For Thomas Feely, being a Hokie has always meant more than earning a degree. It means serving others.

Whether responding to those in need on the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, helping streamline construction inspection processes across the Blacksburg campus, or leading the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Feely has spent his college years improving the university experience for students around him. With a humble determination and deep commitment to service, he’s become a leader to help make Virginia Tech safer, stronger, and more connected.

“Everything I’ve done here has been about how I can support the people next to me,” said Feely, a senior majoring in construction engineering and management in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction with minors in leadership and green engineering. “At the end of the day, I want to leave this place better for the next group of students.”

Feely’s service began long before arriving in Blacksburg. Serving in volunteer roles, he joined his hometown Pennsylvania firehouse at 14, becoming an EMT at 16 and a certified firefighter at 18. When he joined the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad in spring 2022, he brought years of experience and a deep sense of purpose. He quickly stepped into leadership roles and served as a student representative in the capital planning process for the squad’s future facility.

Thomas Feely in the driver's seat of a Virginia Tech Rescue Squad ambulance. Photo courtesy of Thomas Feely.
Thomas Feely (at left) works on a project for Myers-Lawson School of Construction. Photo by Ashley Williamson for Virginia Tech.

That same mindset has shaped his academic and professional journey. Through a multiyear internship with the Office of the University Building Official, Feely focused on making construction inspection processes more efficient. By digitizing and aggregating plan reviews and project punch lists, his work has helped ensure the university’s construction projects are code-compliant and benefit their users in a timely manner. 

Feely also has represented the Myers-Lawson School of Construction as a Construction Engineering and Management Ambassador and on multiple award-winning Associated Schools of Construction competition teams, contributing to projects focused on environmental stewardship and heavy civil engineering – fields that align with his passion for improving his community. He was also inducted into the Order of the Gavel, an honor society that promotes student leadership.

Thomas Feely (at right) joins the university building official's team on an inspection of War Memorial Hall during its renovation in 2023. Photo by Noah Alderman for Virginia Tech.
Thomas Feely (at right) on an inspection of Hitt Hall during its construction. Photo by Noah Alderman for Virginia Tech.

His leadership within the Corps of Cadets is another example of his people-first approach. Feely embraced the corps' values and quickly rose through the ranks. This spring, he served as regimental commander, the highest-ranking cadet responsible for supervision of all cadets as well as their overall operations and efficiency, leading the corps’ nearly 1,300 cadets with the same service-oriented approach that has defined his time at Virginia Tech.

“I’ve learned that leading isn’t about being in charge – it’s about supporting others so they can succeed,” Feely said. “Whether it was mentoring cadets in my first leadership role or now serving the entire corps, that mindset hasn’t changed.”

Feely makes use of his widespread connections and deep understanding of Virginia Tech’s processes from the many groups he engages with to help improve the lives of students. This includes helping students manage permits and inspection processes that may be required for events, deconflicting activities that may be occurring in similar locations or times, and teaching the skills he’s learned to future generations of Hokies.

Thomas Feely (at right) during a Corps of Cadets' change of command ceremony this spring. Photo by Katie Mallory for Virginia Tech.
Thomas Feely (at center) during the commandant's change of command event in April. Photo by Katie Mallory for Virginia Tech.

This fall, Feely will expand his impact even further as the undergraduate student representative to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. He’ll also continue his extensive involvement at the university, serving as a mentor to the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, an intern with the university building official, and a Residential Well-being student leader – roles that reinforce his unwavering dedication to the Hokie community.

“First I needed to lead myself, then a group of eight. After leading a company of 80 and finally about 1,300 cadets, I feel prepared to serve and help represent the interests of the entire undergraduate student body as the undergraduate representative to the Board of Visitors,” said Feely.

In every corner of campus, Feely’s legacy is already taking shape – not just in titles held, but in the lives of the students he’s served.

“I care deeply about this place,” Feely said. “And I care even more about the people who call it home.”

By Katie Mallory, Ken Mallory, Meghan Marsh, Ashley Williamson, and Caroline Wood

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