Student leaders selected for Virginia Tech's fifth annual Hokie Camp
Virginia Tech’s Hokie Camp, an extended orientation experience where incoming first-year and transfer students can learn about the university’s history and traditions while making new friends, has selected its student directors and executive board members for 2012.
The student leaders will be responsible for selecting and training the approximately 120 student counselors who will help direct the event, planning and scheduling content, and providing leadership throughout the camp experience.
The fifth annual camp will take place over four three-day, two-night sessions in August at the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H conference center.
While the student leaders are supported by staff members from New Student Programs in the Dean of Students Office as well as various Hokie Camp committee members from across the university, the students are largely responsible for developing programming for the camp.
Rick Sparks, associate dean of students and orientation director, said that all Hokie Camp student leaders have some form of experience with the camp, either as campers, counselors, or leaders. However, he said that when selecting the student directors and executive board members, the university is looking for more than just previous participation.
“We look for students who can represent Virginia Tech well, but who can also lead a group of their peers while recognizing that the focus is not on them. They have to be good communicators, and they have to be able to help organize and plan camp,” he said. “These are both behind-the-scenes positions.”
There are 10 members of this year’s student executive board. They are in charge of selecting and training camp counselors, and each will serve in a capacity similar to head counselor for individual groups of campers.
The student executive board members are as follows:
- Meghan Blanks of Lynchburg, Va., a junior majoring in history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences;
- Maddie Crowl of Finksburg, Md., a sophomore majoring in human nutrition, food, and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences;
- Abby Eastman of Fairfax Station, Va., a junior majoring in communications in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences;
- Kelley English of Potomac, Md., a junior majoring in marketing management in the Pamplin College of Business;
- Mitchell Hayter of Goodview, Va., a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering in the College of Engineering;
- Katie Johnson of Hampton, Va., a junior majoring in interior design in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies;
- Nicholas Onopa of Wausau, Wi., a junior majoring in public and urban affairs in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies ;
- Jason Riegel of Midlothian, Va., a junior majoring in finance and accounting in the Pamplin College of Business;
- Kasey Roach of Danville, Va., a junior majoring in Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; and
- Bryan Wynkoop of Leesburg, Va., a junior majoring in marketing in the Pamplin College of Business.
This year’s two student directors are Kyle Amonson of Philomont, Va., a senior majoring in marketing in the Pamplin College of Business and member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and Army ROTC, and Rachel Parent of Moseley, Va., a junior majoring in human development in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. The student directors are in charge of handling “virtually everything,” said Sparks, including supervising the executive board members.
Incoming students who are interested in attending Hokie Camp can sign up as soon as they accept an offer of admission from Virginia Tech. Sparks said he expects to see roughly 1,000 students participate in the camp, which will be held Aug. 10-12, Aug. 13-15, Aug. 16-19, and Aug. 20-22. The cost per student is $195 and will cover transportation from the Virginia Tech campus to Hokie Camp and back, lodging for two nights, six meals, and various camp gear and activities.
Visit the Hokie Camp website for more information or to sign up for camp.
Written by Jennifer Gibson.
