Capt. Gary Grassi (top image) and Capt. Andrew Shadley
BLACKSBURG, Va., Jan. 4, 2010 – Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni Capt. Gary Grassi, United States Army, who earned a degree in biology from the College of Science and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets' minor in leadership studies in 2004 and Capt. Andrew Shadley, United States Army, who earned degrees in history and classical studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets' minor in leadership studies in 2006 have been selected as the Hokie Heroes for the Virginia Tech versus Tennessee Chick-fil-a Bowl 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.
Grassi is currently stationed at Camp Liberty in Iraq as a member of a United States Army Stryker Brigade Combat Team. He is from Louisville, Ky., and this is his second combat deployment. Grassi is a Class of 2003 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. He says he would like to tell his wife Deidra and his parents that he loves them and misses them very much.
Shadley is currently stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq, as a member of the Army’s 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment. He is from Cleveland, Ohio, and this is also his second combat deployment. Shadley served as the Regimental S-4 during the fall semester of his senior year and is a Class of 2006 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. He says he would like to send his love to his parents Dale Shadley and Lori LaGatta, and to all of his family back home.
This season’s Hokie Heroes have been made possible by sponsors ISP Sports and the University Bookstore.