Student Affairs honors recipients at March Aspire! Award Celebration

Five students and one faculty member were honored at the recent Aspire! Award celebration, held on Friday, March 22 at The Inn at Virginia Tech. Student Affairs developed the initiative to acknowledge the continuous, intentional service of Hokies within their communities. 

Established in 2011, the Aspirations for Student Learning further Student Affair’s culture of lifelong learning by encouraging community members to embody the five Aspirations through interpersonal awareness, intentional actions, and self-reflection.

Nicole Fess, Commit to Unwavering Curiosity

As a CliftonStrengths intern in the Office of Learning Partnerships, Nicole Fess’ curiosity allows her to understand Virginia Tech students and staff, emphasizing their natural skills in the workplace and classrooms. She seeks to learn about the qualities of those around her and connect with others.

She has

• Helped develop and facilitate strengths workshops for students across campus as part of the 2023 Strengths Consultant Cohort, asking for feedback along the way to improve the experience for others
• Immersed herself in learning about the strengths philosophy and how it differs from other assessments
• Worked as a counselor for Girl Scout camp, assisting campers to find their role and make the most of their experience by understanding their differences in culture, perspectives, talents, fears and interests

Fess is a junior majoring in English language arts education in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Fess said curiosity is “the opposite of indifference and apathy. It is having an enthusiasm for the unknown. It’s asking interesting questions that get people to talk about their passions and experiensity!

Sarah Ogden, Pursue Self-Understanding and Integrity

Having held several leadership positions with First-Year Leadership Experience, Sarah Ogden expresses a commitment to authenticity, vulnerability, and mental health. Motivated by her passion for self-understanding, she centers mentor meetings around well-being.

She has

• Redesigned major components of the program, crafted marketing plans, and built curricula as a student assistant director of First-Year Leadership Experience
• Served as president of public relations for the Student Alumni Associates, embracing challenges as a leader throughout the organization’s restructuring process
• Worked alongside classmates in an executive role with the Virginia Tech chapter of If You’re Reading This to reduce mental health stigma and encourage student connection

Ogden is a junior political science and Arabic major in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

“Self-understanding and integrity mean that you have invested your time and resources into becoming your best self and continue to show up as that version of yourself every day. You are true to your core values and unapologetically authentic in every aspect of your life and career,” she said.

Colin Roberts, Prepare for a Life of Courageous Leadership

As president of the Class of 2024, Colin Roberts is committed to community, compassion, belonging, and well-being. He makes sure that student voices are heard and represented, acknowledging their concerns. Leading with courage and consideration for others, Roberts openly shares his story to assure his classmates struggling with mental health that they are not alone.

He has

• Used his platform as class president to work with leadership in directly addressing issues that violated the Virginia Tech Principles of Community
• Worked with Cook Counseling Center to create presentations on mental health topics for students
• Written a student perspective for students and their families on mental health in a post-pandemic climate, being honest about the challenges students face and sharing resources that help students navigate them

Roberts is a senior psychology major in the College of Science.

“A courageous leader is ready to be the voice of their team, ensure their well-being, and create an atmosphere where everyone feels safe, welcome, and comfortable. I feel the utmost moral duty to, at the very least, speak up,” Roberts said.

Sarah Nadasy, Embrace Ut Prosim as a Way of Life

Offering her time to assist her community, Sarah Nadasy embodies the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). Her involvement in volunteer programs has ensured over 30 K-12 students, who are learning a new language and new material, receive extra support in their schoolwork. 

She has

• Been an active volunteer translator with Blacksburg Refugee Partnership, providing friendship and comfort to dislocated and isolated families, and connecting with her culture on a deeper level
• Been instrumental in organizing and managing a program that places Virginia Tech students as tutors with English language learners in local schools
• Volunteered at Warm Hearth retirement community, Margaret Beeks Elementary School, the Women’s Resource Center, Gilbert Linkous Elementary, NRV Community Action, and more

Nadasy is a senior psychology major in the College of Science and French major in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

“It is important that those with the means to give back, do just that, so that no one is left without a support system, and everyone has what they need to survive and to prosper,” Nadasy said.

Grace Purvis, Practice Civility

An outspoken advocate and founding member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets organization Helping Educate Regarding Orientation, Grace Purvis sets an example of civility for those around her. She contributes to creating safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community and provides support for the sexual violence prevention and awareness movement. She has been a member of the corps' Band Company since 2020 and is eager to show compassion for her fellow students and cadets. 

She has:

• Paved the way in her role as cadre sergeant, a role in which she trained first-year cadets, maintaining an unprecedented 100 percent retention rate for Band Company first-year cadets through the fall semester
• Addressed challenging issues head-on in her role as Band Company first sergeant, a role that oversees first-year cadet training and order and discipline in the company
• Carried out her duty as the fall regimental executive officer with dignity and respect for others, uplifting and supporting student voices while overseeing the training of all classes of cadets.

Purvis is a senior majoring in English literature and creative writing in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

“To me, civility is being able to have a conversation with someone who may come from a different background than you, or someone who you may not agree with, but ultimately being able to support, connect, and learn from each other,” Purvis said.

Joanna Culligan, Prepare for a Life of Courageous Leadership Faculty/Staff Award

Joanna Culligan displays courageous leadership in her roles as therapeutic program manager for the Engagement Center for Creative Aging at Virginia Tech and an instructor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. The center aids older adults in the community who are experiencing change due to dementia, supporting adult members and their families.

She has

• Created a therapeutic environment for older adults with dementia, inviting them to relax and enjoy a sense of dignity, purpose and creativity
• Assisted students in applying the skills and theories they’ve learned, pushing and inspiring students to consider real-life issues in aging and dementia car
• She collaborated to create and lead the International Dementia Care Study abroad to Europe in 2022

“Most of our participants are experiencing a form of dementia that changes how they communicate. When they are unable to use their voice, I make sure that I am speaking up for them to help improve their quality of life,” Culligan said.

Upcoming celebrations

The Aspire! Awards recognize students, faculty, and staff who exemplify Student Affairs' Aspirations for Student Learning. Five students, one representing each Aspiration, and one faculty/staff member will be honored at each celebration in the months of October, December, February, March, and April. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024-25 Aspire! Awards.

 The next Aspire! Award celebration will be hosted at The Inn at Virginia Tech on Friday, April 26, from 8 to 10 a.m., and those who would like to attend should RSVP by Friday, April 19.