Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Darren Zega, U.S. Army who earned a degree in mechanical 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 was selected as the Hokie Hero for the football game versus Ohio State.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Hokie Hero program started in 2006 by IMG College, 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.

Zega is currently deployed for nine months to the Herat Province of Afghanistan, working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan District. His office manages a construction portfolio to support military operations throughout western Afghanistan. 

While deployed, he has overseen the completion of $80 million worth of construction projects supporting coalition forces, the Afghanistan military, and multiple U.S. government agencies.

Zega resides in Vienna, Virginia, and is a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Class of 2007. He Virginia Tech graduate, to his friends and family, and to his fellow 2007 Highty-Tighty "buds."

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