First-year cadets Andy Gaines, Abigail Sneska, and Lucas Surdam will receive the flags at Saturday’s football game against Duke, the last home game of the season.

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. 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. 

Gaines is in Army ROTC and majoring in business in the Pamplin College of Business. He was selected for being prepared and enthusiastic for each day and for checking up on his classmates and ensuring his unit’s morale is high.

Sneska is in the Citizen-Leader Track program and majoring in engineering in the College of Engineering.

She constantly works to better herself in academics, the corps, and physical fitness, going so far as to create study groups with her peers so that they can best prepare for upcoming exams.

Surdam is in Air Force ROTC and majoring in business in the Pamplin College of Business. He was chosen for maintaining a motivated and positive attitude, being a role model, and volunteering with any opportunity he's given.

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