.
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Virginia Tech hosts record number of attendees at Spring Open House , articleThe largest number of prospective students to date attended the weekend event on March 16-17. Virginia Tech welcomed 2,823 students and guests on Saturday, and 2,837 on Sunday.
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Ashley Offutt named director of SOAR; four team members promoted , articleOffutt has served as the interim director of SOAR since September 2023.
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Empowering tomorrow's leaders: Virginia Tech's Presidential Scholars tackle public health challenges , articleWith ambitions ranging from health care accessibility consulting to pediatric medicine, and supported by a comprehensive system of financial aid, mentorship, and research opportunities, these scholars are poised to make significant impacts on public health, reflecting Virginia Tech's dedication to access and service.
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New program mentors first-generation Latinx students from rural communities , articleThe Centers for Rural Education and Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies have teamed up with Galax City High School to create a new mentoring initiative, the Galax Mentoring Program, aimed at keeping Latinx students from rural Virginia engaged in education.
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First generation college student navigates the demands of medical school , articleEstablishing relationships is something deeply ingrained for Luke Arney, a third-year medical student. “I love taking care of people and making others happy,” he said.
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Principles of Community Week reaffirms Virginia Tech’s diverse and inclusive campus , articleEach March, Virginia Tech celebrates the university’s Principles of Community through a weeklong series of educational events, workshops, and discussions.
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Former first-generation college student embraces new role as Virginia's assistant secretary of education , articleZach Jacobs ’19 works with the General Assembly, university presidents, and higher education liaisons to ensure that Virginia’s university system is top-notch and produces graduates who want to live and work in Virginia.
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First-Generation Student Success celebrates campus achievements , articleWeeklong activities beginning Nov. 7 honor first-generation students’ contributions to their communities and mark progress in removing barriers to their success.
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$10 million scholarship gift builds on the generous legacy of a champion of education , articleThe Preston and Catharine White Endowed Diversity Scholarship will help numerous students each year.
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For incoming students, Summer Start is a springboard to the fall semester , articleThe six-week program offers first-year and transfer students a chance to ease into campus life by taking classes and building friendships over the summer.
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Bestselling author Beth Macy talks outsiders, underdogs, and the importance of hope , articleThe former reporter who delved into the opioid crisis with her landmark book "Dopesick" and its follow-up, "Raising Lazarus," will be the community keynote speaker Aug. 23 as part of the Rural Education Summit.
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'Get a good pair of boots' , articleFive graduates who came to Virginia Tech as transfer students talk about the highlights and challenges of studying fish and wildlife conservation and how growing up in rural Appalachia motivates them as Hokies.
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Former TRIO Programs Director Tom Wilson leaves a legacy of helping first-gen, low-income students go to college , articleWilson, who died in 2020, dedicated his life and his wealth to helping students overcome obstacles to higher education. His endowment will provide nearly $20,000 in scholarships or other financial aid each year for Upward Bound and Talent Search participants.
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Class of 2023: Austin Holloway named Outstanding Senior for the College of Natural Resources and Environment , articleHolloway, a first-generation college student, had numerous field and research experiences, including building stream habitats and doing tagging for eastern hellbenders
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Learning to fly: TRIO Programs’ Talent Search helps aspiring college students look beyond high school , articleFrom planes to palm trees, alligators to algae labs, high schoolers from Southwest Virginia spent nearly a week in Florida navigating a world very different from their own while attending a national conference to explore science careers.
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Amanda Leckner finds her voice as an advocate and mentor for other students , articleNow a Virginia Tech junior, this first-generation student has a passion for helping to create a more inclusive and accessible route to college for students of all backgrounds.
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Role models, mentors, and allies are essential to the first-generation student experience , articleFor national First-Generation College Celebration Day 2022 — a time to acknowledge and elevate first-generation college student and alumni identities and contributions — Virginia Tech is also celebrating the role models, mentors, and allies who enrich the first-generation experience.
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CNRE’s Advising Center: A one-stop shop for recruitment, advising, and employment , articleThe College of Natural Resources and Environment’s 8-year-old Advising Center is making a significant impact in setting students up for success in college and future careers.
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Eminent researchers around the country help launch the new Center for Rural Education , articleImagine a gathering of the most innovative and prominent scholarly researchers who are offering their intelligence, experience, and time. That describes the Rural Education Summit, held at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center on Aug. 26, which officially launched the new Center for Rural Education.
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Alumna educator's rhymes school first-generation students , articleBathsheba Smithen '06, who built her own company around her educational raps, songs, and poems, used her skills to teach the students of Virginia Tech's College Access Collaborative.
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Upward Bound awarded $5.7 million to support low-income, first-gen students , articleThe federal Department of Education has renewed funding to continue the university’s three Upward Bound programs serving hundreds of high schoolers in Southwest Virginia for another five years.
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Southwest Center provides ‘gateway for opportunity’ to rural Buchanan County girls , articleThe Virginia Tech Southwest Center brought about 70 girls, all high school juniors or seniors, from the rural coalfields of Buchanan County on a tour of the Blacksburg campus to spotlight STEM career opportunities.
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Scholarship makes a ‘beautiful’ education possible for first-generation Virginia Tech student , article“The Beyond Boundaries Scholars program does a great job of giving opportunities to so many students who can’t afford college,” said Nathaly Loyola-Rodriguez. “To come here and study, to have a great education — it’s beautiful.”
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Study abroad scholarships help students gain an international perspective , articleStudents studying this semester at the Steger Center for International Scholarship are finding that living like a local in Switzerland means much more than cheese and chocolate.
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Virginia Tech one of 15 winning institutions for grant challenge to strengthen workforce learning, academic experiences , articleThe university’s winning proposal focuses on expanding the university’s Presidential Scholars scholarship and student support program to reach more students from low-income households.
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Talent Search maps out a path to college for hundreds of first-generation students , articleVirginia Tech's TRIO Programs has been awarded a $1.88 million, five-year extension from the U.S. Department of Education to continue helping first-generation and economically disadvantaged students in Southwest Virginia graduate from high school and pursue higher education.
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Student organization is ‘Closing the Gap’ through civil discussion on controversial topics , articleIt was an ambitious and audacious idea: create a space for candid, meaningful, and productive conversations that include people of differing backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives. In a time of political polarization and social upheaval, Closing the Gap, the student organization founded by Amaan Raheem and Haseb Alim, is just what is needed.
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First-generation student perseveres, gains research administration experience through internship , articleDana Carhart, a fourth-year student majoring in communication science and social inquiry in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, is the inaugural first-generation intern in the Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance's first-generation undergraduate research internship program.
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For VTCSOM’s Richard Vari, Upward Bound opened his eyes to the world , articleThe senior dean of academic affairs at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke says Upward Bound widened his perspective and helped keep him on track to become the first in his family to attend college.
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First in the family , articleOn their paths to graduation, many first-generation students must contend with a variety of structural and social barriers. In this two-part series, we look at a slate of Virginia Tech programs that supports them as they strive for success.
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First in the family , articleOn their paths to graduation, many first-generation students must contend with a variety of structural and social barriers. In this first part of a two-part series, we look at a slate of Virginia Tech programs that supports them as they strive for success.
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Video ItemFirst-Gen Hokies: Elizabeth Owusu '22 , video
Elizabeth Owusu '22 talks about the first-generation identity, the challenges of being the first in her family to go to college, why it's important to find community, and her advice to incoming and current first-generation students at Virginia Tech. ___________________________________ Learn more about first-generation student resources at Virginia Tech: First-Generation Student Support: https://dos.vt.edu/First-Gen.html Hokies First Peer Mentoring Program: https://dos.vt.edu/First-Gen/first-peer-mentor.html ___________________________________
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Video ItemFirst-Gen Hokies: Christina Ju '21 , video
Christina Ju '21 tells her story about being a first-generation student, talks about what it means to her and her family to be graduating after three years of hard work, and her advice to incoming and current first-generation students at Virginia Tech. ___________________________________ Learn more about first-generation student resources at Virginia Tech: First-Generation Student Support: https://dos.vt.edu/First-Gen.html Hokies First Peer Mentoring Program: https://dos.vt.edu/First-Gen/first-peer-mentor.html ___________________________________
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Beyond Boundaries Scholars program fuels student success , articleThis month saw a major milestone for the Beyond Boundaries Scholars program, as dozens of members of the very first class of scholars to enroll were conferred their bachelor’s degrees at spring commencement.
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Patty Vitsupakorn named 2021 Outstanding Senior for the Pamplin College of Business , articleVitsupakorn will walk across the graduation stage and into a consulting job at Clarabridge, relying on the vast experience she gained as a double-major in hospitality and tourism management and marketing.
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Virginia Tech celebrates academic advisors during Global Advising Week , articleGlobal Advising Week honors academic advisors at Virginia Tech and advisors around the world who continue to work tirelessly in support of college student success.
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Class of 2021: Student entrepreneur finds success in diversity-inspired wearable self care , article“I feel like not enough messages are about like self-love, self-confidence, trying to look within instead of outward for the things that you're trying to change within yourself or improve within yourself or even love about yourself,” said Gelila Reta. “So, with ‘live like the sun,' it's like working on yourself to then be the best person for other people.”
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Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellow conducts meta-analysis on studies about pain , articleAs part of the Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Taylor Tuhy is studying the formalin test, a world-renowned mouse study that quantitatively measures how much pain subjects are experiencing and how they are reacting to pain.
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Pathways for Future Engineers and VDOT team up virtually for prospective first-generation college students , articleThe multiyear Pathways for Future Engineers program aims to encourage first-generation students’ interest in engineering and equip them with key information about building the academic foundation for a career in it. The program partnered with VDOT to offer these opportunities to Virginia high school students virtually in 2020.
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TRIO Programs help students stay on course for college , articleMiddle and high school students from across Southwest Virginia can get live tutoring and technology support through the federal college access programs.
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Next Generation Scholars Program aims to increase diversity in forestry and environmental resources fields , articleThe scholarship program in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, which provides significant financial support to underrepresented students, is targeted to reach students who have already started their college experience.
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Building support for first-generation students , articleFirst-Generation Student Support has received a one-year grant to explore creating a faculty development program that will help educators and mentors across the university connect with first-generation students, provide tailored support, and build community.
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Hokie Mentorship Connect helps guide student to internship in New York City , article“Hokie Mentorship Connect is a hidden gem on campus,” Keyara Johnson said. “We have access to an entire platform that connects us with professionals we’d like to be in five years, and through this connection we can figure out our career path and purpose at Virginia Tech.”
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Video ItemFirst in your family at college? So is Liah. , video
Hear the story of Liah Strouth, who would be the first person in her family to graduate from college.
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Class of 2019: Agricultural and applied economics major finds calling in underrepresented communities , articleMarquelle Benn graduates this December with a newfound understanding of her career calling - helping communities better themselves.
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A force for first-generation success , articleThrough peer mentors, faculty and staff advisors, and special programming, Virginia Tech is establishing a comprehensive support system for Hokies who are first in their family to attend college.
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Video ItemGraduating Thoughts - Zach Jacobs , video
First-generation college graduate Zach Jacobs shares his thanks for his time spent at Virginia Tech.
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Class of 2019: First-generation student Annalicia DaSilva put her passion for creating welcoming, inclusive communities into action , articleWhen DaSilva put her passion for creating welcoming communities into action through Student Affairs, she helped other Hokies feel even more at home, gained valuable leadership experience, and found her future.
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Video ItemPeru: Bonus Content - an interview with Martin Vargas Alvines , video
In this bonus content, first-generation college student Martin Vargas Alvines reflects on the study program that began in the United States and ended in his home country.
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Video ItemDear Future Hokie , video
Alyssa Duong shares how Virginia Tech has helped her embrace her heritage and allowed her to find herself.
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$5 million gift from alumnus and family creates pathway for 60 first-generation students per year , articleElectrical engineering alumnus Joe T. May ‘62 and his family have gifted the College of Engineering $5 million to establish a multiyear program that aims to increase the number of first-generation students who enroll at and graduate from Virginia Tech.
