Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. Tracy Porter, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in geography from the College of Natural Resources and Environment as well as minors in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development and geosciences from the College of Science in 2010 has been selected as the Hokie Hero for the University of Alabama game in Atlanta, Ga.

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 and in the Corps Review magazine.

Porter is deployed for nine months to the Kandahar Province, of Afghanistan as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Platoon Leader for the 766th EOD Company. His platoon provides counter Improvised Explosive Devices support to the Zahray District, removing explosive devices and other explosive hazards from the battlefield. While deployed, Porter’s four EOD teams have disarmed over 100 IEDs, and destroyed over 28,000 pounds of enemy explosives.

He hails from West Point, Va., is a Class of 2010 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, was a member of the regimental band the Highty-Tighties, and served as the regimental operations officer his senior year. 

Porter says he sends his love to his wife Lindsey, also a 2010 graduate of the Corps of Cadets and the Highty-Tighties, who earned a degree in sociology and a minor in American Indian studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, as well as a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development and is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. He also says hello to his friends and family, and his "fellow 2010 Highty-Tighty buds."

Below are the Hokie Heroes from the 2012-2013 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,
  • 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 and
  • 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.
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