First-year cadets Dante Aguilar, David Ellis, and Mary Ortwein will receive the flags at the first home football game of the season against North Carolina State.

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 and 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. Three first-year cadets are selected for home games. This year, an upper-class cadet will be recognized as an honorary flag cadet for away games.

Aguilar is majoring in physics in the College of Science and in Army ROTC. He was chosen for his helping his peers succeed, for being a role model for his peers, and for being receptive to feedback. He stays humble and focuses on the tasks set before him.

Ellis is majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering and in Army ROTC. He is the recipient of a corps’ Emerging Leader Scholarship. He was chosen for maintaining high standards in the corps and being a leader among his peers who is always the first to volunteer for various activities.

Ortwein is majoring in general engineering and in Naval ROTC. She is motivated and hard-working, quick to learn new expectations and discipline as a first-year cadet. 

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