Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 12 No. 5 | May 2020

Dear Hokie Nation , Thank you! Thank you for the unforgettable memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am eternally grateful for every individual I’ve encountered on this quick, yet unforgettable, two-year journey. Transferring here has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I have made memories that will last a lifetime and met lifelong friends. To the C.A.M.P. [Counseling and Athletic Mental Performance] staff, Student-Athlete Development, SAASS [Student-Athlete Academic Support Services], Hokie Fuel, and coaches, thank you for all the dedication and hard work you all put in day in and day out for the student-athletes here. Thank you for equipping me with the tools to be successful. Once a Hokie, always a HOKIE! Kanajzae Brown Women’s Track & Field Dear Virginia Tech , I still remember my first time stepping onto the field on a gameday at Lane. Looking out at a sea of 66,000 fans, I was proud to be in uniform representing something so much bigger than myself. Even as a freshman, I recognized that this was home. Over the past 3.5 years those sentiments of school pride have only increased. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this community of inspiring student-athletes. I’m especially grateful to my teammates, past and present, for being my second family. Thank you for the best years of my life. Gabi Odom HighTechs Dear Virginia Tech , Thank you for providing a small town kid from Maine an opportunity like no other. It’s truly crazy how fast this journey has gone. It seems like yesterday I was a freshman in summer academy being confused on where “NOVA” was. It was an incredible journey that I wouldn’t change anything about. I met lifelong friends and had crazy adventures between football games, traveling, going on hikes, and much, much more. I learned invaluable lessons from wrestling that I will be able to apply for the rest of my life. Thank you for everything, Hokie Nation! Cody Hughes Wrestling Dear Virginia Tech , “The VT never comes off.” This began as a reminder from Coach to always represent the university well. When I was younger, hearing this felt like a stern reminder to “behave myself.” Now that my time here is ending, my interpretation has changed: I don’t want the VT to come off. Why would I want to wash away all of my experiences? It was every tremendous victory, heart-breaking loss, hard lesson and lifelong friendship that made my time here special. I could pen a novel expressing my gratitude, but instead I’ll say this: I’m never taking the VT off. Sydney Gagnon Lacrosse (540) 231-6618 • hokieclub@vt.edu • hokieclub • hokieclub • @HokieClub