Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnae Maj. Lisa Wnek, Hawaii Air National Guard, who earned a degree in management from Pamplin College of Business and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 1999 and Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Zuniga, U. S. Navy Reserves, who earned degrees in both political science and sociology 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 1999 have been selected as the Hokie Heroes for the Russell Athletic Bowl game where Virginia Tech will play Rutgers.

The Virginia Tech 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.

Wnek is currently stationed in Kuwait on her third combat deployment. She is working at the Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center at Camp Arifjan.

When not deployed, Wnek lives in Kailua, Hawaii. She is a Class of 1999 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and says she would like to give a shout out to her mom and dad, her brother, and extended family, especially her nine-year-old niece, who all support her from Wareham, Mass.

Zuniga is currently stationed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan where she is a U.S. Navy Reserve augmentee supporting the U.S. Army. She is from Annapolis, Md., and this is her first combat deployment. She is also a Class of 1999 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets where she was the Regimental Public Affairs Officer her senior year.

Zuniga and her twin sister, Maj. Kara Miller, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in political science 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 1999 and was a Hokie Hero in November 2008, both joined the military after graduating from the corps. Zuniga says she sends her love to her children, Piper and Riley; her husband, Mario; and to her family and friends all over the world.

Below are the previous Hokie Heroes from the 2012 season.

• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. Randy Coggin, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in economics from the College of Science, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2009,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumna Capt. Kim French, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies 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 2005,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. Mark Angelo, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in history 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,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. Justin May, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in sociology in 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,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. George Hogg, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in geography in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2010,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Col. Frank Huber, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in electrical engineering in the College of Engineering in 1985,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Andy Howell, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in history 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 2007,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Cmdr. Bill Balding, U.S. Navy, who earned a degree in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 1989,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Mark Amos, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2008,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Maj. Ryan Crowley, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in civil engineering from the College of Engineering, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2001,
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumna Lt. Cmdr. Faye Rozwadowski, U.S. Navy, who earned a degree in biochemistry from the College of Science, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2001 and
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. Pete Laclede, U.S. Air Force, who earned degrees in both political science and history 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

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