Welcome to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. Our mission is to graduate leaders of character who are imbued with the concept of service. Since 1872, the Corps of Cadets has produced outstanding leaders for the Commonwealth and the Nation. Seven of our alumni have earned the Medal of Honor, a number exceeded only by West Point and Annapolis. Over 100 of our graduates have been promoted to General and Flag Officer rank. Countless alumni have achieved great success in the professions, business, industry, and public service.
Our leader development program is overseen by the Major General W. Thomas Rice Center for Leader Development. The Rice Center offers a minor in leadership studies. The center sponsors the Cutchins Distinguished Lecture Series, and has brought to campus recognized leaders and opinion-makers including Colin Powell, Stephen Ambrose, George Will, David Gergen, Gloria Borger, Tim Russert, Mary Matalin, and James Carville. The center also presents a regular lecture series by distinguished leaders from across the Nation and administers Cadet Leader School, a five lesson course on the basics of leadership.
The Corps of Cadets is a 24-hour-per-day, 7-days-per-week leadership laboratory. Cadets study leadership, learn from experts, and practice what they have been taught while leading the nearly 800-member Corps of Cadets.
Cadets repeatedly achieve great success at Virginia Tech. During four of the past eight years, the University Man of the Year has been a cadet. For the past three years, the University Undergraduate Leader of the Year has been a cadet. Recently, the cadet who served as Regimental Executive Officer, the number two position in the Corps, also captained the varsity swim team. In both 2001 and 2005 the top Naval ROTC cadet in the entire nation was a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. This is an outstanding achievement, as Navy ROTC cadets from nearly 150 schools compete for this award annually.
Our alumni, staff, and cadets are dedicated to the university motto Ut Prosim, “that I may serve.” I am inspired daily by their exemplary leadership, professionalism, and enthusiasm.