Cadets Matthew Mabutas, Viviana Pazos, and Timothy Villanueva will receive the flags at this week’s football game against Miami.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Virginia Tech football team continue their proud partnership to highlight the colors during the pre-game ceremony at every football game.

Three football players, chosen because of their performance in the last game or at practice, carry the American flag, the state flag, and the team’s spirit flag as they lead the team onto the field. They deliver the flags to cadets at the south end of the field. 

The cadets, also selected based on their performance in the corps, render honor to the flags and carry them off the field. At home games three first-year cadets are selected, and one or two upper-class cadets travel with the team and receive the flags at away games. 

Villanueva, a first-year cadet majoring in university studies, has confidence and mental discipline. He always performs every task to the best of his ability as well as helping fellow cadets who are struggling. He is the recipient of a corps’ Emerging Leader Scholarship and in Air Force ROTC.

Mabutas, a first-year cadet majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering, is a top performer in his company. Along with his strong individual performance this semester, he motivates and supports his fellow cadets. He is the recipient of a corps’ Emerging Leader Scholarship and in Air Force ROTC. 

Pazos, a first-year cadet majoring in university studies, has stood out not only for her outstanding performance and high level of involvement, but for her continued improvement over the semester. She is the recipient of an Emerging Leader Scholarship and is in the Citizen-Leader Track. 

Written by Christie Shufran, of Ashburn, Virginia, a senior majoring in human development in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

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