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

Mackenzie Knox: Keeping the Music Alive

Graduation does not have to be the end of your career as a musician. Many alumni have found ways to stay involved with music after their time with the MVs has come to an end.

Some find a new band within the community they settle into after they graduate, like Jenna O’Brien. Jenna (Clarinet, ‘18) moved to Philadelphia during the pandemic and was seeking a way to build community and a creative outlet outside of work. After a quick Google search, she found the Philadelphia Freedom Band, an organization that comes together to perform throughout the greater Philadelphia area and provide visible, active support to the LGBTQ+ community, and decided to join as a clarinet player. Her choice to join was solidified at her first rehearsal when she ran into fellow MV Alumna Sophie Tenaglia-Neil (Mellophone ‘15, maiden name: Sophie Tenaglia).

To Jenna, “band has been the space where I feel the most accepted and comfortable being myself.” This band is no different as she has found another band family here. The community she has cultivated here is so deep that she has even played marching band tunes at a fellow bandmate’s surprise birthday party. If you are seeking a community like Jenna did, she highly recommends researching community bands in your area. If you live around Philadelphia and want to join the Philadelphia Freedom Band, you can join the email list and get more information here. If you are outside the Philly area, they have sibling bands in many major cities that you can seek out!

Philadelphia Freedom Band’s holiday performance in Manayunk with MV Alumna Jenna O’Brien (Clarinet, ’18, 3rd from the left wearing the green knitted hat) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (Tone, ’05, 4th from the right wearing the rust-colored hat)

Other alumni create their next music opportunity by forming their own bands, including MV Alumna Duncan Elston. Duncan (Tone, ’19) is a bone and keys player in an 8-piece Funk Rock band based out of Richmond called The Monumentals. The band features 4 other MV Alumni: Joe McDermott (Snare, ‘17) on Drums, Cammy Cohen (Trumpet, ‘18) on vocals and trumpet, Matt Jones (Alto, ‘18) on sax, Anne Kelly Newman (Pic, ‘19) on vocals and flute.

The band started in some form when Cammy, Joe and Anne Kelly were still students at Tech in 2016. Once they had settled into Richmond post-graduation, the band continued to evolve into the funk rock group it is today, picking up additional members, Duncan and Matt, along the way.

Each member comes into this group with their own reasons to keeping the music alive in their lives. As a music educator, it is important to Duncan to connect with making music and playing since that is where his love of music originated. Bringing that love and appreciation of music to his students is cultivated that much more by participating in many musical opportunities outside the classroom. He also participates in several community bands in the area, the Richmond Pops Band and Commonwealth Winds. For members who are not music educators, like Cammy, it felt like a sharp transition to no longer have music in their lives after graduation. To help bring that back in her life as she navigated the beginning of her career, Cammy enjoyed having things like jam sessions and rehearsals on the calendar to keep music in her life, especially as the band was continuing to evolve.

Cammy advises that “it takes a while after graduation to figure out what fits well you’re your new lifestyle and satisfies your need for music” so take some time to figure out what you like/need to stay in touch with your musical side. She continues that “something like starting your own group will take time, especially in a big transition like college to career” so be patient with yourself and others as you figure out what works in this new life stage you are in.

You can catch The Monumentals playing around local breweries in Richmond, VA as well as some of the music venues in the area. Most recently, the group had their first solo show at The Canal Club in downtown Richmond which was an incredible experience to play such an iconic local venue. You can follow the band on Instagram @themonumentalsrva.

Duncan Elston ‘19, Matt Jones ‘18, Joe McDermott ‘17, Anne Kelly Newman ‘19, Cammy Cohen ‘18. The Monumentals performing at The Canal Club

So, whether it is a local community band, a group you form on your own or simply hosting jam sessions with friends, there are plenty of ways to stay involved with music once you enter the “real world” after graduation.

Mackenzie Knox - Alumni Blogger

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