blacksburg – The Hokies held a networking night at Lane Stadium on Thursday as Virginia Tech football alumni and local businesses attended Virginia Tech’s annual spring game hosted by PMSI this weekend.
More than 48 professionals represented notable companies such as State Farm and Chick-fil-A, as well as local companies such as Sinkland Farms and various athletic departments at Virginia Tech.
“Our goal for this event was simply to meet the interests of our players and put them in the best position to pursue their career dreams,” said Assistant Director of Player Engagement . Jayden Rosenboro said.
Athletes participated in mock interviews with experts, then transitioned into open networking opportunities to connect with representatives. Approximately 37 of these professionals are alumni and lettermen, including dual football and baseball alumnus Dr. Abraham 'Billy' Hardy, who addressed the group at the event's kickoff.
“The purpose of tonight is for you to understand how to network,” Hardy explained. “How to have a conversation that reaches the other person's ears.”
The event was a great success, attracting the largest number of registered professionals and participants ever. This amazing response emphasized the importance of fostering connections within the Hokie community.
“We want every graduate we can to come back. It's really important that we continue to invest in the student-athletes that come here, and this is a key way we make that happen. ” said Director of Player Engagement. carrie lynn walford Said. “From a community standpoint, we always tell our players, Blacksburg is Virginia Tech, and they’re taking the day off from school to come watch the game on Saturday. It's huge for them to see players without helmets on and expand their network.” ”
More than 64 student-athletes, both underclassmen and seniors, participated that day.Among them, the defensive back dorian strong He took this event as an opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and expand his connections.
“All the connections and time and effort that people have put in place for us has helped me so much,” Strong said. “There's a lot to ask of a Virginia Tech staff, but everyone walks around here with a smile on their face, which really creates a family-friendly environment. My time here has definitely helped me mature and It helped me grow into a better person.”
This is the first of many events the Hokies have scheduled for spring game weekend, which will be played Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Lane Stadium. Admission to the Hokies' spring game on Saturday is free, but in collaboration with Triumph NIL and The Hokie Way, fans are encouraged to participate in his NIL initiative of their choice.
Triumph NIL will be running a sweepstakes with a number of special experiences and items that fans can win by donating to each entry. You also have the option to enter multiple times to increase your chances of winning. Check out all the benefits you can join now. The entry deadline is Monday, April 15th at noon.
