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Black Alumni Award winners line up with their awards

Call for nominations for the 2022 Virginia Tech Influential Black Alumni Awards

Nominations are open for the Virginia Tech Influential Black Alumni Awards, which highlight the achievements of Virginia Tech’s outstanding Black or African American alumni and community members. Check out past winners.

Winners will be recognized at the Influential Black Alumni Awards Ceremony during the biennial Black Alumni Reunion. Anyone can nominate an alum or an alum can submit a self-nomination. To nominate someone for an award, complete and submit the nomination form and supporting materials by March 1.

NOMINATE A HOKIE

The awards process is competitive, so please follow the instructions. At least one letter of recommendation is required and additional supporting materials are strongly encouraged (e.g. a nominee’s resume, vita, past awards/recognition, published works, articles, videos, etc.).

No award will be considered until all requested materials have been submitted. Awards vary, based on the submissions received.

Award Categories

  • Athlete of the Year Award: Recognizes a former Virginia Tech athlete who has contributed greatly to their profession, community, and/or Virginia Tech.
  • Educator of the Year Award: Recognizes an alumna/alumnus who has contributed significantly to the field of education. Nominees may teach at any level.
  • Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Recognizes an alumna/alumnus entrepreneur who has grown or owns a thriving business. Additional consideration will be given to those who have been pioneers or a significant contributor to industry leading changes.  
  • Icon Award: Recognizes an alum, faculty, or staff member who has made a meaningful, historical, and widely recognized impact on Black or African American students through advocacy, support, outreach, or other contributions.
  • The Lifetime Career Achievement Award: Recognizes an individual(s) who have made sustained, outstanding, and unusual contributions to their fields.
  • Outstanding Recent Alumna/Alumnus Award: Recognizes an alumni who has graduated within the last 10 years, demonstrated substantial accomplishments, and who have made positive impacts in their profession and/or community.
  • Philanthropy Award: Recognizes an alumna/alumnus for their generous and meaningful financial support of Virginia Tech.
  • Social Justice Award: Recognizes alumni who seek to increase fairness and equity for those systematically disenfranchised and least served politically, economically, or socially. They demonstrate compassion, courage, leadership, and commitment to promoting social justice in our communities and beyond. Their contributions have a direct impact on civil rights, education, public health, environmental justice, and other areas.
  • Ut Prosim Award: Recognizes an alumna/alumnus who embodies the spirit of Ut Prosim, as demonstrated by their commitment to serving the university and/or their community.

Please note: Not all awards may be given. Awards given are based on nominations received.

For questions or more information, please contact Influential Black Alumni Awards Committee Chair Lisa Thaxton at lthaxton26@gmail.com or Director of Alumni Relations for Diversity and Inclusion Latanya Walker at latanya@vt.edu.