Spring Forward
Over the next few weeks, our campuses in Blacksburg, Roanoke, and the greater Washington, D.C., metro area will shake off the remnants of winter in anticipation of the return to warmer weather. The longer days of spring will also herald the return of many special campus activities.
We look forward to seeing alumni, friends, and families at events like the Run in Remembrance, the Big Event, and Family Weekend. This spring, there will be numerous opportunities to celebrate milestones in the university’s 150-year history as we recognize Virginia Tech’s sesquicentennial.
This edition of Virginia Tech Magazine highlights 100 years of female students. The first five women enrolled in 1921. Today, we have more than 111,000 living alumnae. From the classroom to the research lab to our administration, women have shaped and will continue to shape the trajectory of our university.
Throughout its history, Virginia Tech has grown and changed, striving to provide academic opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds. Although we’ve come a long way, we still have work to do.
Nearly seven years ago, we began a thought exercise to consider the future beyond our preconceived boundaries. One of our aspirations is a university that reflects the diversity of the commonwealth we serve.
As I walk across our Blacksburg campus, I can imagine what it might have been like 150 years ago, especially when the Corps of Cadets is marching on the Drillfield. Despite all the history around us, though, Virginia Tech doesn’t feel old.
In 2022, as we reflect on the past and celebrate the present, we also anticipate a dynamic future. We are positioned as a leading global research university, an institution respected for our inclusive, service-oriented community and recognized as a top destination for the world’s best talent.
Your investment in our present and future is central to our success. Your support helps advance every aspect of Virginia Tech, from access and affordability to faculty recruitment, athletics, facilities, and academic programs.
Last year, your contributions eclipsed $200 million. And Giving Day 2022 not only broke records for amounts raised and the number of donors but also briefly overwhelmed our website. That’s what I call Hokie Spirit.
In a few months, we will gather in Lane Stadium to confer degrees on the Class of 2022, and a new generation of alumni will make its mark on the world. I’m convinced that’s exactly what the world needs: More Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). More sense of community. More Hokies.
Tim Sands is Virginia Tech’s 16th president.
