Michael J. Cochran

The document details the Washington, D.C., Metro Area Commencement Ceremony for Virginia Tech graduates. A significant portion of the proceedings involved a tribute and invocation for the late Professor Adil Godrich, who previously served as the reader of names for 12 years. The ceremony recognized nearly 120 students completing degree requirements for doctoral, education specialists, masters, and certificate programs from six colleges and the graduate school. The commencement speaker, President Dr. Timothy Sands, introduced the deans, associate deans, and senior administrators. The graduate student speaker, Roxanne Paul, shared her experience completing two graduate certificates and a Master of Natural Resources degree while working full-time, managing family responsibilities, and maintaining a 4.0 GPA, emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning and serving the community according to Virginia Tech's motto, 'Ut Prosim' (That I May Serve).

This document celebrates Virginia Tech's 150 years of impact, highlighting its historical evolution and future aspirations. Key focus areas include expanding its presence throughout the commonwealth, confronting complex global problems such as clean water, data security, and pandemics, and developing the next generation of leaders and tech talent. The university's vision is to continue evolving on its strong foundation, leveraging skills, diversity, and drive to make a difference, serve, and solve problems that impact lives around the world, specifically mentioning the possibilities of the next 150 years.

This document provides an overview of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, highlighting its role as a nationally recognized regional hub for technology companies. Its core objectives include fostering a vibrant community for large, early-stage, and startup companies, and accelerating the creation of new generations of companies through its award-winning VT Knowledge Works incubator program. The Center strategically aims to concentrate brainpower and capital, encourage an environment of discovery and innovation, promote a creative culture, and facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration to generate wealth and economic growth. It also focuses on promoting sustainable technology-led economic development and leveraging university resources for problem-solving and talent identification, with ongoing expansion plans including Phase 2 development.

The event, titled 'Is This Home? Sharing stories and art about making home in Southwest Virginia,' sought to explore the concept of 'home' within the region, particularly in relation to the university. The discussion, initiated by Professor Jennifer Hart, involved presentations focused on personal experiences regarding belonging, identity, and community in the area. Storytellers shared narratives reflecting on their arrival, challenges of identity (including experiences related to race, sexuality, and socioeconomic status), and the formation of vital community support networks, often outside of the immediate university environment. One speaker detailed being the first Black faculty member tenured in their department and receiving a controversial email that questioned the faculty diversity at the institution. Another speaker detailed their arrival in Blacksburg, the significance of living on Main Street, and the formative friendships made through local music scenes that countered the immediate campus experience. A third shared experiences rooted in rural Southern Virginia and the challenging path of coming out as a gay Christian male while teaching middle school.

The document appears to be related to the "Hitt Hall Dedication" event, which featured several speakers including Francis Keane, Vice President for Student Affairs at Virginia Tech, and Leslie Orana, the undergraduate student representative to the Board of Visitors. Key discussion points included the significance of Hitt Hall as an extension of Virginia Tech's mission supporting student holistic development and wellbeing, highlighted by the Perry Place dining center featuring nine extraordinary dining concepts. Student representative Leslie Orana emphasized the value of experiential learning, group projects simulating real-world scenarios, and the importance of collaborative spaces. University President Tim Sands thanked the speakers and recognized leaders in the construction industry and principal donors, including the Hit family (George B. Clark, John R. Lawson, Ross Meyers, and the Preston White family) whose contributions made the project possible, resulting in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction being potentially the top program in the United States. Brett Hit spoke on the importance of research and development in the construction industry, noting that less than 1% of the industry's budget is committed to R&D, and announced the endowment of the Russell Hit Memorial Scholarship fund with $2 million to support student education access. Dean Julie Ross detailed how Hitt Hall will enhance learning and discovery, facilitate transdisciplinary collaboration, and house specialized centers like the ProCon Innovation Center (with a concrete robotic printer) and the Built Environment Digital Innovation and Governance Lab, while also supporting the newly launched major in Construction Safety Leadership.