December Aspire! Awards honor character in action
December honorees were celebrated for embodying the Aspirations for Student Learning with a special focus on Self-understanding and Integrity.
Aspire! Award honorees (from left) Neelie Harris, Samantha Buchanan, Thiviya Karuppasamy, Sam Yuzbashev, Jacob Poel, and Tyler Cowher. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
Student Affairs hosted a special combined Aspire! Awards ceremony on Feb. 20, highlighting the December and February community members who embody the Aspirations for Student Learning. Recipients were nominated by their peers and mentors for showcasing the Aspirations and contributing to engaged and impactful learning environments.
Sam Yuzbashev, Commit to Unwavering Curiosity
As a student fellow in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Yuzbashev’s curiosity contributes to a culture of empathetic growth, support, and innovation.
(From left) Sam Yuzbashev and Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
Whether coordinating campus engagement Initiatives, assisting in policy research, helping with Student Affairs scholarships, or supporting administrative planning, he approaches every task as a learning opportunity.
Yuzbashev graduated in December with a degree in management consulting and analytics from the Pamplin College of Business.
He is pursuing a business career that will help him build a life where he can “document the stories of people from the farthest corners of the planet and share those powerful human experiences with the rest of the world.”
Yuzbashev was recognized for embodying empathetic curiosity that inspires meaningful reflection and change.
Jacob Poel, Practice Civility
As junior student leader for Residential Well-being in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Poel has demonstrated respect, care, and empathy for each cadet and student in his sphere of influence, giving unbiased and nonjudgmental support and care while preserving privacy and trust.
(From left) Jacob Poel and Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
“Practicing civility is the choice to actively listen to those around me,” he said. “When I enter a conversation with the goal of hearing someone, it is almost impossible to walk away without learning something. And once I've learned something about them, respect comes naturally.”
Poel is a senior majoring in international relations and minoring in Japanese studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
His selflessness and reliability have been a gift to his student leader team, and he was recognized for the unyielding support he has brought to his community.
Tyler Cowher, Prepare for a Life of Courageous Leadership
(From left) Tyler Cowher and Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
Cowher's efforts within Delta Sigma Pi fraternity have fostered engaging and supportive spaces for students to learn from each other and find common ground. As Delta Sigma Pi’s inaugural vice president of societal impact, Cowher created a framework to promote allyship, celebrate and observe important occasions, and educate his peers through workshops, chapter presentations, and collaborations with external speakers.
As president, he expanded those efforts across campus through meaningful partnerships and continued advocacy.
His nominator said, “His advocacy reflects his dedication to creating spaces where all individuals — especially LGBTQ+ students — feel seen, valued, and protected.”
He is pursuing dual degrees in cybersecurity management and analytics and in management consulting and analytics in Pamplin College of Business.
Cowher was recognized for the impact he and his work have had on student well-being.
Thiviya Karuppasamy, Embrace Ut Prosim as a Way of Life
(From left) James Bridgeforth, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and ExperienceVT, and Thiviya Karuppasamy. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
For Karuppasamy, embracing Ut Prosim as a way of life starts with empathy.
A senior studying microbiology in the College of Science and public health in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Karuppasamy plans to pursue a career in higher education that combines research and student services to help others follow their passions and scientific pursuits.
"Ut Prosim to me means not only serving my community but intentionally getting to know the individuals within it," Karuppasamy said. "It’s important to me to meet people where they are and understand their particular needs and wants. There’s no one-size-fits-all community service."
Karuppasamy is passionate about making things easier for others, lending a helping hand anywhere she can. She was recognized for her caring approach to dedicated service.
Neelie Harris, Pursue Self-Understanding and Integrity
(From left) Dean of Students Meaghan Davidson and Neelie Harris. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
Harris’s self-understanding and integrity extend to everyone around her. Harris is a student fellow in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, where her exceptional kindness and leadership have made a lasting impact.
"Self-understanding and integrity means having grace for yourself. It is the understanding and recognition to know that I am still learning and growing," said Harris. "Integrity means having the discernment to know when something is bettering you or hurting you. I strive to choose what is right for my path while remaining my most authentic self."
Harris is a senior majoring in public relations in the College of Liberal Arts and minoring in professional sales in the Pamplin College of Business.
She was recognized for her kind confidence that inspires her fellow students and team members.
Samantha Buchanan, Pursue Self-Understanding and Integrity, faculty/staff award
(From left) Samantha Buchanan, associate director for New Student and Family Programs, and Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
Buchanan aligns her personal values with her professional actions.
Her nominator said, “She has a clear sense of purpose that centers on what is best for students and families, and she translates this commitment into intentional decision-making.”
As associate director for New Student and Family Programs, Buchanan respects and cares for the whole person, whether a student, family member, or coworker. Her thoughtfulness reassures families, and the partnerships and systems she builds lay the groundwork for student belonging and success.
Buchanan is guided by her values of kindness, community, and helping others.
“The world already has enough negativity, so I try to add care and support instead,” she said.
She was recognized for her supportive presence and the immesurable contributions she has made in the communities she serves.
Student Affairs’ Aspirations for Student Learning reflect students’ commitment to learning and engagement in improving the world around them through service. Nominations for upcoming Aspire! Awards are open to honor Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff.
Written by Caitlin Whitfield, a senior majoring in multimedia journalism
