The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets’ Class of 2020 will complete the second leg of the Caldwell March on April 15, marking the conclusion of their first year of training.

This is the second half of the 26-mile march made in commemoration of the journey Addison Caldwell, Virginia Tech’s first cadet and student, made to Virginia Tech in 1872.

First-year cadets walked the first 13 miles of the march, which started at the Caldwell homestead in Craig County, in October.

“As exciting as the first 13 miles were, these last ones will be even better because at the end we can officially say we made it, and it will be our turn to take on more responsibility and to lead in the corps,” said Cadet Izzy Goschinski, a first-year student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, majoring in international studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. She also is in Army ROTC.

As a first-year cadet, Goschinski said she learned she is capable of more than she ever gave herself credit for.

“I’m lucky to have such great role models and mentors in the corps and ROTC that pushed me to go well outside of my comfort zone, something I am now extremely grateful for. The amazing thing about the corps is that it presents each cadet with a broad spectrum of opportunities, and there are so many people who are willing to help you achieve your goals,” said Goschinski, the recipient of a four-year Army ROTC scholarship and an Emerging Leader Scholarship from the corps.

The spring march will end with cadets entering Upper Quad between 2 and 4 p.m. Actual time will depend on weather and road conditions. As the cadets march in, the regimental band, the Highty-Tighties, will play and Skipper, the Corps of Cadets cannon, will fire. 

Many alumni, families, and friends support the first-year cadets as they march by being a Caldwell March sponsor. Anyone who donates $500 or more to the commandant’s priorities fund becomes a sponsor. Each cadet wears name tag recognizing his or her sponsor during the march. Afterward, donors receive the name tag, a thank-you note from the cadet, and a photo of the cadet.

The generosity of corps supporters continues to have a true impact, as 149 cadets were sponsored for the spring Caldwell March, raising $111,717 for the corps. 

Share this story