Student Affairs at Virginia Tech hosted the final Aspire! Awards ceremony of the academic year on April 24, recognizing individuals who embody Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) as a core value. The event celebrated students, alumni, and faculty who have shown leadership in campus culture and service to others.
The Aspire! Awards highlight the importance of service, curiosity, civility, leadership, self-understanding, integrity, and community building among Hokies. These values align with Virginia Tech’s commitment to nurturing future leaders and improving quality of life through innovations in agriculture, food, health, and education according to the official website.
At the ceremony, Hunter Tufarelli received the McClelland Aspirations Scholarship for work on autism screening tools that help neurodivergent youth understand their experiences. Robbie Werth was honored with the Alumni Aspire! Award for lifelong advocacy for people with disabilities. Alan Dogan was recognized for his commitment to curiosity in medicine; a nominator said Dogan “constantly asks ‘why’ and refuses to accept gaps in knowledge or practice as fixed.”
Other honorees included Alexandria Lilly for practicing civility across her roles as student and tutor; Emma Roshioru for courageous leadership as president of the Undergraduate Student Senate; Jillean Harris for pursuing self-understanding and integrity; Emmanuel Edusei for embracing Ut Prosim through community-building efforts; and Victoria Lael as a faculty member who fosters strong connections within her department. Harris said: “Self-understanding and integrity are not character traits — they are processes you keep choosing.” Lilly said: “My experience in serving internationally has allowed me to find purpose in building friendship and a sense of community for others.”
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences plays an important role at Virginia Tech by serving as its land-grant college according to the official website. The college includes over 350 scientists, maintains 107 local extension offices along with multiple research centers such as Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research Center according to the official website, supports global initiatives according to the official website, and works toward practical solutions that address issues in agriculture and life sciences according to the official website.
Nominations are open for next year’s Aspire! Awards. Student Affairs encourages members of the university community to recognize those who demonstrate these aspirations.
