On Saturday, Feb. 15, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will hold the fourth annual Women of the VTCC breakfast at the Inn at Virginia Tech, located at 901 Prices Fork Rd. 

The Women of the VTCC initiative was initially created to develop a network among corps alumnae and current cadets, to provide additional training opportunities, and to help improve retention of female cadets.

Each year, the highlight event is a breakfast where all female cadets attend with visiting alumnae. For the first time, cadets and staff from both the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College and Virginia Military Institute have been invited to take part in the event.

This year’s keynote speaker is Deb Cheslow, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Class of 1987, who earned her degree in aerospace and ocean engineering from the College of Engineering.  She was a member of Bravo Company and served as the 2nd Battalion Executive Officer her senior year.

Cheslow was the first female U.S. Air Force pilot to graduate from Virginia Tech. She finished near the top of her class in pilot training and chose to become an instructor pilot, teaching airmen to fly supersonic jets. After leaving the Air Force, she began her career in the private sector, eventually becoming CEO of Deb Cheslow Consulting.

In addition to attending an annual breakfast with alumnae, current female cadets take part in training courses, awareness programs, and networking events throughout the year. These events include a Rape Aggression Defense program led by the Virginia Tech Police Department and the Mentors in Violence Prevention programs coordinated by the Women's Center.  

The Women of the VTCC event will be held on the same weekend as the Corps of Cadets 71st annual Senior Banquet and Military Ball.  Returning alumnae will get to take part in this tradition that was such a significant part of their time as a cadet.

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