Funding for the VTCC comes from a unique military appropriations line in the state budget that covers both Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Tech's corps. In December 2002, the governor submitted a budget that left VMI funding intact but reduced VTCC funding by 50 percent in fiscal year 2004 and 100 percent the following fiscal year, threatening the viability of Virginia Tech's longest standing tradition. Concerned, in-state alumni rallied in support of the corps, and legislators fully restored the funding. Since then, the focus of the corps during Hokie Day has been to seek continued state support.

Meeting with cadets helps state legislators put a face on the military program and provides cadets with a great opportunity to represent the corps--and to play a role in the legislative process.

Three cadets, Peter Laclede, Ashley Shepherd, and Christopher Nimmo, traveled to Richmond on Feb. 3 for Hokie Day 2010. There they met with their representatives and the newly elected governor, Bob McDonnell. They also mingled with numerous corps alumni who traveled to Richmond to support the corps that day, giving cadets, past and present, an opportunity to work together for a common goal.

		Cadets (l. to r.) Ashley Shepherd, Peter Laclede, and Christopher Nimmo meet with Gov. Bob McDonnell on Hokie Day at the state capitol.

Shepherd, the current Regimental S-2 after being the Golf Company commander last fall, has attended several specialized Army training courses and was a member of the winning ROTC team in the Army 10-Miler for the past two years. She will commission as an Army intelligence officer in May.

Nimmo is a civilian-track cadet and serves as the recruiting officer on regimental staff. He has also been a member of the Student Alumni Association, the cadet member-at-large for the Class of 2010 Ring Committee, and the Student Government Association representative for VPI Company. Nimmo will graduate in May with a major in political science and minors in history and leadership.

Even with all of the leadership experience of these cadets, Hokie Day 2010 proved to be a learning tool, giving them an opportunity to witness--and to be a part of--democracy in action at the state level.