Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni named Sun Bowl Hokie Heroes
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Maj. Ted Downs, U.S. Army who earned a degree in history 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 1999 and Capt. Michael Robertson, U.S. Air Force who earned a degree in physics from the College of Science as well as a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2008 have been selected as the Hokie Heroes for the Sun Bowl.
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.
Downs is a U.S. Army Military Police officer currently stationed at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, as the Provost Marshal for the 101st Airborne Division and Regional Command East. He is from Stafford, Va., and this is his third combat deployment.
Downs is a Class of 1999 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets where he served as the Executive Officer of Hotel Company his senior year and was an active member of Ranger Company. He returned to Virginia Tech as an Army ROTC instructor from 2007 to 2010.
He says he sends his love to his wife, Sara, and their three children Madison, Jackson, and Abigail. He would also like to thank all of the Virginia Tech alumni currently serving in combat zones all over the world.
Robertson is an U.S. Air Force pilot currently flying missions in Africa and is on his fourth deployment. He is a Class of 2008 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets where he served as a member of Delta Company cadre and then as the Executive Officer of Alpha Company his senior year.
Robertson was also active in club gymnastics while at Virginia Tech. He says hello to his family and fellow classmates serving around the world and adds: "Go Hokies and Happy Holidays!"
