Traditions at Virginia Tech

By Leigh Ann, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences
Major: English

Video (below): Joe, Hokie Ambassador, talks about Hokie Spirit.

Joe is a Hospitality & Tourism Management major in Pamplin College of Business.

With everything from jumping when Enter Sandman plays before kick-off at each football game to hearing the bells tolling from Burruss Hall every afternoon, Virginia Tech is steeped in tradition. Hokies are very proud of our long, prestigious history and we take pride is preserving the history for those who walked across our campus decades before and for those who are Hokies-to-be. There are seemingly endless traditions, some that happen every day and some that happen only once a year, but they are all an equally important part of the culture at Virginia Tech.

Take just one step on campus and the beautiful setting of landscaping and architecture gives an aura of history and tradition in the sense that all the buildings are made of Hokie Stone. The cohesion in design and the use of the unique stone make our campus truly unique and gorgeous. Although there several older buildings hidden throughout campus that are not made out of Hokie Stone, today the limestone bricks dominate the design and are used in all recent and future construction.

Students today can expect many traditions revolving around our football games. We have been recognized for our football entrance by many sportswriters. As the Virginia Tech football team prepares to run out from the tunnel before each game, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” blasts over the speakers and all 66,000 fans start jumping. Hokies standing in the bleachers of the North End Zone Stands need to hold on tight; they really shake. When the Hokies score there is a string of traditions that follow, and fans need to know the routine. First, the skipper of the Corps of Cadets sets off the canon. Then Hokie fans throughout the stands are lifted above the fans around them, one rep for each point the Hokies have scored. Small-framed Hokie fans need to be prepared to get tossed into the air if they find themselves between some large, male fans! Lastly, between the third and fourth quarter of every game, the Hokie cheerleaders and High-Techs lead the stadium in the Hokie Pokey.

Football is certainly not the only aspect of our campus that is rooted in tradition. Class rings are an important part of preparing for graduation from Virginia Tech. In the spring of each year, the junior class participates in a weekend-long celebration when they receive their class rings. Each year a ring is carefully and beautifully designed. The students of the current junior class attend a formal dance and are presented their class rings at the end of March each year. The event is a symbol of both the students’ progress and success so far and a celebration of their forthcoming senior year.

Traditions will continue to be added in the future as the community continues to grow, but there are certainly already traditions that are very important to Hokies. There is so much to be proud about this university and participating in such traditions pays tribute the history of the school.

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Joe, Hokie Ambassador, talks about the Hokie Spirit.

Joe is a Hospitality & Tourism Management major in Pamplin College of Business.

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Admissions at Virginia Tech

Invent Your Future at Virginia Tech

This Is The Future

Come and see for yourself

By Jonathan Schramm

Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions

I’m lucky enough to have an office that overlooks the Drillfield, arguably Virginia Tech's most recognizable landmark. Not only is it at the geographic center of campus, it's the center of activity too (the Drillfield, not my office; although, it too can get pretty busy). There's so much activity in fact that it can sometimes overload the senses.

I can see the sun dipping behind clouds, and hear birds and crickets chirping, and smell the fresh-cut grass. I watch students with their books walking to their classes, while others run. Our marching band, The Marching Virginians, practices its signature songs, horns and drums alerting my ears to their presence. The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets shouts over the noise in unison. People throw Frisbees and kick balls. All the while a bicycle, or the occasional car, encircles the scene.

College campuses are places of learning of course, but many of them are also quite beautiful. I would rank Virginia Tech high atop that list, with its buildings of gray-stone (PDF 1006KB) and stately trees, its duck pond and horticulture gardens. I can see why so many students choose to apply to VT after they've visited our campus. It makes sense really. You can look at all the high-gloss pictures you want to, and read all about academics and student life, but until you're actually here to take it all in, you never really know...

So come visit us! We’ve got three tours a day, and two information sessions. Some departments run their own special sessions, so check that list out too. See you when you get here!