Returning Home in Remembrance

Every April, thousands of Hokie flock back to Blacksburg. While it brings about a joyous atmosphere being back with so many loved ones and strolling down memory lane, this time of year brings with it a somber air of remembrance as well.

In the coming week, Virginia Tech will hold its annual Day of Remembrance, which honors the 32 students and faculty whose lives were tragically taken in a shooting on April 16th, 2007. Although many of today’s students were very young when this tragedy occurred, the respect and understanding of the importance of this Day of Remembrance ripples throughout campus, and especially throughout the band. In this article, two Marching Virginians alumni, Beau Wong (Net ’21) and Katie Hale (Net ’17 and ’18), talk about coming back to Blacksburg for the remembrance events and what remembrance means to them.

In what ways do you honor the lives lost on April 16th, 2007?

“I participate in the 3.2 run virtually or in person!” – Beau Wong

“[I participate] in the remembrance run in honor of Emily Jane Hilscher. Emily was from the small community of Rappahannock County, which is also where I grew up. I run in her memory and in support of all those whose lives she touched with her positivity.” – Katie Hale

Katie Hale runs in remembrance with a big smile on her face! Credit Katie Hale

What is the most meaningful part of the remembrance activities for you?

“I attended the candlelight vigil a few times, and every time it is so moving. The shared moment of respect and the emotions it brings are so powerful.” – Beau Wong

“The moment of silence prior to the start of the remembrance run. Campus is typically abuzz with energy and sound, but in that moment, time seems to stop and everyone remains completely silent and still as we reflect on those who lost their lives.” – Katie Hale

Why do you choose to return to Blacksburg for the Day of Remembrance?

“For this time specifically, I plan on moving away from Virginia sometime in the near future, so it’ll be a lot harder for me to come back.  Usually though, it’s to go and visit with people I care about.” – Beau Wong

“The Roanoke Hokies alumni group does their own version of the 3.2 for 32 in downtown Roanoke, but I prefer to be in Blacksburg. Being able to run through campus, where the tragedy took place and past the April 16th memorial adds an additional level of meaning to the event. There’s a positive aspect to the morning in which we choose to come together and celebrate our ability to be resilient despite what has been endured.” – Katie Hale

Beau smiles for the camera with the Hokie Bird in his early days as an MV net. Credit: Beau Wong

Have The Marching Virginians played a role in how you choose to honor the 32 lives lost? If so, how?

“With the Stack Hokie Bird sitting at the entrance of the MVC field, I’d say being in the MVs has had a profound impact on how I honor the lives lost that day. Just passing that bird makes me want to exemplify the qualities of a Hokie. I can’t speak for the victims, but I’d like to think that’s what they would have wanted.” – Beau Wong

“Absolutely- the old version of the MV uniform had a patch sewn inside that was in honor of Ryan “Stack” Clark, so each time I put on the uniform, I thought about him and the stories of his love of service and helping others, and I wanted to represent that fully. Though I’ve graduated now and don’t put on that MV uniform with that reminder inside anymore, I still think about Ryan’s spirit today as I find ways to serve my students and school, my community, and my friends and family.” – Katie Hale

Whether you’re joining the thousands of other Hokies who are returning to Blacksburg this weekend or remembering with us from afar, I hope you get the chance to reflect on how joyous it is to be a Hokie. This community of Hokies and of Marching Virginians is filled with resilience, love, and support, and as we gather together over the next few days, I hope you’re filled with the Hokie spirit. Home is where the people you love are, and no matter how far you are from Virginia Tech now or how many years it’s been since you’ve stepped foot in Blacksburg, just know that you’re always welcome back Home. Welcome Home Hokies<3

A Musical Metamorphosis: How the Marching Virginians Transformed My Life

Jillian Sasso, who guest wrote this blog, is a current MV.

In order to become a beautiful butterfly, a caterpillar must undergo an intense transformation inside a cocoon for a couple of weeks. Now, I know nothing about entomology, but I do know that this same process can be seen in other areas of life. Two weeks may not be enough time, though, as some transformations can take many years.

Me in my freshman year at the Baseball Stadium game — September 26, 2020. (Beau Wong)

If you are currently a member of the Marching Virginians, you may know me as the Service Officer, the girl who makes really good food, the girl who says some really weird stuff, or just “Jill.” It was not always like this though. I entered college as a ball of anxiety during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every other MV who was here in 2020 knows the struggle; bags over our instruments, two masks at all times, and very limited rehearsals. Yet, I could not have asked for a better freshman year.

Let’s just say my high school marching band experience was not the best. Coming from a small band of 30 people to over 330 in the Marching Virginians was a massive shock for me. Not only was the clarinet section larger than my entire high school band, but everything was different. I came to the MVs looking for a better experience, and I wanted to remedy the problems I had faced in high school marching band. What I found was exactly that – and more!

Justine Campbell, Samuel Martin, Aidan Fishenden, and me at a game — September 10, 2022. (Jillian Sasso)

Like many others, I started out as a nervous young adult who had no idea what to do in life. The thought of college was scary and it certainly didn’t help that there wasn’t anyone else from my hometown in the band. I was terrified of everyone and everything, so trying out for the MVs was a major step out of my comfort zone. The MVs is a place of taking chances though, both for yourself and others. For me, the audition process was frightening, but I am so thankful that the clarinet leadership took a chance on me (cue ABBA music) that year. Although the conditions were not exactly favorable due to the pandemic, I still got my foot in the door to the greatest organization that exists at Virginia Tech.

Alexis Trippel, Ella Wolfe, and me after a failed picture attempt — September 16, 2023. (Beau Wong)

Sophomore year, Executive Officer Lauren Chuderewicz gave me an opportunity to be a part of something greater than myself – the MV Officer Team. The officers are the backbone of the entire band and nothing can operate without this incredible group of people. Becoming an officer was the beginning of my metamorphosis, and I felt that it was my duty to serve the band for as long as I could. I started out as the Music Librarian, printing copies of sheet music for numerous sections within the MVs. This was a wonderful position, and I was so thankful that Lauren gave me this chance.

Things only got better from there. I started to emerge from my “cocoon,” as I found a solid group of friends within the clarinet section. I also had the chance to interact with other sections and leadership through my position as an officer. College was still scary, and sophomore year proved to be more challenging than I thought. Things were adjusting “back to normal” after the pandemic had mostly subsided, including a return to in-person classes, an increased schedule for band, and many other things. It was a lot of stress for me, and things came to a critical point when I decided to switch my major over winter break. Yet again, the changes in my life changed me as a person. College is about exploration, and I realized that it was perfectly alright for me to acknowledge the current problems and choose a different path in life.

Some of the officers and managers that helped with counting cans for Hokies for the Hungry 2023 — November 17, 2023. (Jillian Sasso)

Throughout all of this, the MVs helped me to navigate everything. Even if nothing else was going right in my life, I had the support of my friends in the MVs and I still had music to perform for 60,000 fans in the fall. I was developing solid relationships, learning how to communicate with people of all different backgrounds, and working with others to create a better experience for current and future MVs. Then, I was selected to be the band’s Service Officer, which was a new opportunity to do more within the MVs. It took some time to adjust to the position, but I think I got the hang of it the second time around. 

My senior year proved to be the best part of my time in the MVs. I had entered my college cocoon as an anxious freshman afraid to talk to anyone, but I emerged from this cocoon as a more confident senior with a reputation within the MVs. As a senior and the band’s Service Officer, I felt it was my duty to help other MVs have the best possible experience. It has been such an honor to serve in this particular officer position. From coordinating band camp activities to setting a record for “Hokies for the Hungry” this past season, being the Service Officer has been the greatest achievement of my college career.

My mom and I when she visited for a game during my sophomore year — September 11, 2021. (Jillian Sasso)

I wanted to also take a moment to shout out my biggest supporter throughout the entirety of my college career and life–my mom! I have made so many friends in the MVs, but my mom is my absolute best friend. You may have seen her at the MVC with a “Hokie Mama” shirt on, mostly embarrassing me, as many moms do. Regardless, she has supported me through everything I have done in my life, especially music. My mom has constantly encouraged my clarinet playing in numerous ensembles, showed up to see me perform at as many football games as possible, and has even helped me count cans for “Hokies for the Hungry.” All of my friends love “Momma Sasso” and I have to say that I do too! Thank you, Mom, for being my biggest fan!

So, why am I telling you about all of this? Well, whether you’re an MV Alumni or a prospective MV for the next season, I hope my story reflects just how special this organization is to all of us. In the MVs, I have found friends, family, and love all through the concept of music. It’s not just about playing James Bond and Led Zeppelin in Yankee Stadium or trying not to cry when the crowd cheers during our Pregame show. It’s about coming to rehearsal and seeing your friends after a hard day of classes. It’s about finding people who make you a better version of yourself, and that is what I have found during my time as an MV.

Me flying during Superman after the 5.5 hour rain delay game — September 9, 2023. (Beau Wong)

My advice to any prospective MV is to try everything you can, even if you’re a ball of anxiety like me. College is a time of exploration, so just go out and do everything that you possibly can. Audition for the MVs, apply to be field leadership or a member of the officer team, and suggest ways to improve the organization as a whole. Be curious, ask questions, and keep practicing. In other words, start your own metamorphosis and join this wonderful organization that can transform you into a beautiful butterfly!

As I sit here typing this, about to graduate in May 2024, I feel mixed emotions. On one hand, I could spend my entire life performing as a clarinet player in the MVs. On the other hand, I have served my four years in the MVs and it is time to move on to the next chapter of life. I will miss performing in Lane Stadium, I will miss the MVC sunsets, I will miss the jokes and memes, but most importantly, I will miss this part of my life. However, I have completed my college musical metamorphosis, and I believe it’s time to start another. It’s time to follow the advice of one of my tattoos and “Keep Moving Forward!”

From an Extreme Rookie to Leadership

Carter Bohart, who guest wrote this blog, is a current MV.

Carter conducting at Hokies 4 The Hungry 2023! (MV Online Content)

I have been going to Virginia Tech football games my entire life; maroon and orange runs through my blood. I would sit by my Papa and Mama through the warm and sunny, rainy and windy, and whatever weather Blacksburg might bring us during the game. While I was always excited for every touchdown Virginia Tech made, I was more excited of the results of the touchdown — hearing the Marching Virginians play “Tech Triumph!”

I grew up begging my parents not to leave during halftime, saying “we can’t miss the band!” I knew that someday, I would be a dedicated marcher in high school, and furthermore, I would be a part of the Spirit of Tech. However, my dreams of participating in marching band were put on pause when I learned that I would have no high school marching band experience. My friends at other schools bragged about the community and all of the fun that they had at practice and making friends, practicing and rehearsing, and going to band competitions. My freshman year of high school, I remember going to the Virginia Tech football game and thinking “I will never be in that band; I will never be as good as them.”

Carter and Pix friends at dinner on the Military Bowl trip. (Rafael Garcia-Rodriguez)

Entering into my freshman year at Virginia Tech, I applied to the band and went to band camp to try out for the Marching Virginians. I cannot lie, it was overwhelming at first. To show up at a band camp with scores of freshmen sharing their high school experiences, talking about how incredible their high school bands were, terrified me. I thought I would not last. However, I did my best, I pushed to learn, and I worked as hard as I could to be the best marcher I could be. The leadership of the band was nothing but welcoming and encouraging. I remember one of my leaders in the piccolo section sharing with me that she had never marched before coming to Virginia Tech and she was impressed by the progress I was showing. I was determined to finish auditions as strong as I could whether I made the band or not. But let me tell you, to play Tech Triumph for my first time with the Marching Virginians was the most emotional experience I have ever had. I could not help but to cry. I had finally made it to the point I had dreamed about since elementary school. Whether or not I made the final cuts for the band, I finally had reached my goal.

Carter during band camp 2023. (MV Online Content)

Since then, I’ve surpassed that goal and have made it to my next goal, which was to become a member of MV leadership. Now, I am a piccolo rank captain.

I hope my story can be a testimony to what new members of the band can do, regardless of experience, and share what the Spirit of Tech is all about. The Marching Virginians is an organization that cares about community and service. I have made friends that I have gone through some amazing and terrible times with, and I know I can lean on them for anything. I have had some of my greatest memories of college in this band, whether it be at rehearsal laughing on the turf field, standing in the freezing and pouring rain, or jumping during “Enter Sandman” on Worsham Field in Lane Stadium. The Marching Virginians is an experience like no other.

If I could give any advice, tips, and tricks to any new member to the band, experienced or new to the world of marching, I would say you never know until you try. The Marching Virginians care about attitude, integrity, grit, and persistence. It is a matter of trying your best, listening to feedback, staying positive, and contributing as a member of the organization and the band. It takes work, but marching and adjusting to a different band arrangement is not hard if you put your time and effort into it. I now look back as a leader in the band to understand the incredible progress I have made, and how thankful I am to have people like Dr. Polly, Chad, and my section leadership who believed in me from the beginning, even as a new marcher.

There is nothing on this campus more incredible to be a part of than the Marching Virginians. It’s family, it’s support, it’s memories, and it truly is the foundation and the Spirit of Tech.

Karen Small: Much Love in the Band

In this post, Karen Small, MV Sax alumna, highlights the connections made from the Marching Virginians, and how they are truly ones that stick with you for the rest of your life.

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Dave McKee once said to the band, “look to your right, now look to your left. You could be married to one of these people some day!” When I first heard that, I laughed because of how ridiculous it sounded at the time. Looking back now, Dave was absolutely correct. The Marching Virginians will help you find your friends for life, but some find their person for life too.

MV picture at Faith and Tyler’s wedding, provided by Faith and Tyler Powers

Many of my MV friends from my time are still dating their MV partners, myself included. As I write this, I have been to 3 weddings where a Marching Virginian has married another Marching Virginian, and there are definitely more to come in the not so distant future. Each of these couples responded very promptly when I asked them to send me beautiful wedding photos (thanks guys!) and were happy to share their stories.

Sam and Jamie (both class of 2018) met during band camp their freshman year and began dating in the spring semester. Sam’s first memory of Jamie was carrying his quad stand during Hokie Village, while Jamie’s first memory of Sam was hearing her talk too loudly from across the room at a drumline hangout. 

Sam and Jamie, provided by Sam and Jamie Slade

The Slades had a beautiful ceremony in March of 2022 in Woodbridge, VA. Many of their fellow percussion players, Sam’s cymbal ladies and Jamie’s quad squad, were not only in attendance, but in the wedding party as well. I first met Sam when she asked if I’d like to rush Tau Beta Sigma when I was a freshman. She made the rush process much less stressful than it could have been, and was the best grand-big to me throughout the semester. I am so grateful for that experience for allowing me to meet Sam, and eternally grateful to Sam and Jamie for letting me live with them during my summer internship that one time.

Karen and Sam in their TBS family, provided by Karen Small

Faith and Tyler (class of 2021 and 2020, respectively) met in the 2017 MV season as trumpets. They first connected while learning drill for the Aranjuez (note from Faith: trumpet rowing team!) show. They enjoyed their time together in the MVs, and still play together in the Durham County Concert Band. Faith says, “in separate majors and years, our paths would've never crossed without the Marching Virginians! We are thankful to the organization for the fun experiences and the connections [we made]”. 

My partner, trumpet Kent McDonough, introduced me to Faith and Tyler, and I was invited to their wedding as his plus one. It was a picturesque October evening in 2021, and I have fond memories of good company and clapping along to Tech Triumph with fellow Hokies at the reception. I became much closer with Faith and Tyler when I learned they resided close by when I lived in NC after graduation. They helped me out many times at my old apartment, and I’m still not sure how, but we even watched all of Morbius together.

Faith and Tyler wedding photos, provided by Faith and Tyler Powers

Hannah and Chris (sax and trumpet, respectively, both class of 2022) are actually high school sweethearts! They met in middle school and went to the 8th grade formal together, and have been together ever since. Hannah says “being in the MVs together was great because I had my best friend there with me from the first day of auditions to the last day of senior year”. 

Their December 2023 wedding in Williamsburg, VA (their hometown, and mine!) was incredibly sweet, filled with their friends new and old, and lots of family. I attended with a group of fellow sax alumna and we had a blast reminiscing on our times together, catching up with where we are now, and appreciating how Hannah’s dad is an amazing dancer. Hannah and Chris went to my rival high school and we certainly had mutual friends back then, but I really got to know Hannah during her first year in the MVs. She was the only girl rookie sax that year, but that didn’t stop her from becoming the heart of the section. Hannah’s positivity and laughter are contagious, and her contributions to the game day braid train will be remembered famously.

Hannah and Christopher, provided by Hannah and Christopher Paolucci

Looking back again to Dave McKee’s words, and thinking about how many people I didn’t know then that I have formed connections with now, it’s uncanny how right he was. The Marching Virginians led me to meet people who I will be friends with forever, and some of those friends have met their forever person through the band. How many people thought on their first game day that one day they’d walk down the aisle with someone from the band? 

Thank you to the Slades, Powerses, and Paoluccis for generously letting me share a piece of your stories, and thank you to the MVs who helped me find my people, married or otherwise. There is much love in the band!

Karen Small - Alumni Blogger

Ashley White: How Creating “Marching with the Virginians” Shaped my Career

In this post, Ashley White, color guard alumna, remembers and honors where her passion for showcasing her creativity came from, Marching with the Virginians!

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Did you know that over half of college graduates have a job that is NOT directly related to their field of undergraduate study? I haven’t been able to find any peer-reviewed research on what percentage of those graduates discovered their eventual career path because of marching band, but I can confidently tell you that it’s greater than zero! As an incoming freshman at Virginia Tech back in 2016, I was convinced that my chosen major, Marketing Management, would follow me through my entire life; I loved my marketing classes! In other words, when I created the Marching with the Virginians blog in the fall of 2018, I wasn’t expecting it to change my life.

Ashley capturing photos for the band during the March to Victory, 2019. Photo credit: Ashley White

In many ways, I was putting my marketing brain to work when I came up with the idea for a Marching Virginians blog: I saw it as an opportunity to attract prospective students! While the band does have a loud and impressive presence in the Hokie community as The Spirit of Tech, there is so much that happens behind the scenes to make that spirit come to life - and to me, that is what makes the band so special. I saw a need for a channel to broadcast the moving stories of teamwork and friendship that I was seeing on a weekly basis, especially for high schoolers that were considering Virginia Tech or accepted freshmen that were considering auditioning for the MVs. The more I thought about it, I realized that these stories would likely also appeal to alumni, parents, Hokie sports fans, and more. I reached out to Dr. Polly Middleton, Director of Athletic Bands, and presented her with my idea: a blog written by Marching Virginains to showcase the MV Experience. To my great delight, Polly was completely supportive of the idea, and empowered me to design and manage the blog. 

Ashley posing with Jim Sochinski, former Director of the Marching Virginians, after interviewing him for a project. Photo credit: Ashley White

Once I had the green light, things moved quickly. I worked with Linda Corell, who was the MVAA Online Content Officer at the time (and is now the President!), to create the Marching with the Virginians and Meet the Bloggers webpages. Meanwhile, I shared a blogger application with my fellow MVs. I reviewed the writing samples and selected an initial team of excellent writers who represented a variety of different sections, academic years, and majors. I also created a schedule and process for the writing team: writers would submit their topics to me for approval, draft the piece by a given deadline, and then send it to me for editing. After editing, I would design and publish the blogs on our new site keeping up a weekly cadence. As a nineteen-year-old, I was truly honored and humbled by the entire experience. It was so encouraging to have been given the trust and support that I needed to turn my idea into reality. All that was left was to announce the blog to the public and begin publishing stories! 

In October of 2018, I invited the MV community to “March Along With Us!” as we debuted Marching with the Virginians, and I had the honor of publishing the blog’s first post, A Team That Spins Together…, later that week (my name was Ashley Deans at the time!). I continued writing for, editing, and managing the blog until I graduated in the spring of 2020. Unsurprisingly, the blog meant a lot to me! What was surprising was how much I enjoyed writing and editing. I found myself genuinely looking forward to editing the latest blog post each week, and I was turning in my own pieces ridiculously early. I followed that gut feeling, and I began pursuing any communications-related opportunities I could find at Tech and through internships. My senior year, I became the Marching Virginians’ student Public Relations Officer, which gave me even more opportunities to explore this newfound passion for communications. The MVs are a huge organization with far-reaching influence, so the experience was truly invaluable. Some of my most treasured experiences were doing PR for projects like Hokies for the Hungry and Giving Week, that created measurable impact for the band and community. Even though I was learning so many new things and taking risks, it always felt comforting to know that the members of this organization had my back.

Katie Greh (left) and Ashley (right) collecting cans in the rain for Hokies for the Hungry. Photo credit: Ashley White

As I approached graduation, I knew I had a choice to make. Did I stick to applying for jobs that exclusively used my marketing degree, or did I take a chance and apply for jobs in communications? I’m sure you can guess that I took that chance… and it paid off! I got a job after graduation at a Duke University research lab as a Communications Specialist. Now, I am working in customer communications for Bandwidth, Inc., a global telecommunications company. I am lucky enough to say that I truly love my job, and it’s surreal to know that if it weren’t for Marching with the Virginians, I probably wouldn’t be here. Even several years and a graduate degree later, I’m using skills that I learned during my time as a Marching Virginian.

Alison Ritz (left) and Ashley (right) captured by Hokie Vision during their final halftime performance in Lane Stadium. Photo credit: Ashley White

Ashley White - Alumni Blogger and Online Content Officer of the MVAA Board of Directors