Alumni Announcements Spring 2026
Greetings from Upper Quad! I am thrilled to continue working with the Corps of Cadets, now as the alumni director. Getting to know our Corps alumni over the past year has been such a joy for me, and I'm honored to take the reins of the alumni office. I learned so much working with Brian, and I am grateful for everything he poured into me during his time as alumni director.
Our team is excited for our upcoming fall events, particularly Corps Reunion on Sept. 11-12. I look forward to engaging with each one of you in my new role as we celebrate this year’s reunion theme, “Remember. Lead. Serve.”
As I begin my tenure in this office, that theme resonates with me: remembering the legacy of the Corps, leading with purpose, and serving with a genuine commitment to you and this community.
Looking ahead, I want to meaningfully engage with our alumni, and bring you together to hear your stories and the impact the Corps had on you. This upcoming year, we will enhance our alumni engagement with more regional events and visit areas we have not been to recently.
My intention is to find ways to honor and recognize the impact our Corps alumni have on our community, to connect you with our cadet graduates as they embark on the next step in their careers, and to get the word out there of the many accomplishments of our Corps alumni.
Lisa Burton
Director of Alumni Relations
liburton1@vt.edu
Celebrating the Events of this Past Academic Year
The Corps welcomed alumni and friends back to Upper Quad throughout the year, while also taking events on the road. Nearly 500 alumni returned for Corps Reunion 2025 last September, and Homecoming in October featured the Highty-Tighty Alumni Band in the Main Street parade and an on-field performance before the Wofford game. In December, alumni and Corps parents gathered at Virginia Tech’s Academic Building One in Alexandria, followed by a happy hour at The Renegade in Arlington. Giving Day in February drew strong support from cadets, alumni, and friends of the Corps. In early April, J. Pearson ’87 and Renae Pearson ’90 were honored as the 2026 Distinguished Alumni of the Corps. That same month, alumni gathered on Alumni Mall and Upper Quad for the conclusion of Caldwell March—marking a key milestone for the Class of 2029—before joining us for the spring football game at Lane Stadium. In early May, Corps alumni and the Class of 2026 shared a dinner before the class graduated and joined the alumni ranks. May also brought the Corps of Cadets golf tournament at Auburn Hills, hosted by the Highty-Tighty Alumni Association. Alumni Weekend in early June brought Corps graduates back to campus to reconnect, hear updates from the vice commandant, tour the Corps Museum, and honor the Class of 1976.
Class of 1976 to be Inducted into the Old Guard
Members of the Class of 1976 will be inducted into the Old Guard this year—the 50th anniversary of their graduation from Virginia Tech. We will have the opportunity to honor them at two events, Corps Reunion (Sept. 11-12) and Homecoming Weekend (Oct. 16-17). Each event will include an opportunity for members of the Class of 1976 to receive their Old Guard certificate and pin and meet with the commandant of cadets or the vice commandant. Members of the Class of 1976 are welcome to contact vtccalumni@vt.edu with questions.
Opportunity To Greet first-year cadet Families on Move-In Day
Alumni are invited to help greet parents and families when the Class of 2030 arrives on the morning of Aug. 14 (M-Day). Alumni distribute water and pins to families who are moving cadet belongings into the residence halls. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with the first-year cadets and their families as they begin their Corps journey.
Corps Reunion and Homecoming Events
Corps Reunion 2026 in September and Homecoming in October are the flagship events for Corps alumni. They represent opportunities for us to welcome alumni back home and share current Corps updates. Corps Reunion 2026 will take place Sept. 11-12, and Homecoming Weekend is Oct. 16-17. Register below for Corps Reunion! Please keep an eye on the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Alumni, Inc. pages on Facebook and on LinkedIn or email the Corps Alumni Office at vtccalumni@vt.edu for further details.
Greetings From the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Alumni Chairman, Gary Boward ’86
Corps Reunion this year will be especially meaningful, as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks. For those of us alive at the time, the events of that day remain unforgettable; our world shifted in ways we could not yet fully understand. For many, it also became a call to service. Countless men and women, including many of our alumni, answered that call in the years that followed, serving in uniform at home and abroad, often at great personal sacrifice. As we reflect on this anniversary, we are reminded that the true legacy of Sept. 11th is found in the sorrow of what was lost, and in the courage, unity, and resilience that emerged in its aftermath. During the reunion, the Corps will host several events to honor the fallen. We hope you will join us as we come together in remembrance, reflection, and gratitude.
Calling All Hokie Heroes for the 2026 Football Season!
Deploying soon? We would like to recognize you as a Hokie Hero during the 2026 football season! Send us a picture of yourself with some Hokie swag at your deployed location, and we will share your experience with Hokie Nation. The Virginia Tech football radio announcers will highlight your deployed service during the Hokie Heroes segment of the radio broadcast. Please contact vtccalumni@vt.edu to volunteer to be recognized or to nominate a Corps alum who is deployed. Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate your service!