Honors Communities Testimonials

Brad Shapiro, Hillcrest Resident

The annual trip to the Cascades to welcome
the freshmen into the communities.

Hillcrest means many different things to many different people. For me, it is a place where I came and feel comfortable. It is not the home of a bunch of over-competitive neurotic nerds, rather a collection of motivated students interested in helping each other be the best that they can be. With most residents staying at least three years, the camaraderie is akin to a family. Members are there for help with homework, advice on personal issues, and a general good time during college. The friendships I have made since being here are priceless, and nothing could replace the wonderful times I've had in my time in Hillcrest Hall.

Evan Stoddard, Main Campbell Resident

Outside of Main Campbell after "Nerd Fest,"
a competition between communities.

In all honesty, I arrived at Virginia Tech feeling somewhat anxious about living in the Honors community. Having no clue what any of the other students would be like, apprehensiveness was an emotion I adhered to in the weeks prior to move-in. This impression faded in, literally, a matter of hours. I was immediately accepted into a positive, amiable environment unlike anything I had experienced before. After the first weekend on campus, I had already met all of the other incoming freshmen and a majority of the upperclassmen in my hall. Talking to classmates outside of Main Campbell, I know other students who have still not met the people that live more than two doors down from them. On a nightly basis, members of the hall will get together to do various activities ranging from something relaxing, like watching a movie, to an outrageous jousting competition. Even in the first month of school, I have already made memories that will last me a lifetime. And, I genuinely believe that a bulk of these would not have transpired had I not been in Main Campbell. I was told that the goal of the honors community was to "create an environment [among the 26,000 students at Virginia Tech] in which people would notice when you weren't around." It is my sincere opinion that this goal has been surpassed within Main Campbell.

Kelly Wilson, Main Campbell Resident

Every semester, a joint community
dance is held.

College is tough, but not as tough in Main Campbell. Sure, there's a GPA requirement, but this will be so crucial to your future! In Main Campbell, there is support. The study lounge is constantly in use, and there are always folks to help you understand the material you are learning. Now think of opportunity. Any opportunity at all. It is about balance. Virginia Tech is such a great school for opportunity, because of its name and its size. Being an Honors kid, in an Honors community, at Virginia Tech, has its definite advantages. Now do me another favor. Imagine a family, full of love and loyalty, good memories, and security. Because that is what Main Campbell has been for me. The kind of friends I have made here are not just college friends; they are tried-and-true, rest-of-your-life kinds of friends. Friends that help me grow as a person. Friends I can rely on. Friends I can share everything with, from memories to those awesome deep-belly laughs that make life so wonderful.

Blair Lyons, Main Campbell Resident

Events such as Coffeehouse allow community
members to showcase their talents.

I am a member of the Main Campbell community, a hall of open doors. There are always outgoing and adventurous people walking around asking if I want to hang out or do something remarkable, like make a midnight trip to Kroger for ice cream and other essentials. Our community gets together often to do exciting projects like making our website, renovating our kitchen, and beating Hillcrest in our friendly competition affectionately named Nerdfest. The people in the MC are awesome to hang out with but also make interesting points in good conversations. Some of these conversations, including debates about gender issues in plumbing, start in our community-wide discussion class, Colloquium Magnum. Living here makes me think more about who I am and why I believe what I do. It stretches me to work harder and play harder, which is so far making my college experience exceptionally rewarding.

Douglas Hogan, Hillcrest Resident

Hillcrest residents prepare for an ultimate
frisbee game against Main Campbell.

It seemed as if Tech was the perfect place for me to attend university. It's close to home. It has a great engineering program. My brother is even a senior here as I am starting my freshman year. I still wasn't convinced that Tech was where I should go, though. However, after the weekend in the spring for prospective students interested in living in an Honors Community, I was certain that I wanted to go to Tech, and the reason was Honors. And ever since I moved into Hillcrest, I've seen that the hopes I had for what the community would be were well-founded. The people that live here are genuinely interested in learning, which is a quality that is tough to find even at a university like Tech. Contrary to many people's idea, Honors residents enjoy having fun and just lazing around. The best thing, though, is the amazing open-door policy, the overall sense of community. Of course, all of this wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the Honors program in general, whose staff does everything they can to make each Honors student's experience while at Tech as awesome as possible. So the last thing I can say then is that the only option a prospective Honors Community student has is to, well, live in an Honors Community. And if you're an Honors student not in one of the communities, do all you can to make your experience at Tech as unique and as influential to your future as possible.