Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus named North Carolina game Hokie Hero
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Amir Abu-Akeel, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in aerospace engineering from the College of Engineering, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2006 has been selected as the Hokie Hero for the Virginia Tech versus University of North Carolina game.
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Hokie Hero program started in 2006 by IMG College and sponsored by the University Bookstore, honors Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni who are currently deployed. Recipients of this honor are highlighted by Bill Roth and Mike Burnop during the radio broadcast of Virginia Tech football games, on the Corps of Cadets website, on the Corps of Cadets alumni website, and in the Corps Review magazine.
Abu-Akeel is commander of the 788th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company currently located in several Middle Eastern countries. He is from Centreville, Va., and this is his second combat deployment. Abu-Akeel is a Class of 2006 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, where he was the Kilo Battery Commander his senior year.
While on his first combat deployment in Iraq, Abu-Akeel was a panel member in the first remote Gunfighter Panel held by the Corps of Cadets during the spring of 2010. He says he wants to give a shout out to the Corps of Cadets and the faculty and staff of the aerospace and ocean engineering department.
Below are the previous Hokie Heroes from the 2011-12 season.
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 2nd Lt. Mark Walczyk, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in political science and a minor in English from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2010,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumna 2nd Lt. Tavia (Cawley) Carlson, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in civil engineering from the College of Engineering and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2009,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Lt.Col. Tom Whitlock, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in geography from the College of Natural Resources and Environment and a degree in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 1995,
- Capt. Dan Forney, U.S. Navy, Professor of Naval Science and Commander of the Naval ROTC unit at Virginia Tech,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Maj. Ed Skelly, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in industrial and systems engineering from the College of Engineering and a minor in economics from the College of Science in 1995,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. Nate Kane, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in marketing management from the Pamplin College of Business and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Maj. Josh Snyder, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 1998,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumna 2nd Lt. Ashleigh Toguchi, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in political science from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2010,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Patrick Lowther, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in political science and a minor in philosophy from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences as well as a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2005 and
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Danny Kane, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, a minor in mathematics from the College of Science, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2002
