Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 13 No. 4 | March 2021

20 Inside Hokie Sports WE’RE HERE FOR YOU ©2021 Martin Travel Agency, LLC 21_811751b C o n t a c t a M a r t i n T r a v e l A d v i s o r T o d a y Ma r t i nTr av e l . com | 540 - 343 - 5400 | I n f o@Ma r t i nTr av e l . com As you think about future vacations and trips, travel with someone you trust. As your source for all things travel, Martin Travel is here for you before, during, and after your trip. Wabissa Bede is only in his fourth year at Virginia Tech, despite how familiar his presence might feel in Blacksburg. “Everyone thinks I’ve been here a lot longer because now I’m a grad student,” said Bede, who graduated with a degree in communication studies last spring. “I try to tell people, I’m not here for my fifth or sixth year, I just cut my hair and graduated early, that’s the only difference.” A guard on the Hokies’ men’s basketball team, Bede has become a staple both on the court and in the classroom. Last season, he recorded 177 assists—the third-most in a single season in Hokie history—and he’s currently started 56 straight games. He’s also tallied numerous academic honors during the past four years, including being named to the ACC Honor Roll, Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, and Dean’s List. WabissaBed Learning to lead on and off the court Currently in pursuit of a master’s degree in agriculture and life sciences, with a concentration in leadership studies, Bede was recently among 60 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball players selected as a candidate for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award. The honor, which is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, lifts up the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes from specific sports in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The list will be trimmed to 10 finalists, on which fans can vote, in late-February. “I found out when everyone else found out on Twitter,” Bede said. “Looking into the award and seeing all the great players around the world who are nominated, it’s pretty cool to be in that group. I hope I make the next cut, but it’s really a blessing to just be in that category.” by Travis Williams