NEWS REMEMBERING THOSE LOST ON APRIL 16, 2007
Wilbert Ramirez | news writer
Virginia tech remembers the 32 lives lost on April 16, 2007.
On the 18th anniversary of the shooting at Virginia Tech that took the lives of 32 Hokies, it’s important to remember each of the individuals Virginia Tech lost that day.
Ross A. Alameddine was a sophomore majoring in English and minoring in business and French. Alameddine loved to play computer games and had a passion for music.
Christopher James Bishop taught introductory German and was known for being a gifted photographer and designing covers for his father’s science fiction novels.
Brian R. Bluhm was a master’s student, teaching assistant and civil engineering alumni who loved sports. His favorite team was the Detroit Tigers.
Ryan Christopher Clark was a senior known as “Stack” and triple majored in psychology, biology and English while being a member of the Marching Virginians. He also was a resident advisor in West Ambler Johnston Hall.
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Austin Michelle Cloyd was a sophomore majoring in French and international studies who gave her time working with the Appalachia Service Project for four summers to help make homes in Appalachia.
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak taught intermediate French, loved nature and hiking with her family. She was also dedicated to preserving her francophone heritage.
Kevin P. Granata was a professor in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics who participated in biathlons and triathlons. Granata established the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory at Virginia Tech.
Matthew Gergory Gwaltney was a master’s student and environmental engineering alumni who loved sports statistics, trivia and playing games of pickup basketball at Virginia Tech.
Caitlin Millar Hammaren was a sophomore who double majored in French and
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international studies and minored in leadership and social change. She loved riding horses, singing and playing violin.
Jeremy Michael Herbstritt was a master’s student, civil engineering alumni and teaching assistant who loved to spend his time outdoors hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking and working on his family’s farm.
Rachael Elizabeth Hill was freshman majoring in biological sciences and French who loved classic movies, playing volleyball, and reading the Bible. She was an accomplished classical pianist.
Emily Jane Hilscher was a freshman majoring in animal and poultry sciences who loved animals and cooking and was a member of the Virginia Tech equestrian team.
Jarrett Lee Lane was a senior civil engineering student who loved playing intramural sports and was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Narrows High School.
Matthew Joseph La Porte was a sophomore and member of the Corps of Cadets majoring in political science and French. La Porte loved playing music and was a member of the Highty-Tighties.
Henry J. Lee was a sophomore in computer engineering who was interested in origami and photography and died while
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helping his teacher block their classroom door. He proudly obtained U.S citizenship in May 2006.
Liviu Librescu was a professor of engineering science and mechanics who survived the Holocaust as a child and later went on to have an extensive academic career in aeronautical engineering. Professor Librescu died blocking the door of his classroom to allow his students to escape through the windows of Norris Hall.
G.V. Loganathan was a professor of civil and environmental engineering and was one of the nation’s most respected hydrology and water systems researchers. He published over 150 peer-reviewed papers and guided 50 PhD and master’s degree students at Virginia Tech.
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan was a PhD civil engineering student who was known for his compassion and care for others.
Lauren Ashley McCain was a freshman majoring in international studies who was involved with intramural soccer and women’s flag football. McCain also had a long love of German culture and language.
Daniel Patrick O’Neil was a master’s student and environmental engineering continued on page 3
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alumni who loved theater, music, politics and sports. He served as a teaching assistant.
Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz was a master’s alumni who loved theater, music, politics and sports. He served as a teaching assistant.
Minal Hiralal Panchal was a master’s student studying architecture that wrote poetry, enjoyed Indian Western fusion music, and was a talented watercolor painter.
French. Peterson was a skillful basketball player in high school and loved staying in with her family. Peterson was co-president of EMPOWER, an organization that builds confidence in young minority girls.
Michael Steven Pohle, Jr. was a senior majoring in biological sciences and German who was a black belt in karate and played midfield on the club lacrosse team.
French. Read was a concert band member and played the clarinet.
Reema Joseph Samaha was a freshman who studied public and urban affairs and French who was passionate about soccer, dance and theater.
Waleed Mohamed Shaalan was a PhD student studying civil engineering who was an essential member of the Blacksburg Muslim community.
Tae Kwon Do, played the violin, and played video games.
Nicole Regina White was a sophomore majoring in international studies and German who volunteered as a member of the rescue squad and was a swimming instructor and lifeguard at the YMCA.
For more information about each of the Hokies lost on April 16, visit the biographies site by Virginia Tech, written by the respective Hokies’ families. continued from page 2
Daniel Alejandro Perez Cueva was a junior majoring in international studies and French. Cueva loved fixing things around the house and was an accomplished swimmer.
Erin Nicole Peterson was a freshman majoring in international studies and
Julia Kathleen Pryde was a master’s student studying biological systems engineering who made her own jewelry and was a gifted equestrian. Pryde volunteered at The Lyric Theater, was a certified wildfire firefighter and participated as an officer in SEEDS (Seek Education, Explore, DiScover) in Blacksburg.
Mary Karen Read was a freshman majoring in interdisciplinary studies and
Leslie Geraldine Sherman was a junior majoring in international relations and history who loved visiting historical sites, museums and traveling.
Maxine Shelly Turner was a senior majoring in chemical engineering and German who helped found a chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon, swing danced, did
YEARS OF REMEMBRANCES: ENDURING TRIBUTES TO THE VICTIMS OF THE APRIL 16, 2007 SHOOTING THROUGH
Jonathan Mususa | news writer
THE YEARS
A ceremonial candle will be brought out from Burruss Hall and lit at 12:01 a.m.
On Wednesday, April 16, a ceremonial candle will be brought out from Burruss Hall to the April 16 Memorial, where it will be lit at 12:01 a.m. Cadets will stand watch as the names of the victims of the April 16, 2007 shooting are read aloud. A moment of silence will be observed and a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Memorial at 9:43 a.m. At 11:27 p.m., cadets will stand watch over the candle for 32 minutes — one for each life lost — before it is extinguished and brought back to Burruss.
Despite the changes demanded by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the rhythm of the Day of Remembrance has remained largely unchanged since it was first observed in earnest on April 16, 2008. However, over the past 18 years, people have chosen to honor the memory of the fallen in various other ways, some of which continue to impact the Virginia Tech community.
Physical tributes to the victims of April 16 can be found all over Virginia Tech’s campus; the biggest among them is the April 16 Memorial across from Burruss Hall. Featuring 32 Hokie Stones with the names of each victim, it was dedicated on August 19, 2007 and functions as the centerpiece of official Day of Remembrance events. Other outdoor memorials include the
April 16 Memorial Benches located on either side of Burruss Hall. The benches were dedicated on April 15, 2010, and the wooden sculpture outside of Cheatham Hall that was installed in 2009 and carved by Levente Denes, assistant professor of sustainable biomaterials at West Virginia University.
Several places have been named after engineering professor Liviu Librescu, who attempted to save the lives of his students before being killed himself. These include the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics’ Student Engagement Center in his old classroom in 203 Norris Hall, the Chabad house on Otey Street near Virginia Tech’s campus and the street outside the United States embassy in Bucharest, Romania.
Other victims honored with similar dedications include engineering professor Kevin P. Granata, after whom the Biomechanics Laboratory in 208 Norris Hall was named in 2009, and freshman animal and poultry sciences major Emily Jane Hilscher, to whom the student lounge in Litton-Reaves Hall was dedicated in 2009.
Hokies have also honored the memory of the victims by taking part in the Run in Remembrance, which has become a fixture of the Virginia Tech calendar. The first
edition was held on April 16, 2009 and, every year since — with the exception of 2020 and 2021 — thousands of Virginia Tech community members run or walk the 3.2-mile course winding through Virginia Tech’s campus. Initially beginning at the North Main Street entrance to Alumni Mall, the Run’s starting point was moved to the War Memorial Gym in 2012, and the end point has always been the April 16 Memorial.
Another way that the Virginia Tech community has kept the spirit of the fallen alive is through academic and service projects. In 2007, the university created the VT-ENGAGE initiative with the initial goal of getting Virginia Tech community members to complete at least 300,000 hours of community service by April 16, 2008. This later spawned the 32 for 32 service program in 2011, where each participant was to complete at least 32 hours of community service by April 16. Today, the original spirit of the VT-ENGAGE initiative survives in VT Engage: The Center for Leadership & Service Learning.
In January 2008, in memory of French professor Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, a group of Virginia Tech students led by junior John Welch created Teach for Madame, a program where Virginia Tech students volunteer to teach French to
students at local elementary schools. Following Welch’s lead, German students soon after created Teach for Jamie in honor of German professor Jamie Bishop.
OPINIONS
APRIL 16 IS MORE THAN JUST REMEMBERING
Jenna Mason | opinions editor
Commemorating tragedies brings communities together and honors those lost.
On April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech students, faculty and staff experienced a tragedy no one could ever forget. Five faculty members and 27 students lost their lives to a shooting spree on campus. Since then, Virginia Tech has created multiple events to highlight the importance of remembrance of the victims.
Some of those events include the Run in Remembrance, digital exhibits of condolence poetry and various services to ensure that the people lost during the incident are not forgotten. However, these events don’t just highlight the need for remembering the ones we’ve lost, but they also shine light on the importance of remembrance as a whole.
According to the National Mass Violence Center, one of the main reasons for annual memorial traditions is to “maintain the natural human attachment that continues after death and to bring together people who loved and cared about those injured or killed.” After losing people who are a part of a community,
many people tend to go through a complex set of emotions.
The anniversaries of those deaths and other affairs can trigger these feelings, and communities come together to work through negative mindsets. This could look like holding memorials, candlelight vigils and more. One of the main ways Virginia Tech remembers April 16 is through the Run in Remembrance, a 3.2 mile run to honor the 32 people lost during the shooting.
Not only does holding annual memorials serve a purpose in remembrance, but it also takes the time to honor those who are no longer with us. Honoring those who passed away is something that can happen in many shapes and forms. It’s also a tradition among various religions and cultures, like in Buddhism and Christianity.
The importance of honoring people who have passed away comes from paying tribute to them. According to Britannica, the
definition of honor is “to show admiration for someone or something in a public way.” When communities publicly honor and mourn the deceased, they admire the lives they lived and everything they accomplished within them.
Another reason remembrance is important is because it makes us learn from the past. In an article from Medium called “The Importance of Commemorating Tragedy,” when we commemorate devastating incidents, it gives us the opportunity to not forget the real capabilities that humanity has.
Humans make mistakes, and those mistakes can lead to unforgettable disasters. Taking the time to look back on those errors can make it possible to stop them in the future. As a society, we learn from the past, and spending time in remembrance makes for a brighter future.
At the end of the day, remembering tragedies is something that communities will continue to do as life goes on. A few examples
LIFESTYLES
of this are 9/11, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Memorial Day and Srebrenica Massacre Commemoration. These are just a small number of the countless days and events that go on to honor people lost in unforgettable tragedies.
As a family and community, the residents and students of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech come together to honor the deceased and remember the events that took place on April 16, 2007. Not only does the Run in Remembrance take place in Blacksburg, but it also takes place in 17 other cities around the United States. Coming together to not forget past tragedies makes for a better future. When April 16 comes around this year, take the time to recognize the past and honor the ones lost — take the time to remember the lost Hokies.
IN HIS HONOR: HOW A MOTHER USES CHARITY TO LOVE HER LATE SON WELL
Emma Duncan | lifestyles editor
Letitie Clark has turned her grief into a foundation that helps high school student leaders accomplish their dreams
For a lot of parents, 18 years go by in the blink of an eye as they watch their babies grow into adults. For Letitie Clark, that was true. However, the last 18 years have been spent in mourning and advocacy for her son, Ryan “Stack” Clark, one of the victims of the April 16 shooting.
“It is coming up on the 18-year anniversary since it happened, and when someone passes, it seems like things get a little quieter each year. It gets a little less,” Letitie said. “It has not gotten a little less for me, the Marching Virginians or Virginia Tech. I have to say they have honored Ryan so much in keeping his name and his
mission to make the world a better place alive.”
Ryan grew up in Martinez, Georgia, with two siblings. A member of several service organizations, he had a natural desire to help others, which led him to Virginia Tech’s campus and community.
As a resident advisor (now known as student leader), member of The Marching Virginians and Imaginarium advisor, many called Ryan “the model of Ut Prosim,” according to The Ryan Clark Foundation website. He earned a Bachelor of Science with a triple major in psychology, biology and English, achieving a 4.0 GPA.
On the day of the shooting, Ryan left his dorm to investigate a report of a dispute. According to his website, “His last act on earth was like so many before that: helping others in need.”
Five and a half hours away, Letitie recalled feeling paralyzed after hearing the news.
“From a mama’s role, it changed me wholeheartedly,” she said. “You always know tomorrow is not guaranteed, but when you lose a child it really hits home because that’s not the proper order of things. As I began to breathe again, I realized that I needed to carry on what Ryan would have wanted, which was to make this world a better place.” In 2010, Letitie felt ready to respond in a large way. She created the Ryan Clark Foundation and Scholarship to continue her son’s legacy of service and support high school students who also value giving back. The foundation awards multiple scholarships of varying amounts each year. Several recipients send letters to Letitie, updating her on their academic achievements and continued volunteer work. One recipient from 2013 currently serves as
continued on page 5
assistant director of the foundation, assisting Letitie in daily operations and scholarship distribution.
“Every recipient who keeps in contact with me feels like extended family,” Letitie said. “That’s one major theme that’s come from all of this besides community service. I’ve gained new family, young and old, and that’s a beautiful thing for me.”
Letitie is not alone in her advocacy for Ryan. The Marching Virginians, who knew Ryan as “Stack,” keep his memory alive in many ways. Since 2015, a HokieBird statue with his nickname has stood on the Sochinski-McKee Marching Virginians Center practice field as a guardian angel.
“We talk about Ryan to the band every year when we begin band camp so the new members understand the references to Stack,” said Polly Middleton, director of athletic bands. “One (reference) that is felt daily is the HokieBird that we have painted in (a Marching Virginians) uniform at the entrance to our practice facility … Students touch the bird as they enter and exit the field. It’s an important reminder of why we do what we do. We also have a service award named after Ryan, and you’ll see his picture up in The Marching Virginians Center, so he is very much part of what we do on a daily basis. His memory is an important reminder to push ourselves to be the best we can be.”
Whenever Letitie plans a trip to
Blacksburg, visiting “Stack” and the Marching Virginians tops her to-do list.
“The Marching Virginians are just a special group of people. Even the kids that come along that never knew Ryan seem to know him. I am very blessed to have them in my life as my second family, too, just like Ryan,” she said. “When I went up and saw ‘Stack’ it was so overwhelming. I had never said, ‘I hope they name a HokieBird after him,’ but to see that memory that many people touch and use as good luck means the world to me.”
In March, one new remembrance activity came to Blacksburg, all the way from Evan’s, GA: The Run for Ryan. Since 2020, Georgians run a 5k each year to raise money for the Ryan Clark Foundation. This year, Letitie invited the Marching Virginians to join the race virtually, demonstrating that Ryan’s legacy has had an impact near and far.
“When Mrs. Clark reached out to me at the beginning of the semester with information about the run, I knew it was the perfect opportunity for us. We had about 50 alumni who participated in the run,” Middleton said. “Many of those members came to campus and had the chance to interact with our current members. The rest of them ran remotely and posted on social media to raise awareness and stay involved.”
April 16 is a tragic date that all of
Virginia Tech takes very seriously. The We Remember website details the university’s weeklong event schedule to honor and commemorate the 32 Hokies who lost their lives, from the 3.2 for 32 Run to the midnight vigil. From the perspective of a mother who gave her child all the love and opportunity she could, Letitie is pleased with Virginia Tech’s remembrance efforts.
“As a whole, Virginia Tech does an outstanding job. When you apply to a university one of the things you do is research what they’re about. Sometimes, the young ones aren’t prepared to read or hear about what happened, but when they get to campus, there’s so much that includes the victims that you can’t help but learn more,” Letitie said. “Anyone you meet on that campus that’s been there for a few months can tell you that it is a big deal. To say they remember is just a small word; they honor the victims.”
Of course, Letitie is not the only parent who lost their child on April 16. Thirty-one other Hokies were taken that day. While the victims may not have known each other when they passed, their parents are forever connected.
“We are a part of a family that we never ask to be, but family nonetheless. You don’t always see all your family or get to talk to them, but you pray for them just like you pray for yourself,” Letitie said. “Each time I pray for Ryan, I pray for the 31 other
people that lost their lives, and I pray for each family that their healing process is getting better. The healing process never truly ends, but it can get better.”
18 years later, Letitie continues to heal, serve others and love her son.
“What motivates me most is that every day, I can see why I smile. I can feel his heart, and I know he’s with me all the time,” Letitie said. “You can be going along and having the best day ever, but then the wind could blow or a song could play and your heart melts. It’s something that you never get over. When I look at the young people that I get to interact with who tell me ‘You are making a difference in my life because of this scholarship,’ it keeps my heart going. I always question, ‘Am I doing a good job? Am I doing the best I can for my community?’ I keep trying to learn and grow just like everyone else, but I keep this mama’s heart. And when it aches, I know it’s time to pick it up and do something else, so I’m keeping busy, but it also keeps my heart a little bit stronger.”
To learn more about Ryan’s life and foundation, visit ryanstackclark.org.
HOKIES CARRY MEMORY FORWARD THROUGH EVERY MILE
Cat Pizzarello | lifestyles assistant editor
Run in Remembrance honors 32 lives lost and gives the community a chance to mentally and physically heal in a 3.2-mile run.
Last Saturday, April 12, thousands of participants from on campus and around the world gathered in Blacksburg — all taking part in an annual Run in Remembrance.
For 18 years, Recreational Sports has hosted a 3.2-mile run in honor of the 32 lives lost on the April 16, 2007, shooting.
Mark Owczarski, the university spokesperson at Virginia Tech, helped in organizing the original run in 2008 to honor the first anniversary of the April 16th shooting. Since then, he has contributed every year to ensure that the run continues to operate.
“The university makes a solemn promise on three major fronts,” Owczarski said. “One is never to forget, and always remember the lives lost, which is why it’s called a day of remembrance. Secondly, we must support and do all that we can to help the families
affected. Third, is keeping in mind the spirit of Ut Prosim, keeping an eye on one another, because in the face of tragedy, an entire community mourns.”
The remembrance run is an event to do just that. Starting at War Memorial Hall runners and walkers gather at the start line for a moment of silence at 9:43 a.m. to honor the 32 students and staff who lost their lives. After the moment has passed, the runners are off on their journey.
“The path that you take has deep meaning as well,” Owczarski said. “It starts in front of War Memorial Gym, and you run through all the iconic places that we love about Virginia Tech.”
From the War Memorial Gym, runners then advance around the Drillfield, through the DuckPond and all the way toward Lane
Stadium. In the stadium’s tunnel, runners will have the opportunity to slap the Hokie Stone entering the field just like the football players do at home games. Once exiting the football field, runners loop back around to the Drillfield, concluding the run at the April 16 Memorial, which is located directly in front of Burruss Hall.
“You run, walk, crawl, whatever you want to do because there’s no competition.There’s no clock,” Owczarski said. “There are no winners and losers. We do it together. You’re with the 32 spiritually.”
Bradley Winterling, a senior and editorin-chief of 3304 Sports, wrote an article for a class about the remembrance run during his first year at Virginia Tech. Winterling expressed how this helped him immediately see the importance of the run as a freshman.
“I didn’t know much about the Run in Remembrance until writing an article,” Winterling said. “Interviewing people and hearing their stories made me realize what it felt like (to be there for the shooting).”
As a former track runner in high school, Winterling was eager to participate in the run as an underclassman at Virginia Tech but was unfortunately injured in 2024 and was unable to run this past year as a junior.He added that he’s excited to show up for his final year as a student.
Being a transfer student, Winterling expressed that the Virginia Tech community and its spirit is so much stronger than at his former school. It made sense to him why so many people are eager to participate in the run.
“I noticed immediately at Virginia Tech how continued from page 4 continued on page 6
many people hold doors for you,” Winterling said. “I can leave my laptop at my table and walk away without fear of someone taking it. Everyone is just so kind and looks out for one another.”
Owczarski also mentioned that he has noticed the heightened amount of kindness shared during Remembrance Week within the Virginia Tech community. Whether it be current students, staff, or even alumni, he expressed how being a Hokie means to look out for one another.
“The run is, in a sense, for communities to be resilient and strong,” Owczarski said. “We need each other to help one another and to make sure we’re doing healthy things and we’re taking good care of ourselves both physically and mentally.”
Owczarski also expressed how exciting it is to see how many alumni continue to participate in the run all over the world. Currently, there are 17 other remembrance runs across the world, ranging from cities like Denver to Seattle, honoring the tragedy on April 16.
When signing up for the run, runners can print off bibs and write down who they’re honoring during their run. Runners on social media have even begun using the hashtag #VT32Run to post pictures of them honoring the lives lost.
“We live in a world right now that’s a bit contentious and cantankerous, whether it be through tariffs or challenging DEI offices or any other thing people disagree about. I hope that humanity and our need
for one another lives on,” Owczarski said. “I hope that those 32 lives are always remembered.”
Winterling emphasized that current students should take the time to remember their fellow students and professors who lost their lives. He hopes that students take the opportunity to learn more about the April 16 tragedy and the inspiration behind the Run in Remembrance.
“I hope students like me who didn’t know as much (about the April 16 shooting) use the run as opportunity to learn about the event,” Winterling said. “I hope people get out there and have a good time, but also honor the people lost.”
For the first time since the remembrance run in 2008, Owczarski is not just a planner
behind the scenes. This year, he joined in with the community to complete the run with his family and friends.
“Turn and support one another, walk with a friend, talk, share, touch the stone when you go into the stadium, enjoy the beauty of the duck pond,” Owczarski said.“Those are gifts, and those gifts are meant to be shared, because when times are really rough, you need one another to help you through that.”
IN MEMORY AND ACTION: HOW DEPARTMENTS HONOR THE LIVES LOST ON APRIL 16TH
Aidan Mason | lifestyles staff writer
Departments across campus honor 32 lives in their own individual ways from lighting ceremonial candles to meaningful monuments.
The aftermath of the 2007 shooting was a dark time that profoundly impacted the university. One of the most cited memorials at Virginia Tech stands in front of Burruss Hall, with a headstone for everyone who died on that tragic day.
While the university grieved as a unit, individual departments were grieving as well. Each has gone on to define that loss indifferent ways.
Cadets
The Lighting of Ceremonial Candle and subsequent extinguishing have been a tradition at Virginia Tech for a long time and are a major part of the We Remember programming. The Corps of Cadets has long been intertwined with this, sparked by the death of one of their members, Matthew Joseph La Porte, a sophomore studying political science. Joaquin Carrasco, a senior studying political science with a concentration in national security studies, still feels the echoes of La Porte’s passing.
“Every time we put on this uniform, we carry with us the memory of Cadet La Porte and the 31 others,” Carrasco said. Carrasco also has the honor of being the Shift Commander during the candle
lighting ceremony this year, his fourth year participating. He notes that the process began a few weeks beforehand, when the Cadets called for volunteers.
“For the Corps, this means ensuring that our drill is crisp, our uniforms are perfect and the details are flawless so that we can properly honor those who lost their lives,” Carrasco said.
Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics
Among the 32 victims was Dr. Kevin Granata in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, who was sadly not the only teacher to lose his life that day.
Mark Owczarski, the Interim Vice President of Communications and Marketing and Virginia Tech spokesperson, stated that Dr. Thurmon Lockhart’s tribute to Granata captured the attitude of the university best.
“He gave me guidance about living a simple life. He was my friend, my colleague, and my mentor and he will be truly missed,” Lockhart said.
As for Owczarski himself, he had a personal connection with the tragedy. While he was working at the school during the attack, his wife was among the first
journalists to report on the tragedy. He notes how he thinks about the people that he worked with over the years who were also at the university during the shooting.
“April 16, 2007, was a tragic day, and each and every life taken was special,” Owczarski said.
Norris Hall
Standing as a monument to everyone who died, the building hosts the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention. Founded after the shooting, the department has gone on to study the impact of violence and how to prevent it not only locally, but across the world.
Norris Hall itself acts as a monument too.
The second floor where the tragic shooting occurred was renovated differently from other floors, leaving the community with a reminder of what occurred and what we must always remember.
“We’re not just remembering; we’re continuing and living in their memory, and we’re committed to making sure they’re never forgotten,” Carraco said.
Owczarski echoed similar sentiments.
“Every Hokie, past, present and future, becomes a part of your DNA in terms of the care and the concern you have for the
thirty-two, for their families and for each other,” Owczarski said.
CADETS PAY TRIBUTE: CORPS PLAYS KEY ROLE IN APRIL 16 REMEMBRANCE
Bailey Miller | lifestyles writer
The historical Virginia Tech group creates new traditions and rituals to commemorate those lost on April 16.
Following the tragedy on the day of April 16, 2007, appalled individuals from the Hokie community gathered on the Drillfield in front of Burruss Hall, seeking comfort in each other.
Not knowing where else to go or what to do, students, faculty and Blacksburg locals mourned together.
Mark Owczarski, the spokesperson for Virginia Tech, shared that students jumped the fence of a construction site where Steger Hall is today and collected 32 pieces of Hokie Stone. They laid these stones on the Drillfield to represent the 32 lives lost during the shooting, which inspired the idea of the permanent memorial in that spot.
Every year at midnight on April 16, a ceremonial candle is lit by student body representatives at the memorial in front of Burruss Hall and the 32 deceased victims’ names are read. Following this event, members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets stand guard while taps, a bugle call commonly played at military funerals and memorials in the U.S., is played.
“(It is) a day of remembrance, and a day is 24 hours,” Owczarski said. “That day began at midnight. If you recall also from the iconic photos of the evening of April 16, 2007, the candlelight vigil, same sort of thing. That sense of candle, that sense of light, that sense of gathering inspired this.”
The annual traditions remembering the April 16 shooting allow people to pay respects, remember the lives lost and helped those impacted to grieve and find community after tragedy.
“It’s remarkable.” Owczarski said. “This stuff has happened, and I think it has defined this community. Even though members of this community may not have even yet been born, they own it like the previous generation of students did. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve been here for 22 years. It’s a remarkable community.”
Members of the Corps of Cadets return to the memorial at 11:27 pm to stand guard for the last 32 minutes of the day, each minute representing a life lost. At 11:59, the candle, still lit, is carried into Burruss Hall.
The Corps of Cadets were directly impacted by the April 16 shooting. Matthew La Porte, a sophomore political science major, Air Force ROTC cadet and
member of the Virginia Tech HightyTighties and Southern Colonels, was shot and killed in Norris Hall.
“There’s a reason why the Corps is participating in the midnight ceremonies, because they are affected too,” Owczarski said. “And so, they give back to remember the lives lost, support the families and help each other by being present.”
In 2015, surrounding the eight-year anniversary of his death, La Porte was awarded the Airman’s Medal, an Air Force award celebrating heroism. On April 10, 2015, the entire regiment of the Corps of Cadets marched from Upper Quad to Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg, VA in remembrance of La Porte.
The first floor of the Corps Leadership and Military Sciences building houses the Corps Museum. In this museum, a section is dedicated to La Porte, honoring and remembering his story.
Below the American flag between Pearson Hall East and Pearson Hall West, one black, rectangular stone lies amongst the Hokie stones. Owczarski shared that this unique stone was placed in Matthew’s honor and acts as an everyday reminder
ofhis bravery.
“It is part of our Hokie DNA; we understand innately our responsibility to give it forward,” Owczarski said. “Ut Prosim lives in the hardest of times and in the most joyful of times. I think this community has experienced tragedy unlike any other, and as a result, we have grown stronger, and we have grown more together. And the thing is, is, as Hokies, we have learned that when we do these things together, in that spirit of Ut Prosim and in the spirit of remembrance and spirit of giving back, we come out better than we started.”
MEMORIAL EVENTS SCHEDULE
Events marked by an asterisk (*) have already taken place.
A Tribute to Virginia Tech: Selections of Poetry from the April 16 Condolence Archives*
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
The Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives held a digital exhibit online.
3.2-Mile Run in Remembrance*
Saturday, April 12, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
The event’s 3.2-mile loop around the
Courtesy of Virginia Tech
Blacksburg campus began at 9:00 a.m. in front of War Memorial Hall and passed through iconic landmarks.
Remembrance Service*
Saturday, April 12, 2025, 1:30 p.m.
This event took place at War Memorial Chapel at 1:15 p.m.
Lighting of Ceremonial Candle
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 12:00 a.m.
Representatives of the student body will light the ceremonial candle and read the names of the 32 Hokies lost on April 16,
2007, followed by the playing of taps.
Wreath Laying and Moment of Silence
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 9:43 a.m.
After a moment of silence, a wreathlaying ceremony will take place at the April 16 Memorial in front of Burruss Hall.
Cadet Guard
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 11:27 p.m.
Volunteers from Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will stand guard at the April 16 Memorial for 32 minutes.
Extinguishing of the Ceremonial Candle
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
The candle will be extinguished and carried back into Burruss Hall, representing Virginia Tech’s commitment to remembrance.
View the We Remember website for more Virginia Tech alumni chapter events to remember April 16, 2007.
HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Participants at Virginia Tech’s Run in Remembrance pass by the April 16 memorial of the victims lost in the 2007 tragedy, April 13, 2024.