BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — The Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, the oldest collegiate rescue squad in the Commonwealth, conducted a Zoom ceremony on Friday to swear in its 2020-2021 officer class.

The Virginia Tech Rescue Squad is run entirely by students, has approximately 40-45 members, and performs the same functions as a municipal rescue squad, according to the university. School officials say the squad responds to approximately 1,200 emergency calls each year on the Virginia Tech campus and provides emergency medical services at major university and athletic events. 

In order to lead the squad in a direction that helps advance Virginia Tech’s community safety, the squad elects new officers each academic year. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the squad’s newly-elected officers for the 2020-2021 academic year were honored and recognized with a virtual ceremony on Friday, May 1.

The new officer class includes the following members:

  • Sarah Guida: Chief, a sophomore majoring in human nutrition, foods, and exercise at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and public health at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Ryan Karabell: Operations captain, a junior majoring in human nutrition, foods, and exercise at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Areej Khan: Administrative captain, a junior majoring in philosophy, politics, and economics at the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
  • Bailey Wilk: Vehicles officer, a junior majoring in forestry at the College of Natural Resources and Environment
  • Nick Blome: Communications officer, a junior majoring in civil engineering at the College of Engineering
  • Morgan Ehle: Equipment officer, a sophomore majoring in human nutrition, foods, and exercise at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Cameron Hughes: Training officer, a junior majoring in microbiology at the College of Science
  • Catherine Chittal: Personnel officer, a junior majoring in human nutrition, foods, and exercise at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Hannah O’Malley: Public outreach officer, a sophomore majoring in clinical neuroscience at the College of Science
  • Callie Keating: Parliamentarian, a junior majoring in human nutrition, foods, and exercise at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Zeth Beazer: Member at-large, a junior majoring in experimental neuroscience at the College of Science

Click here to learn more about the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad.

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