Alumni Notes Spring 2025
I am thankful for the opportunity to return to the Corps of Cadets, Virginia Tech, and Blacksburg. I started as the director of alumni relations on May 1, almost 35 years to the day I graduated from the Corps of Cadets and Virginia Tech and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
One thing that everyone has made clear is that I have big shoes to fill. Commander Nate Brown had a well-earned reputation as an excellent director of alumni relations for the Corps. Fortunately, he is only a phone call or an office visit away—Nate has been incredibly helpful as I have settled into this position. I’ve also benefited from the advice of Nate’s two predecessors: Patience Connelley Larkin and Rock Roszak. I am thankful for their continuing support.
As I learn the many facets of this job, it is clear to me that my main emphasis should be on effective communication. I want to maintain good, two-way communication with alumni from every year and from our alumni boards, all with the goal of ensuring alumni are aware of the amazing things that are happening amongst alumni and current cadets, as well as the awesome opportunities there are for Corps alumni (hint hint…keep reading!)
I’ll wrap this up for now because you’ll hear more from me in the subsequent pages. I am thankful to be back home, and I look forward to working with you.
Ut Prosim,
Brian S. Callsen
callsen@vt.edu
Hokie Heroes – Let Us Know if You Are Deployed Overseas
We highlight our deployed alums as part of the radio broadcast during each football game, and we follow up with a Virginia Tech news article about that person. If you or someone you know will be deployed overseas between August and January, please make sure you take a Virginia Tech flag with you and send us a picture. We will follow up with some questions about your deployment so we can share with others a little bit about you. Help us celebrate you and your service to our country! Contact us at vtccalumni@vt.edu.
Communication is the Key
We understand that our alumni have different preferences for communication. The Corps alumni office seeks to vary our communication methods to meet the varied needs of our alumni. This magazine is an excellent way to share information with our alumni. We also use social media to help spread the word. The “Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Alumni, Inc.” page on Facebook is one outlet; another is the “Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Alumni” site on LinkedIn.
Email is yet another effective way to communicate with our graduates, friends, and supporters—we seek to send updates monthly. The key is to ensure we have good contact information for you. If you have not received emails from our office, it is possible we do not have updated contact information for you. Please send your preferred email address to vtccalumni@vt.edu.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 15 – New Cadet Move-In
Aug. 23 – New Cadet Parade
Sept. 18 – Leaders in Contact Panel
Sep. 19-20 – Corps Reunion and Pass in Review
Oct. 3-4 – Homecoming and Highty-Tighty Reunion
Dec. 19 – Fall Graduation and Commissioning
Feb. 18-19 – Giving Day
May 2 – Change of Command Pass in Review
May 15 – Corps Graduation and Joint Commissioning
May 29 – Corps and Highty-Tighty Golf Tournament
Corps Reunion and Pass in Review
If you can only make it back to Blacksburg for one event this year, come back for the Corps Reunion on Sept. 19 and 20! We have witnessed greater and greater numbers of alums and their families returning each year to experience our new facilities, reconnect with classmates, and share "back in the old Corps" stories. A new addition this year is the Corps Reunion Pass in Review on Friday afternoon in honor of the Class of 1975. Come see the regiment on the Drillfield and relive your time as a cadet. This Corps Reunion will be another family-friendly and immersive weekend to come together and welcome our new commandant, Maj. Gen. Seely, reunite with old friends and buds, and march onto Worsham Field behind the Old Guard Class of 1975 as we cheer on the Hokies against Wofford!
Distinguished Alumni Award
Nominations for the 2026 Distinguished Alumni of the Corps award are due by Dec. 1, 2025. Any Corps alum can nominate an individual for this award. Those nominated should serve as inspirational examples for our alumni and cadets and embody the values found on our eight pylons. Nominees must have been enrolled in the Corps of Cadets for at least two years—four semesters or eight quarters. You can find complete instructions and forms at vtcc.vt.edu/alumni/distinguished-alumni. The award recipient and nominator will be notified in early February.
Questions should be directed to vtccalumni@vt.edu.
Corps Reunion, Sept. 19-20, 2025
Save the date! Join us to celebrate being an alumnus of the Corps. We hope you can come see us!
Visit here to learn more: https://vtcc.vt.edu/alumni/corps-reunion.html or register by visiting https://aimsbbis.vt.edu/CorpsReunion2025