Virginia Tech welcomes students to campus with annual Hokie Hi event series
Hokie Hi is a tradition at Virginia Tech that incorporates activities designed to help build the campus community.
Hokie Hi events include picnic in Lane Stadium, a movie on the Drillfield, and Gobblerfest. All students are invited to participate in a variety of engaging welcome-back events and activities from Wednesday, Aug. 18 to Friday, Sept. 3 as an introduction to the university.
Hokie Helpers is the kick-off event to Hokie Hi. Hokie Helpers represent the Virginia Tech community of students, faculty, and staff who volunteer their time to help on move-in days when more than 9,000 students will move in to the campus residence halls.
Hokie Helpers offer residence hall students and their families a warm Hokie welcome, unload vehicles, and help carry students’ belongings to their assigned rooms from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18 through Saturday, Aug. 21. Volunteer information can be found at the Hokie Helpers website.
Another featured Hokie Hi event is the Barn Bash, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, which will be held 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21 in the McComas Hall gym. Students are invited to enjoy free food, entertainment, games, and prizes. The students will be introduced to the Division of Student Affairs programs and services and the different ways to get involved on campus.
The annual Hokie Hi Welcome Picnic is a high-energy welcome event that takes place at Lane Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 22. Students are invited to come from 4 until 6 p.m. to meet fellow Hokies, enjoy food catered by Personal Touch Catering, watch video highlights on the scoreboard, and catch an appearance from some of the athletic teams. Guests may enter Lane Stadium through the same tunnel the football team uses to take the field on game days and touch the official Hokie Stone at the end for good luck. Performer Motor Mouth Mike (Michael Turner), and the voice of the Hokies, Bill Roth will emcee the event.
Students living on campus will be admitted by showing their room keys. Off-campus students with dining plans can check in at the South End Zone entrance with a Hokie Passport for admittance. Students without dining plans, family members, and the general public may purchase tickets at the gate for $9.75.
Virginia Tech’s University Unions and Student Activities will host an event called Gobblerfest to welcome new and returning students to the community. Gobblerfest will be held Friday, Aug. 27 inside and outside of Squires Student Center, outside the Graduate Life Center, and at the Newman Library Plaza. There will be games, food, and prizes, as well as a student job fair, business showcase, VT-ENGAGE volunteer fair, student organization showcase, live musical entertainment, and late-night activities in Squires Student Center.
Additional Hokie Hi activities are scheduled during the week of move-in and the first week of the semester. New students will receive a Hokie Hi Welcome Guide when they arrive to campus, and a current schedule of events is available on the Hokie Hi website.
For the Hokie Hi Welcome Picnic in Lane Stadium, parking in the Track/Field House Lot, Stadium Lot, Southgate Lot, and Chicken Hill Lot are recommended. Permits are not required on weekends.
For Gobblerfest at Squires Student Center, parking is recommended in the Coliseum Lot and the Perry St./Prices Fork Commuter lots. The Architecture Annex Lot and Alumni Mall will be available to students after 5 p.m. The Squires Lot will be closed during this event.
Find more parking information online or call (540) 231-3200.
Written by Stephanie Paradiso, of Rockville, Md. Paradiso is a senior majoring in communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
