University History]]>
In his later career, he worked in architecture firms around Winston-Salem, North Carolina and eventually established his own. Along with a successful architecture firm, he opened a vineyard in East Bend. He remains involved with Virginia Tech as an active alumni, where he serves as a board member for the Alumni Association. ]]> 2015-10-09]]> Permission to publish materials from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech. ]]> University History]]>
During this interview, King recounts his early life growing up and arriving at Virginia Tech, working as an RA, campus life during the Vietnam War and as a Black student. He feels that Virginia Tech served as a foundation for his later career, in working at a law firm and eventually the Maryland State Assembly. ]]> 2015-11-21]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
However, Katie quickly adjusted to life at Virginia Tech, finding both a community and an opportunity to grow academically. In the dorms she made lifelong friends with her hallmates, and she later joined a sorority that allowed her to branch out socially and gave her experience with service and leadership. After some time passed, Katie immersed herself in the Virginia Tech community, going to football games, pranking fraternities with her sorority, and making close friends in her classes. Through this community, Katie grew accustomed to being away from home and learning to go out on her own. She eventually became a college ambassador, allowing her to become acquainted with many of the leaders in her college, as well.

After she graduated, Katie applied her double majors of Agricultural Economics and Political Science through her work as a lobbyist, lobbying for a variety of agricultural issues, including the importance of agricultural education. She uses her drive and passion to make a change in people’s views and actions towards agricultural issues. Additionally, Katie is the President of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, and she credits Virginia Tech for giving her the opportunity, through internships, to acquire this position. She speaks to the impact that the combination of academic and extracurricular activities that she had during her undergraduate years at Tech had on her career and post-graduation activities, and she appreciates the opportunities for research and experience that Tech allows for, along with the willingness of faculty to help students as best they can.

As an alumna, Katie remains connected to Virginia Tech through the University Alumni Board and many other advisory committees within the College of Agriculture, along with lobbying for funding for Tech’s agricultural programs. She also is part of Virginia Tech’s Government Relations Department, which allows her to speak to Virginia Tech students and influence their paths. While she thinks of Virginia Tech as a community, she hopes that the university will continue to focus on development and research. She also would encourage the university to continue to create opportunities for alumni involvement and to let the world know what Virginia Tech’s community is capable of.

]]> 2015-10-10]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Katie Frazier, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
He eventually arrived in Blacksburg because of a job offer with General Electric in Shenandoah. After getting the job, Nolen's boss decided to send him to Virginia Tech for an engineering degree, which he graduated from in 1965.

In this interview, Nolen recounts his path to Virginia Tech, becoming a student in the Corps, studies, his later career in General Electric, and then becoming a proud alumni. ]]> 2016-05-17]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
When Banks came to the University in 1946, it was mandatory that all able-bodied male students with no prior military experience spend two years in the Corps of Cadets. The Richmond native says the adjustment to such a controlled environment was a difficult one, with penalties being handed out for even the slightest infractions.
Despite the difficulties of the first year, also called the “Rat Year,” the alumnus says that he is grateful for his time in the Corps of Cadets.

Not having made a social visit in years, Banks is unfamiliar with many of the school’s changes since his time as an undergraduate, other than the addition of social fraternities and the Corps of Cadets no longer being a requirement.

Eugene stays involved with Virginia Tech predominately through his love for athletics. While Eugene’s two sons graduated from Tech, at this point he connects most deeply with Virginia Tech’s Hokie football team. Eugene has been witness to the evolution of Tech, but he will always remember it as his open-country, military university of 1950.

]]> 2015-05-21]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Eugene Banks, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> LGBTQ+ History]]> University History]]> Sexual minorities]]> 2016-03-16]]> Permission to publish material from the Virginia Tech LGBTQ Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Sexual minorities]]> University History]]>
In his oral history, Feiertag discusses his childhood in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1930s and 40s, his long career in the military and hospitality industry, his homosexual experiences as a young man in the 1950s and 60s, his relationship of nearly 50 years and his life in the Virginia Tech community.]]> 2014-11-02]]> Permission to publish material from the Virginia Tech LGBTQ Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>