From the excellent academic support services to the unparalleled athletic performance program, Virginia Tech provides student-athletes with the best possible aid to help them reach their goals on and off the field. • Virginia Tech student-athletes receive outstanding • Virginia Tech’s strength and conditioning program is academic support with state-of-the-art study areas and well regarded as one of the best in the nation. over 75 tutors. • The Hokies have more than 22,000 square-feet of strength • Tech’s athletic graduation rate is higher than the average and conditioning training space. overall graduation rate for all Division I universities and has risen significantly in the past few years. • Six Tech football strength and conditioning records were broken in the spring of 2002. • More than 82 percent of all Tech student-athletes who have completed their eligibility in the 10 year period 1986-87 • Twelve Hokies achieved Super Iron Hokie status during the through 1995-96, have graduated. spring of 2002, including three first-time members for the 2001- 2002 year. • For the fourth year in a row, a new record of 347 student- athletes, HighTechs and cheerleaders were recognized at the • Vegas Robinson and Josh Spence were named to the Athletic Director’s Honors Breakfast for posting 3.0 GPAs or Excalibur Elite Level of Performance status, signifying a higher in the 2001 calendar year. predetermined performance test which measures achievement for the individual’s position. It comprises four tests in strength • Tech had 188 student-athletes, approximately one-third of and four tests in performance. the student-athlete population, named to the dean’s list, and 26 achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall or spring semesters • A brand new training and medical complex has been of the 2001-02 academic year. completed this year on the ground floor of the Jamerson Center. • A total of 15 Tech athletic teams achieved a 3.0 or better • The “Training Edge” dining facility features a comprehensive team GPA – five teams during the fall semester and 10 during system of eating for championship performance. the spring semester. • Tech has added a full-time sports nutritionist to the Sports • Tech student-athletes participate in the HiTOPS Performance Staff to help the student-athletes achieve their program (Hokies Turning Opportunities into sports nutritional goals. Personal Success). HiTOPS provides a well-rounded program for student-athletes • A new training room has been completed in Rector Field to develop the individual skills necessary to House — Tech’s indoor practice facility — to serve the football lead successful and productive lives. team when it moves indoors. • A full-time sports psychologist has been added to Tech’s Athletic Performance Staff to help meet the personal and performance needs of the student-athletes. Jarrett Ferguson is a great example of what can be achieved by a student-athlete at Virginia Tech. After entering Tech as a walk-on, he enjoyed a great collegiate experience, earned his degree, was a four- year starter and was selected in the 2002 NFL Draft. ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM IS A TOP PRIORITY AT TECH The success of Virginia their degrees and the Tech’s football program rests other two are within a largely on the academic semester’s worth of progress of each student- credits of completing athlete. The academic their coursework. performance of Tech student- Last spring, the athletes has improved each Athletic Director’s year due in part to the Student Honors Breakfast paid Athlete Academic Support tribute to a record 347 Services (SAASS). student-athletes, student The Virginia Tech trainers, student graduation rate for student- managers, cheerleaders athletes has risen significantly and HighTechs who in recent years and reached 71 posted 3.0 or greater Willie Pile, a percent in 2002 as compared QCAs in the 2001 two-year starter to the national average of 58 calendar year. on defense, percent. The 71 percent Student-athletes are graduated in student-athlete graduation rate the most visible student May of 2002 with a degree in marks the fourth time in the last component of a management. nine years that Tech has university. They reached that level. entertain thousands of The Virginia Tech football fans, students and program has been an integral alumni. Their athletic part of this recent academic ability and achievement success. According to the is the primary focus for American Football Coaches national media attention. Association 2002 graduation Athletic events bring rate, Tech has a 77 percent back not only faithful graduation rate as compared to alumni, but are a the 59 percent national welcome mat for average. potential new students. Additionally, African- Student-athletes American members of the devote many hours to Virginia Tech football program practice, conditioning have also excelled and training that are not academically with a 63 percent required of all students. graduation rate last year, Due to their time substantially higher than the 42 commitment and their percent national average. Six high visibility, it is an of the record-setting eight Tech obligation and in the football players drafted by the best interest of the NFL last spring have earned Continued … VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 121 university to supply these students with services which CHRIS HELMS will allow them to maximize their academic potential. To accommodate the many Director of Student Athlete Academic Support Services facets of assistance needed for student-athletes, Virginia Beginning his fourth year at Virginia Tech, Chris Helms is the director and Tech’s mission is eight fold: is responsible for the development and leadership of the Student Athlete Academic Support Services office. Helms oversees an office comprised of 1. To provide services to all two associate directors, three assistant directors, and a secretary forming a student-athletes, including any group of professionals serving the needs of all student-athletes. student participating in any In addition to his duties directing SAASS, Helms serves as a liaison between the academic varsity sport, managers, and athletic communities and is an ad hoc member of the University Athletic Committee. trainers, cheerleaders and Helms came to Tech from Michigan State University, where he served as the assistant director HighTechs. of the Student Athlete Support Services office. Prior to MSU, Helms served as the coordinator of academic affairs for the Florida State 2. To provide academic University football program. Some of his other experience includes academic advisement for support through tutoring student-athletes at Central Connecticut State University. programs, computer facilities Helms earned his bachelor's degree in psychology at Wake Forest University and received his and software which are master’s in athletic counseling from Springfield College. necessary for the individual A native of Frederick, Md., he and his wife, Renee, have a son, Walker, and a daughter, Meigs. needs of each student. 5. To provide mentoring, 7. To closely monitor the With the proper assistance, 3. To require a mandatory counseling, academic academic success of each facilities and encouragement, study hall for students below assistance, advising and to student to help ensure these potentials can become a expected GPA levels in order work closely with other academic progress toward a reality. that the staff might better academic offices on campus degree and maintenance of Student Athlete Academic assist the at-risk student- for the welfare of the students. academic and athletic eligibility. Support Services provides athletes. programming for student- 6. To work closely with the 8. To encourage former athletes from their freshman 4. To provide adequate athletic department for the athletes to be actively involved year through graduation. This study facilities and a computer academic welfare of each with our present athletes and to includes a comprehensive lab which are conveniently student-athlete and to help in provide our services to former orientation to Tech, study hall, located near the training areas the development of an effective athletes who did not graduate mentoring, tutoring, academic and coaching areas. student life program. and assist them in their monitoring, academic academic planning toward a recognition, and eligibility “Our intention is to provide the degree. The ultimate goal is for education. Additionally, all student-athletes to student-athletes are referred to best educational opportunities and successfully complete their and encouraged to take degree. advantage of other campus the appropriate resources for agencies charged with helping studentathletes at Virginia Tech to The expectations of the students in their academic Virginia Tech community are pursuits. reach their full academic potential” that each student-athlete Academic facilities for — Chris Helms achieves their maximum student-athletes include the academic and athletic potential. Monogram Room, a large room used as a study hall area adjacent to the SAASS office in Cassell Coliseum. The HEAT (Hokies Engaging in Advanced Technology) Lab and its satellite sites house over 40 computers on the second floor and third floors of Cassell Coliseum. Laptop computers are also available for Tech athletes to use when travelling to away contests. The athletic department also provides areas for private, quiet study for the athletes' convenience. Together, these spaces provide the student-athlete with a variety of study environments conducive to their success. Athletes can use these facilities between classes, after A record 347 student-athletes, student trainers, student managers, cheerleaders and HighTechs were honored practice, or in the evenings, at the 2002 Athletic Director’s Honors Breakfast. with flexible hours tailored to 122 VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL Student Athlete Academic Support Services Staff Lois Berg Colin Howlett Katie Ammons Renia Edwards Becky Kolenbrander Terrie Repass Associate Director Associate Director Assistant Director Assistant Director Assistant Director Secretary make the most of a student- admissions of prospective advisement for student-athletes administration from Southern athlete's limited time.