University Awards: Preston M. White '63

Preston is so special because he just has heart. He cares so deeply about Virginia Tech, and he wants us to be as good as we possibly can be. And he's there and he does the work. Preston has this competitive spirit about it, and he wants to win in every sport. He wants our university to be successful. I could just feel the energy that he was going to be somebody who would support not only my program, but all the teams and all the students across campus. Preston is someone that's an integrator. He knows how to talk to people. He's really good at understanding what we need and then able to align the right people who have passion for what we need to try to move forward at the university. Preston White, a 1963 graduate of Virginia Tech's College of Engineering, has spent more than six decades building a legacy defined by service, leadership and impact. As founder of Century Concrete, he led the company to deliver complex, large scale projects across the country while creating opportunities for generations of Hokies. After selling the business, Preston deepened his commitment to Virginia Tech, serving on the Board of visitors, supporting students, and strengthening the university through his philanthropy and advocacy. Through his generosity, leadership, and belief in the power of education, Preston White continues to embody the spirit of. He's at the core of the reason that Myers Lawson School of Construction was able to expand. What we're trying to do in terms of education and curriculum can help with student competitions, can help with additional adjunct faculty people who have fellowships that enable them to try things that they might not normally try in the classroom. This all relates back to the incredible work that Preston's been doing. I think somebody like Preston has a lot of different avenues that he can support, different groups and organizations, and I think the selfless nature of him wanting to pour back to his university and give back to the next generation is what we love about him. And he chose to support not only our program in women's athletics, but other avenues on campus. And he doesn't have to do that. But he continues to put this university at the forefront of what he does and what he believes in, and we love that about him. Preston, to me, really stands out because, you know, he's so generous and he wants to serve, but he doesn't just serve by individually giving back. He serves by individually giving back and trying to motivate all the people around him to give back. So when I think of Preston and all of the amazing things that he personally has done to serve and to embody process, that by itself would be enough to win this distinction. But when you think about that, combined with all of the work he does to bring all the people around him to do the same, it's extraordinary.