Video: HokieBird statue created for VTCSOM after 100 percent of Class of 2018 donated to their class gift

17 May 2018

Hokie Bird unveiled at graduation dinner — "Roanoke Hokie, MD" was unveiled at the Class of 2018's graduation dinner on May 3, 2018.

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Class of 2018 rallied behind an idea to give the school a HokieBird statue, in honor of the medical school becoming Virginia Tech's ninth college on July 1.

A local couple, Kevin and Nancy Dye, offered to cover the cost of obtaining a Gobble de Art bird, like those seen all around the main campus in Blacksburg, if 100 percent of the members of the class donated toward the class gift. All 41 students in the class met that challenge. The class worked with the artist assigned to the project, Heather Gearhart, to design the bird.

"Roanoke Hokie, MD" was unveiled to the class and community on May 3 at a graduation dinner honoring the Class of 2018. The bird is currently on display in the VTCSOM lobby, located at 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia.

Check out the video below to see the design inspiration and process to create "Roanoke Hokie, MD."