UNIVERSITY RELATIONS PRSRT STD 902 PRICES FORK ROAD U.S. POSTAGE 2019 SSUMMER PAID UNIVERSITY GATEWAY CENTER, SUITE 2100 LYNCHBURG, VA BLACKSBURG, VA 24061 PERMIT NO. 542 3 NO. 41, VOL. CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED magazine SUMMER 2019 WORLD AT WAR The influence of World War I magazine on Virginia Tech BURNING ISSUES A fiery course in forest ecology IMAGINE A DESTINATION FOR CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION FOR CREATIVITY A DESTINATION CLAIM YOUR ROLE THAT VTMAG.VT.EDU A t V i r g i n i a T e c h , w e l e v e r a g e n e w i d e a s a n d i n n o v a t i v e technology to create real-world solutions that have lasting global impact. That’s our role. Claim yours... vt.edu Taking better banking to new places. Did you know Atlantic Union Bank has been serving your community for over a century? It’s true. We’ve been a trusted banking partner since 1902. And, although we’ve grown over the years to become the largest Virginia-based bank—offering financial strength, industry-specific expertise, and entrepreneurial innovation—we haven’t lost touch with our customer-centric approach to banking. We are in your community every day with a full suite of commercial banking, treasury and wealth management solutions, as well as other tools that offer flexible solutions to help you reach your personal and business goals. Visit AtlanticUnionBank.com or a branch near you. #GoHokies #VirginiasBank EQUAL HOUSING MEMBER FDIC LENDER VTAlumniMagazineADv2.indd 1 4/29/2019 4:38:10 PM FEATURES 24 IMAGINE THAT With dedicated spaces designed to exercise imaginations, Virginia Tech’s Creativity and Innovation District moves ideas from concept to real-world application. 34 THE TRANSFORMATIONAL EFFECTS OF WORLD WAR On July 2, 1919, Virginia Tech unveiled a stone memorial, The Rock, dedicated to those who died in World War I. The monument's dedication was the beginning of an era of change for the university. 40 BURNING ISSUES Students in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment are learning how to use fire to restore and protect forests. DEPARTMENTS 4 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 6 AROUND THE DRILLFIELD 16 How Tech Ticks 18 Question 19 Athletics 20 Corps 21 What's In It? 46 AROUND THE HOKIE NATION 46 Alumna Profile: Morgan Blackwood Patel 51 Class Notes 59 Travel 62 Retro CONTENTS 63 Alumni Commentary 64 Family TUNNEL VISION STILL LIFE Once a picturesque village in France, Vauquois became a World War 70 I battleground. Soldiers from both sides dug tunnels in an attempt to destroy their enemies with underground explosives. Virginia Tech’s 72 END NOTE Vauquois Experience Exhibit uses virtual technology and a physical replica to enable participants, like student Dillon Cutaiar, to learn ON THE COVER: Created by movement and more about the experiences of the soldiers who lived and fought in media artist Scotty Hardwig in collabora- tion with visual artist Zach Duer, “Body, Full the tunnels. Turn to page 34 to read about the immersive exhibit. of Time” is a choreographic work that uses motion capture, projection, and interactive This collaborative project is an example of the research that is sup- avatar designs. Photo by David Franusich, a graduate student in the School of Visual ported in Virginia Tech’s Creativity and Innovation District, which is Arts. (at right) Virginia Tech’s award-win- ning FutureHAUS took center stage in featured on page 24. EW WHEELER JOE OF COURTESY New York City’s Times Square during NYCxDESIGN in May. VIRGINIA TECH MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019, VOL. 41, NO. 3 EDITOR LETTERS Erica Stacy ART DIRECTOR Shanin Glenn SECTION EDITORS/WRITERS Mason Adams, Jenny Kincaid Boone, TO THE EDITOR Olivia Coleman, Richard Lovegrove, Travis Williams, Grace Baggett (student intern), Brendan Coffey (student intern), Haley Cummings (student intern) WORLD VIEW VOLUNTEER DIGITAL DESIGN Bruce Harper (webmaster) I read with interest your article on the APPRECIATION trip to South Africa by the 17 agricul- PRODUCTION COORDINATOR I am the uncle of Justin Graves (spring Megan Zalecki tural students (VT Monthly, March; 2019, page 42.) PHOTOGRAPHERS also see related story page 7.) Olivia Coleman, Dan Mirolli, Ray Meese, I admire all that the Virginia Tech Erin Williams I lived in South Africa for 13 years, community has done to support my DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & DIGITAL STRATEGY coming back to the U.S. in 2010. I’ve nephew’s success academically and Brad Soucy experienced being in a huge com- professionally. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR bine on a wheat farm, visiting Kruger Jesse Tuel National Park, living on a mountain I thank God for the VT family for cre- ating a place of study that welcomes all. WINNING SMILE: Virginia Tech President Tim Sands interacts with colleagues at SENIOR ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT alongside baboons outside Cape Town, FOR ALUMNI RELATIONS an event honoring numerous members of the faculty and staff. Being from Tennessee, I’m a big Ten- Matthew M. Winston Jr. living next to a grape farm in the wine district, ministering to people in the nessee Vols fan, but I’m also a VT fan. PUBLISHER Go HOKIES! Tracy Vosburgh townships, and experiencing the won- derful people and foods of this richest Jessie J. Gillis Jr. CONTACTS country of Africa. STORY IDEAS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Humboldt, Tennessee EMAIL: [email protected]. MAIL: VIRGINIA TECH MAGAZINE; I’ve watched the neighboring country, A PIPELINE FOR TALENT 902 PRICES FORK ROAD; UNIVERSITY GATEWAY CENTER, SUITE 2100; BLACKSBURG, VA 24061. ADDRESS CHANGES: Zimbabwe, fall from the breadbasket I recently had the privilege of addressing the Class of 2019 rience that meets the needs of our students, communities, and EMAIL: [email protected]. PHONE: 540-231-6285 of Africa to 95 percent unemploy- BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 5 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. during our spring commencement ceremony. The rain didn’t partners. ment and talked with the people who CLASS NOTES: EMAIL: [email protected]. MAIL: fled to South Africa to find work so dampen their enthusiasm or appreciation for our commence- This summer our Board of Visitors will affirm the university’s CLASS NOTES, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION; HOLTZMAN ment speaker, Coach Frank Beamer. ALUMNI CENTER, VIRGINIA TECH; 901 PRICES FORK RD.; they could send money back to their priorities for the future with a new strategic plan, developed BLACKSBURG, VA 24061. ADVERTISING: IMG COLLEGE, families. Your students are greatly These graduates have a lot to be excited about, as they go into collaboratively with the university community and alumni. [email protected], 540-641-0754. blessed, and I am pleased that they the world with tools and experiences that will help them be suc- The rapidly expanding need for talent in technology and related Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, had the opportunity to see the strug- cessful in their careers and life in general. industries is a primary focus. As I meet with industry, govern- or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, gles others face. ment, and economic development leaders from around the race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran As members of our newest alumni class plan their post-gradua- country, it’s clear that Virginia Tech is well-positioned to make status; or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants A great article and well done. tion future, another group of students, the Class of 2023, is pre- who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the a difference. As the nation’s fifth largest producer of engineer- compensation of other employees, or applicants; or any other L. Eugene Hayden ’58 paring to begin their first year as Hokies in the fall. The skills basis protected by law. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination ing graduates, we are uniquely qualified to support the rapid policies, contact the executive director for Equity and Access at Raleigh, North Carolina and experiences they will need to be ready for the world in four expansion of the tech sector and related demands across multi- 540-231-8771 or Virginia Tech, North End Center, Suite 2300, 300 Turner St. NW, Blacksburg, VA 24061. years are already changing, and Virginia Tech will adapt to sup- ple industries. port their success and the rapidly expanding industries that will need them. The development of the Innovation Campus in Northern Vir- ginia, the strategic expansion of our Blacksburg campus, and our This is one of higher education’s greatest challenges: antici- advancing health and research presence in Roanoke will maxi- pating the future, staying ahead of the curve, and developing mize our impact. And our dedication to service and outreach in curricular and co-curricular experiences that continue to be rel- the spirit of our motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), will truly evant and rewarding. differentiate Virginia Tech from the rest as we develop a pipe- BEST FRIENDS: Justin Graves ’12, At Virginia Tech, our commitment to excellence and our line of diligent, creative, versatile leaders who are ready to meet MAED ’14, and his dog, Charlotte, the challenges ahead. visit with Growley II, the canine modern land-grant mission is driving a transformative process SOMETHING TO SAY? ambassador for the Corps of Send us a message at [email protected]. to ensure that we continue to provide an extraordinary expe- Tim Sands is Virginia Tech’s 16th president. OC DM Cadets. 4 | PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE VTMAG.VT.EDU | 5 ON SAFARI: Virginia Tech students spot a tortoise during a winter break study abroad course in South Africa.