Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus named East Carolina game Hokie Hero
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. Matthew Smith, 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 2011 has been selected as the Hokie Hero for the East Carolina University 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 and in the Corps Review magazine.
Smith deployed to Forward Operating Base Kandahar, Afghanistan, as a Pathfinder Platoon Leader for Task Force Lighthorse, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
He is from Lexington Park, Md., and his home station is in Savannah, Ga. This is his first combat deployment. Smith is a Class of 2011 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and he served as the commander of Ranger Company, as a platoon leader in Charlie Corps, as well as the cadet sergeant major for Army ROTC during his time in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.
Smith says he would like to say "Rho Phi" to all his fellow Ranger Company members in the Corps of Cadets. He says hello to his wife Kristen, who earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2011 from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and is currently a first grade teacher in Savannah. He also says thanks all Hokie’s who serve around the world to keep our nation great.
