February Aspire! Awards spotlight civility
Award recipients were celebrated for embodying the Aspirations for Student Learning with a special focus on practicing civility during the joint February ceremony.
On Feb. 20, Student Affairs hosted a joint Aspire! Awards ceremony for December and February, highlighting the community members who embody the Aspirations for Student Learning. Recipients were nominated by their peers and mentors for embodying each of the aspirations and strengthening campus culture.
Brooke Spens, Commit to Unwavering Curiosity
(From left) Chelsea Haines, Student Affairs chief of staff, and Brooke Spens. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
Highly dedicated to her work, Spens has “exceeded the research expectations of an undergraduate student,” according to her nominator.
Spens is a senior studying cybersecurity management and analytics in Pamplin College of Business.
She has earned awards for her research from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and has presented at two of its annual conferences. She recently represented her lab and Virginia Tech at the prestigious Student Conference on United States Affairs at the United States Military Academy. Spens is also a Defense Civilian Training Corps Scholar.
Her nominator said, “She has spent the last two years mentoring newer lab members, reviewing their writing, and helping them with their research. She has reached out to experts across the field and faculty across campus. She is a credit to every community she engages with.”
Spens was recognized for using her curiosity to build a safer, smarter future.
Madison Kuriger, Prepare for a Life of Courageous Leadership
(From left) Mike Staples, assistant vice president for Housing, Dining, and Facilities, and Madison Kuriger. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
As a member of Virginia Tech’s Corps of Cadets, Kuriger has followed the calling of leadership and empowerment to help other women in the corps thrive and discover their potential.
Kuriger created the organization Growing Leaders of Women, or GLOW, which fosters a sense of community for women in the corps and helps female veterans and women in the Blacksburg community.
She also led the initiative to restart the Model Arab League at Virginia Tech.
“Madison's lead-by-example style allows younger cadets to understand they can grow into leaders during their time at Virginia Tech,” said her nominator.
Kuriger is a senior studying Arabic and national security and foreign affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
She was recognized for her excellence in empowering future leaders.
Ben Hotaling, Embrace Ut Prosim as a Way of Life
(From left) Ben Hotaling and Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
As the Residential Well-being senior student leader in the Creativity and Innovation District (CID) residence hall, Hotaling has undertaken numerous projects to help the CID best serve its residents.
Hotaling’s service is driven by his thoughtfulness. He reliably goes out of his way to help other students feel welcome and comfortable in the residence hall. Residents and student leaders know they can always count on him as a source of support.
“The CID community is fortunate to have such a thoughtful, caring, and service-driven senior student leader,” said his nominator.
Hotaling is a senior triple-majoring in psychology in the College of Science and human nutrition, foods, and exercise as well as food science and technology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Hotaling was recognized for his stewardship and care for his community.
Emma Duncan, Pursue Self-Understanding and Integrity
(From left) Emma Duncan and Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
As an intern for Student Affairs Advancement, Duncan has embraced her role with authenticity and positivity, welcoming every opportunity to learn so that she can best serve her team and their mission.
“Emma is the kind of student who seems centered in who she is, confident of what she knows, and aware that there is more to learn — and she embraces that,” said her nominator.
Duncan's faith guides her self-understanding and integrity with her values of compassion, humility, and service. She serves as a Hokie Undergraduate Group leader, mentoring communications students to help them build connections and community.
She is also the lifestyles section editor for the Collegiate Times and co-leads a study in her faith community.
Duncan is a senior studying multimedia journalism in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
She was recognized for using her self-awareness to channel positivity.
Thomas Feely, Practice Civility
(From left) Chris Wise, assistant vice president for Health and Well-being, and Thomas Feely. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
Feely is a student leader, a member of the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, and the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors undergraduate representative. He has also served in a leadership role for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.
Across all his roles, Feely establishes connections with students, faculty, staff, and leadership. He is committed to learning about issues within the student body and how he can better support his community.
His nominator said, “It is evident through his leadership practices that he is dedicated to engaging with students and bringing their opinions, feedback, thoughts, and ideas to the forefront of the university to ensure every student voice is respected and heard.”
Feely is a senior studying construction engineering and management in the College of Engineering.
He was recognized for his commitment to authentically connect his community.
Rachel McLaughlin, Practice Civility (faculty/staff award)
(From left) Martha Glass, assistant vice president for Administration, stands with Rachel McLaughlin, assistant director for student organizations and development. Photo by Brian Muncy for Virginia Tech.
McLaughlin embodies empathetic respect. In her work and in her daily interactions, when there is an opportunity to learn about someone, she asks questions. McLaughlin serves as assistant director for student organizations and development for Student Engagement and Campus Life.
McLaughlin ’s civility is rooted in her care for others and her understanding that our experiences inform our worldviews. A nominator said McLaughlin thoughtfully engages with others “from a place of genuine empathy and curiosity that centers their narrative in the conversation.”
She is a force for collaboration and connection, and she seeks out ways to strengthen civility training through her work.
She has embedded concepts from the Community Resiliency Model and the Constructive Dialogue Institute’s Perspectives curriculum in Student Engagement and Campus Life’s student leader training, empowering students to engage with their values while taking care of themselves and others.
McLaughlin was recognized for her wholehearted dedication to helping others feel seen and supported in the community.
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 students, faculty, and staff.
Written by Caitlin Whitfield, a senior majoring in multimedia journalism
