Virginia Tech welcomes students to campus with Hokie Hi event series
Virginia Tech welcomes new and returning students each year with the Hokie Hi Welcome Week, a series of events to engage the community and foster campus spirit across all academic years and disciplines.
This year’s events take place Wednesday, Aug. 17, through the first few weeks of the semester and serve as an introduction to the university for all new students.
Some of the major events include
• Hokie Helpers. These are volunteers who give their time to help the thousands of students moving in to campus residence halls on move-in days, from Aug. 17 to Aug. 20, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. They provide assistance with everything from unloading vehicles to logistics to hydration. Volunteer information is on the Hokie Helpers website.
• Beach Bash, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and the Residence Hall Federation, on Aug. 20, 7-10 p.m. in the McComas Hall gym. This event features free food, entertainment, games, and prizes, and will introduce students to Division of Student Affairs programs and services and the different ways to get involved on campus.
• The annual Welcome Picnic at Lane Stadium on Aug. 21, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Students can meet fellow Hokies, enjoy food catered by Personal Touch Catering, and see Virginia Tech athletic teams. Guests may enter the stadium through the same tunnel used by the football team on game days, and touch the official Hokie Stone for good luck. Students living on campus can get in with their room keys. Off-campus students with dining plans can check in at the South End Zone entrance with a Hokie Passport. Students without dining plans, family members, and the general public may buy tickets at the gate for $9.50.
• The annual Gobblerfest, a festival welcoming new and returning students, on Aug. 26, 4 p.m.-1:30 a.m., hosted by Virginia Tech’s Student Centers and Activities and Division of Student Affairs. The outdoor festival will span from the Newman Library Plaza, to in front of Squires Student Center, and further down College Avenue into downtown. There will be games, food, and prizes, as well as a business showcase, VT-ENGAGE volunteer fair, student organization showcase, live musical entertainment, and late-night activities in Squires Student Center.
For a current schedule of all Hokie Hi events, visit the Hokie Hi website.
For the picnic in Lane Stadium, recommended parking lots are the Track/Field House, the Stadium, Southgate, and Chicken Hill. Permits are not required on weekends.
For Gobblerfest, parking is recommended in the Coliseum and 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 Jennifer Gibson.
