Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 2nd Lt. Mark Walczyk, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in political science and a minor in English from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2010 has been selected as the Hokie Hero for the Virginia Tech versus Appalachian State game.

His selection kicks off another great year of the Hokie Hero program which honors the service of so many Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets graduates who are serving our nation so far from home and their families. They truly epitomize the University's motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

The Corps of Cadets Hokie Hero program started in 2006 by IMG College and sponsored by the University Bookstore, honors Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni who are currently deployed. Recipients of this honor are highlighted by Bill Roth and Mike Burnop during the radio broadcast of Virginia Tech football games, on the Corps of Cadets website, on the Corps of Cadets alumni website and in the Corps Review magazine.

Walczyk is currently stationed at Operating Base Delta, Iraq, as a scout platoon leader in Comanche Troop in the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division. He is from Huntington, N.Y., and this is his first combat deployment.

Walczyk is a Class of 2010 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and was the Delta Company commander his senior year. He says he sends his love to his girlfriend, who is also a member of the Corps of Cadets Class of 2010, Ensign Jessica Marshall, U.S. Navy, who earned a degree in international studies and minors in history and Spanish from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2010; to his parents, Peter and Diane Walczyk; his brother, Pete; and his sister, Sandra.

Walczyk is on his mid-tour leave from Iraq and he and Marshall were both in the stands with the Corps of Cadets at the game. 

Below are all the Hokie Heroes from the 2010-11 season.

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