graduation

Farewell in Duet for Piccolo

This piece was co-written by Carter Bohart and Emelia Delaporte. She’s very glad he came up with this idea.

With the end of the 2024 marching season came the last time that we would march on the same field, play in the same band and partake in some of our favorite traditions together. Alumni weekends may come, but they won’t be the same. Our three years of marching together have held so many memories in an abundance of locations – behind the gates of the MVC, up in the stands at Lane Stadium, around town in Blacksburg and beyond.

Carter, Erin, Emy, Brad (left to right) at Band Banquet 2024

We met during the 2022 Edition of the Marching Virginians. Carter was a first-year student and Emy was a second-year student. We became an inseparable group including two other second-year piccolos, Brad Vezzetti and Erin Stevenson, adopting Carter as “our rookie.” The group chat is aptly named “impulsive pix.”

We started with simple adventures that quickly morphed into less common outings – showing Carter around campus and sitting in Emy’s car in the Regal parking lot after a late-night movie turned into boat ramp star-gazing on the New River, running back and forth across the state line in Glen Lyn, multiple trips to the two-state city of Bluefield and more. We trimmed Emy’s hair in Erin’s bathroom once, though not very well. We tried to drink a whole gallon of sweet tea at McDonald’s.

We huddled together and kept warm during those brutal “first winters” up on Chicken Hill during those cold October rehearsals, and drove each other insane with our 1:00 AM text messages. When the need to work prevailed over the desire to engage in the free-time capers that we had deemed “jailbreakin,” we studied in Squires for hours after closing on Tuesday nights. 

Erin, a piccolo rank captain, graduated last year and has been able to visit a couple of times. The more recent visit found us catching up over Cookout and visiting yet another boat ramp to drop big rocks off a bridge and wade in the water, with an attentive eye on the moon. Brad is here with us, and will leave Virginia Tech alongside Emy in May. Carter stays on, working towards completing his master’s degree. 

Photo by Anna Payne, taken in Lane Stadium.

From Carter

I want to thank the Marching Virginians for the opportunities I was given during my undergraduate studies, the friendships that were made, the family that were formed, and therefore the greatest support network I could have asked for during my time in college. It is so interesting to look back at the dynamics of what a freshman in a new state and new town is like, and I am so glad I met my adventurous wilderness explorer friend, my biology friend who just wants to be an EMT like me so bad, and my quiet friend who, after watching in concert, I still am not sold on the fact he plays the bassoon.

While I will be in Blacksburg and the Marching Virginians for another season, I have no idea what I will do without my best friends by my side. Probably drag them all back for Alumni Day regardless of if they are available or not, or possibly FaceTiming them through rehearsal so they are forced to continue rehearsing. Only time will tell. Yet, I cannot be anything but thankful for this amazing group of people and how the Marching Virginians brought us together. While this group splits to be officially scattered across the east coast, I know where all our hearts lay; in an impulsive group chat and a turf field atop Chicken Hill.

Photo by Daniel Long, taken near Capon Bridge, WV.

From Emy

impulsive pix has been my center of gravity in Blacksburg. The fall of 2022, when we first met Carter, followed a summer of a lot of self-discovery that left me floundering a bit about who I was, what I wanted and how to get it once I got back to campus. Magnetization to Erin had occurred the previous winter at the Pinstripe Bowl, and to Brad slowly over that summer about DCI and abandoned buildings, through lots of Wikipedia links. Carter was the missing piece of the puzzle and it all clicked from there. I’ll admit that when we first met him, I was excited to have an underclassman that I considered in my care, and promptly labeled his contact “Houseplant.” Realistically, he’s taken just as much, if not more, care of me. 

Carter has been my parallel in ambition, passion and demand for things to be done right. Knowing him has made me more assured in my standards of labor and my belief in good things to come. We temper each other in the best way. I hope he’s ready for a lot of voicemails, and I hope that the group chat is ready for many more late night messages lacking in necessary context, for the sake of the bit. The Marching Virginians gave me these people and I’m sincerely grateful for it. I’m likewise grateful for the chance to see what our friendships look like without it. It has been a pleasure to serve as your MCO these past two years, and to play piccolo for you.

Thank you, Marching Virginians, for all you have given us across the years! DEUCES!


All our love,

Emy, 2023-2025 Marketing & Communications Officer

Carter, 2024-2025 Piccolo Section Leader and Marching with the Virginians Blogger

Emy and Carter on the West Virginia border in (the now former) town of Glen Lyn in fall 2023.

Goodbye to the Graduates: Outgoing Field Leadership, 2023-2024

As with the officer team, the field leadership for the 2024 edition of the Marching Virginians is in the process of being selected. While we wait in excitement to hear, let’s take a look at the graduating field leadership.

Sean christian — pix section leader

Sean is graduating in May with a chemical engineering degree and hopes to use his knowledge to benefit sustainability efforts. 

ERIN STEVENSON — Pix rank captain

Graduating a year early, Erin will cross the stage this May with a degree in biomedical biology. Next up is a gap year, then medical school.

rachel virostek — pix rank captain

After graduating, Rachel wants to pursue a career in medicine with the aim of becoming a PA. She will earn her biomedical biology degree this May.

EMILY TUCKER — net section leader

Emily is graduating this May with a B.S. in childhood pre-education.

DILLON KEY — NET RANK CAPTAIN

Dillon will receive his degree in finance with a concentration in certified financial planning. He recently accepted a client service associate position in Atlanta and will begin this summer.

LISA SMALL — NET RANK CAPTAIN

Lisa will gain her degree in biological systems engineering this spring and hopes to focus in watershed and resource management.

kayla roberts — sax rank captain

Kayla will graduate this May with her degree in English.

Thomas McWithey – Trumpet s. leader

Thomas will gain his mechanical engineering degree this spring as the walks the stage in Lane.

NICK MARTIN — TRUMPET R. CAPTAIN

Nick will move on from the MVs this year with his degree in electrical engineering, with a focus in radio frequency and microwave technology communications.

JOSH PRYOR — TRUMPET R. CAPTAIN

Josh will receive his degree in computer science and a minor in mathematics.

LENA SCAER — TRUMPET R. CAPTAIN

 Lena will graduate this May with a degree in aerospace engineering.

JADEN YON — TRUMPET R. CAPTAIN

Jaden will graduate from Tech this spring with two degrees: computer science and chemistry. Jaden hopes to pursue a career in computational quantum chemistry.

JACKSON MOYER — HORN RANK CAPTAIN

Jackson will receive his B.E. in industrial systems engineering in May. After he graduates, Jackson will begin his role as a process engineer for BWX Technologies.

COLE SAWYER — HORN S. LEADER

Cole will receive his degree in construction engineering and management at graduation.

rafael garcia-rodriguez — trombone s. LEADER

Rafael, resident pilot of the Marching Virginians, will receive his degree in aerospace engineering in May.

sam knowles — bone rank captain

Sam will receive his degree in market management this June.

silas nickerson — bone rank captain

Silas will say goodbye to the MVs, and VT, when he receives his aerospace engineering degree this spring.

anthony “bubbles” white — tuba s.L.

Bubbles will receive his degree in automotive engineering this May. Bubbles will follow his car-themed passion and is moving to Roanoke to begin a new position after he graduates.

kat zinn — flag rank captain

Kat graduated in December with her B.A. in English language and literature. Kat is currently working at Tech as a project archivist.

Zarah king — flag section leader

Zarah will graduate in May from Pamplin with an undergraduate degree in hospitality and management.

To all our graduating (and graduated) leadership, thank you for making our last season possible. We can’t wait to see what comes next for you, and hope to see you at a football game soon.

Goodbye to the Graduates: Outgoing Officers, 2023-2024

Within the next month and a half the officer team for the 2024 season of the Marching Virginians will be assembled. While the band collectively waits to see who their new officers are, some time is needed to say goodbye to the graduating members.

Lauren Chuderwicz — Executive Officer

From the trumpet section, a presence felt at every MV practice, game, and event, who has been one of the most dedicated MVs: Lauren Chuderwicz. Lauren has been the executive officer for the previous three years and graduates in May with an M.S. in computer engineering.

Calvin moore — drum major

This recent season was Calvin’s second run as drum major. Before this, he was a member of the sax section. Calvin graduates in May with an M.S. in aerospace engineering.

Jillian sasso — service officer

From the clarinet section, Jillian has organized many amazing service projects like the MV Blood Drive and a volunteer concert at Warm Hearth Village in her time as service officer. Jillian graduates in May with B.A.s in history and political science.

Sydney deitrich — operations officer

From the piccolo section, Sydney is graduating in May with a B.A. in sustainable biomaterials. With Sydney’s graduation, we unfortunately also have to say goodbye to everyone’s favorite dog: Pippin!

MAX KATES-TATE — OPERATIONS OFFICER

From the trombone section, Max is graduating in May with a B.S. in ocean engineering.

MAGGIE KIRK — INSTRUMENT SUPPLY OFFICER

From the horn section, Maggie graduates in May with a B.F.A. in creative technologies with a focus in animation.

BREANNA GOODE — Online content officer

From the piccolo section, Bre is responsible for many of the great videos on the MV Instagram. Bre is graduating in May with a B.S. in biomedical biology and is preparing for medical school applications.

While the band may not see everything they do, we know that the officer team is the reason that the MVs function so well. To all our graduating (and graduated) leadership, thank you for making our last season possible. Those of us left behind cannot wait to see what amazing feats you all do, and we all hope to see you at a football game this fall!