BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 6, 2009 – Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 2nd Lt. Brian Alberts, United States Army, who earned a degree in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 2008 has been selected as the Hokie Hero for the Virginia Tech versus East Carolina University football game.
The corps Hokie Hero program started in 2006 by ISP Sports and sponsored by the University Bookstore, honors Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni who are currently deployed. Recipients of this honor are highlighted by Bill Roth and Mike Burnop during the radio broadcast of Virginia Tech football games, on the corps website, on the corps alumni website and in the Corps Review magazine.
Alberts is currently stationed at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, as a member of the 98th Maintenance Company, United States Army, and is currently serving as a platoon leader and provides critical maintenance support for units in and around Kandahar. He is from Stafford, Va., and this is his first combat deployment. Alberts is a Class of 2008 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and was the regimental operations officer during his senior year as well as a member of the Highty-Tighties, the regimental band. He says he would like to send love to his parents Richard and Susan, and his sister Melissa.
The cadets of VPI Company, the Civilian Track program in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, have been collecting items during October to send care packages to Alberts and members of his unit. This initiative was spearheaded by Cadet Peter Mowery of Chantilly, Va., a senior majoring in management in the Pamplin College of Business who is serving as a platoon leader in VPI Company and is an Emerging Leader Scholarship and Commandant's Scholarship recipient.
Read about previous Hokie Heroes from the 2009-10 season.