As the Hokies took the field Friday night against the University of Pittsburgh, first-year cadets Charles Williams, Ryan Buffoni, and Skylee Contos stood ready in the south end zone of Lane Stadium to receive the colors. The pregame ceremony continued a longtime tradition celebrating the bond between Virginia Tech Football and the Corps of Cadets, honoring standout performances by both cadets and student-athletes. The three cadets received the American, state, and team spirit flags from three football players selected for their hard work and focus in practice and competition.

These flag bearers were selected by their company leadership for their selfless peer mentorship and dedication to supporting fellow first-year cadets:

  • Charles Williams of Westchester, Pennsylvania, is a general engineering major in the College of Engineering. A member of Echo Company and Army ROTC, Williams is recognized for his motivation, strong work ethic, and dedication to helping fellow first-year cadets in his training company. He consistently maintains a positive attitude and leads by example in his daily corps duties.

  • Ryan Buffoni, a finance major in the Pamplin College of Business from Fairfax, Virginia, is a member of the Citizen-Leader Track who stands out in Golf Company for his selfless leadership, initiative, and dedication to supporting fellow first-year cadets. He consistently takes the initiative without expecting recognition and shows maximum effort in his cadet and academic duties.

  • Skylee Contos, a civil engineering major in the College of Engineering from Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a member of Air Force ROTC. She was nominated as a flag bearer from Foxtrot Company for her exceptional motivation, positive attitude, and steadfast commitment to peer development. Contos consistently seeks feedback to improve her own performance while actively supporting the growth and success of her fellow first-year cadets.

For home games, three first-year cadets are selected based on corps performance. Upperclass cadets are also selected for their performance to travel with the team and receive the flags during away games.

Three cadets in dress uniforms hold the American, Virginia, and Virginia Tech flag up as players run on the field behind them.
(From left) Cadet Charles Williams, Cadet Ryan Buffoni, and Cadet Skylee Contos moments before marching off the field after receiving the flags at the Pittsburgh game on Saturday. Photo by Katie Mallory for Virginia Tech.

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