By Florence Gonsalves, Chelsea Seeber, and Melody Warnick
Photos by Luke Hayes for Virginia Tech
Our Virginia Tech community is made stronger by the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. Among the most unique are those of students who have served or are currently serving in the military, whose journeys to academia reflect resilience, adaptability, and a distinctive worldview. For them, the rigors of military life have shaped their discipline and work ethics while providing them with a deep sense of purpose and leadership that fuels their academic pursuits.
In this special Veterans Day tribute, we explore how military service has shaped the lives and perspectives of five students here at Virginia Tech. Their stories offer insight into their journeys, their challenges, their triumphs, and the Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) spirit they bring to their fellow Hokies.
Andre Tonkinson
Marine veteran
Mechanical engineering sophomore
If there’s one thing I learned in the Marines, it’s perseverance. I was born in Russia, adopted at 3, grew up in Ohio, and joined the Marines directly out of high school. During my service, I worked with information technology on Camp Pendleton in Southern California. I was also deployed to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for crisis response during the U.S. troop withdrawal in the Middle East. I was turning 23 when I started as a freshman at Virginia Tech and hadn’t been focused on academics in years. It was a big adjustment because I forgot everything school-related, and being older than everyone took some time getting used to. There can be a disconnect with life experience and maturity, but my rock on campus is the Veterans@VT group, where I’m the philanthropy chair. Ever since I was little I wanted to innovate and create. My No. 1 goal is to start my own business, and in turn I’ve created a portfolio website to showcase my artwork. The Marines taught me to improvise, adapt, and overcome, and that mindset continues to stay with me.
Brianna Rodriguez
Army veteran
Computer engineering senior
I joined the military when I was a freshman in college, so I have a pre-military college experience and post-military college experience. The biggest benefit to me was the level of maturity I gained while I was in the Army. I decided to enlist for the tuition benefits but came back with so much more. I have a new appreciation for the level of determination and discipline that it takes to tackle challenges.
Since returning to Virginia Tech, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) means so much more. In the Army, I was a truck driver which was not in my wheelhouse. I didn’t have experience doing that type of job, so I had to rely on other people to carry me and teach me. Now, I recognize the significance of mentorship. I wanted to give back in that same way, so I joined the electrical and computer engineering women’s peer mentoring program. Over the summer I also had the chance to mentor high school students in the UPWARDS semiconductor camp; it was so rewarding to show young girls that engineering doesn’t have to be intimidating.
To other veterans who are considering getting a degree, I won’t deny that the transition can be hard. But I’ve found community everywhere on this campus. My roommates and I all have the same major and have formed a study group to help each other. Study what you love, and it will all be worth it.
Hannah Nofziger
Navy veteran
Interior design senior
Coming out of high school in Charlottesville, I did not know what I wanted to do. I took the ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] military test in high school, and if I’m being honest with you, it was just a way to get out of class. As the epitome of a teenager with a horrible work ethic and terrible time management, I knew I wasn’t going in the direction I needed to, and at one point I thought, “The military will straighten me out.”
I joined the Navy in October after high school graduation and spent most of the next six years in Japan. I got married to a fellow Navy corpsman there, and my daughter was born there in 2017. I love telling stories about my military adventures and travels to different countries like Australia, Korea, and Thailand.
Those years of living in Japan gave me a sense of independence and time management that carried over to my studies at Virginia Tech. I used to get in trouble all the time for being late. Now I can count on one hand — well, two hands — the number of times I’ve been late to class in the past three years. If I had come to Virginia Tech right out of high school, I would have dropped out for sure. But I credit the Navy with helping me find a good path in life. I think I found my own voice in the military, and that pushed me in the right direction.
Jude Steljes
Army reservist
Construction engineering and management junior
Being in the reserves is a one-weekend-a-month commitment. There are points where I do get a little FOMO, like when I have drill on a home game weekend. But I’ve found a passion for my job as a 12C bridge crewmember, building bridges to create water crossings. I’ve been in charge of a large-scale building project, of getting all the materials to the build site, of making sure all the materials and contractors are coming at the right time, of making sure the site layouts are alright. That’s made me a better student and given me an advantage in my construction engineering major.
There's a sense of pride and accomplishment in the work I do in the Army, though some times are really tough. In basic training we’d say “chow to chow,” meaning, you only have to make it from meal to meal. You wake up, do your PT [physical training] and then have your breakfast — that’s one part of the day. And after that you just put it behind you and focus on what you have to do until lunch. You don’t have to think about the next four years, you just need to get through the next three hours. School was always a daunting task for me, but serving in the military has given me a confidence boost. If I can make it in the Army, school is no problem.
Kofi Asiedu-Agyei
Army reservist
Biochemistry and biology senior
My family immigrated to the United States from Ghana when I was 12 years old, and my dad was worried about his kids’ future. He thought joining the military could increase my career options, so when I was a freshman at Virginia Tech, he got in contact with an Army recruiter. At first, my initial thought was, “No, I'm not doing that and definitely not interested.” But then I did my research into how this could help me and I was like, “OK, I could definitely utilize the Army resources and opportunities to further my career.” I enlisted in the Army Reserve after my first year of school and soon had a goal of commissioning as an Army lab officer.
I recently got back from a nine-month deployment to Iraq, so I’ll be graduating a year and a half later than I would have. But I’ve worked as hard in the military as I have in school to get the most I could out of both experiences. I’ve been balancing drill weekends with my normal schoolwork, and along the way I’ve met people who are currently in the job I want. I’ve asked them numerous questions, like what day-to-day operations look like and the rank of soldiers they have the most interactions with. I am grateful to have those mentors.
The military prepared me to have the career I want, and with my degree from Virginia Tech I’ll be able to achieve it.