First-year cadets selected to receive the flags at Maryland game
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Virginia Tech football team continue their proud partnership to highlight the colors during the pre-game ceremony at every football game.
Three football players are selected, because of their performance in the last game or during practice, to carry the American flag, the state flag, and the team’s spirit flag as they lead the team onto the field. They carry the flags the length of the field and deliver them to cadets at the south end of the field.
The cadets performing this honor are also selected based on their performance during their training. The cadets render honor to the flags and then securely carry them off the field. At home games three freshman cadets are selected and one or two upper-class cadets travel with the team and receive the flags at away games.
Three outstanding freshman cadets have been selected by the cadet chain of command to perform this honor for the final home game versus Maryland.
The cadets selected for this honor are Cadet Tau Be Ly of Dumfries, Va., a freshman majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering who is a member of the Army ROTC program; Cadet Austin Leake of Blacksburg, Va., a freshman majoring in physics in the College of Science who is a member of the Air Force ROTC program and is a recipient of an Emerging Leader Scholarship; and Cadet Michael Thayer of Owings, Md., a freshman majoring in biochemistry in the College of Science who is a member of the Army ROTC program and is also a recipient of an Emerging Leader Scholarship.
Ly was highlighted for his consistent professional demeanor and for his leadership amongst his peers. He has utilized his prior service as an enlisted member to help his fellow buds during this very intense first semester in the corps. Leake was nominated for his strong overall performance in both the corps and Air Force ROTC. His positive attitude and high motivation were lauded. Thayer was selected for this honor because he stood out for spending his free time to help his fellow cadets and for never hesitating to seek guidance on how to improve.
Future cadets will continue to be selected for this honor based on their performance in the cadet regiment. The program is part of the proud partnership the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets has with the Virginia Tech Athletic Department and the Virginia Tech football team.
