Cadets honored through flag tradition at Florida State, Miami games
First-year cadets Owen Braza, Maia Timm, and Henry Garcia-Feria and junior Cadet Aisha Nurudin Watley were chosen to receive the flags at the Florida State and Miami football games.
The passing of the flags during the pre-game ceremonies is a continuation of the proud partnership between the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and Virginia Tech football to highlight the colors at every football game.
Three football players, chosen because of their performance in the last game or at practice, carry the American flag, the state flag, and the team’s spirit flag and lead the team onto the field. They deliver the flags to cadets at the south end of the field.
The cadets, also selected based on their performance in the corps, render honors to the flags and carry them off the field. For home games, three first-year cadets are selected, and one or two upper-class cadets travel with the team and receive the flags at away games.
Nurudin Watley was chosen to receive the flags at the Florida State game. Braza, Timm, and Garcia-Feria were chosen to receive the flags at the Miami game.
Watley, from Iwakuni, Japan, is a member of Army ROTC majoring in national security and foreign affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Serving as both a squad leader and public affairs officer for Delta Company, she has dedicated herself to boosting morale and sharing her company’s positive experience across social media. As a leader, Watley is creative and passionate about providing cadets resources for success. She holds herself and her squad accountable and was recently selected as the Undergraduate Student Senate's Corps of Cadets representative, and the regiment’s Best Cadre for her performance during New Cadet Week.
Braza, from Texarkana, Texas, is a member of Air Force ROTC majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering. A member of the regimental band, the Highty-Tighties, he is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his strong desire for personal and professional growth. He proactively seeks to expand his knowledge, and his readiness sets a clear standard for his peers. Braza is a highly motivated, mission-driven cadet prepared to meet any challenge with vigor and determination.
Timm is a member of the corps’ Citizen-Leader Track and is majoring in biological sciences in the College of Science. From Centreville, Virginia, she is a reliable team member who provides exceptional support to other cadets, actively assisting them in the accomplishment of tasks. She consistently shows personal initiative and demonstrates sharp attention to detail. A member of the Highty-Tighties, Timm has dedicated herself to unit cohesion and academic excellence.
Garcia-Feria, from Roanoke, is a member of the Citizen-Leader Track and is majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering. A resilient and hard-working cadet in Oscar Company, he prioritizes his academic responsibilities while maintaining excellent personal appearance in uniform. He is upbeat and eager to learn, overcoming any obstacles in his path and inspiring his fellow cadets to push through adversity.
