For the second consecutive year, Virginia Tech's Leadership Institute visited the nation's capital to gain valuable leadership skills.
Seven student-athlete participants, along with three athletic department employees, were in Washington, D.C. last Tuesday through Thursday to make an impact on local youth, learn about professional teams' community engagement and explore the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
"The purpose of this year's trip was to allow our student-athletes to see the connections across sport, service, leadership and social change," said Cameron Spera, who is Virginia Tech's Senior Director, Student-Athlete Leadership Development. "It is important for them to see how sports organizations as a whole and individual athletes can make a positive impact on their communities and this was a great setting to do so."
Who went?
Mary Elizabeth Avera (Social Media Intern, Athletics)
Erin Carleton (Soccer)
Calista Heister (Soccer)
Emma Inch (Swimming and diving)
Ethan Mills(Track and field and cross country)
Jaden Payoute (Football)
Anna Summers (Swimming and diving)
Brooke Zettel (Swimming and diving)
Cameron Spera (Senior Director, Student-Athlete Leadership Development)
Danny White (Senior Associate Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Services/University Affairs)
To kick off the trip, the Hokies put on a sports and leadership clinic at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy. The youth clinic was hosted in partnership with MLB's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, an initiative focused on making the game more accessible to underserved community members. The group got to eat dinner with the RBI Little Leaguers, their coaches and the D.C. Grays staff.
"Working with the DC Grays and the MLB RBI program was very meaningful for us and showed us the privilege and the access to impactful resources that we have at Virginia Tech," Heister said. "The program offers these children an opportunity to gain access to sports in a way that they haven't experienced before, which is powerful for both them and us as volunteers and student-athletes."
Following the clinic, the Hokies saw the D.C. Grays play that evening, but not before selecting a representative to throw out the first pitch.
The Hokies began Wednesday with a visit to the Washington Nationals' home facility. The group toured Nationals Park, while learning about the team's community initiatives from two members of the Nationals staff, Giselle Diaz, Events Coordinator, and Kevin Kelley, Events Director.
For most, this was a top moment of the trip.
"The Leadership Institute trip to Washington DC was an amazing experience," Mills said. "It was awesome to be able to tour the Washington Nationals facility and hear all about the behind the scenes, the business side of the team, and even see the 2019 World Series trophy."
Participants asked about how the professional team highlights community engagement in and out of season, what causes are meaningful to them and what makes Washington, D.C. community involvement unique.
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To better understand the links between service, sport and social change, the group capped off the trip at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, an enlightening experience that incorporated an interactive dance class. The Museum also currently houses a sports exhibit, which highlights the social, cultural, and political contributions of Black athletes on and off the field.
"One of the coolest things about the trip was how the itinerary took us full circle," Spera said. "The people we talked to and the places we visited would not have existed had it not been for the efforts of the people we learned about at the Museum. It was really great to see our student-athletes reflect on this concept and draw connections across all aspects of the trip."
Gallery: (6-13-2023) 2023 Leadership Institute Washington, DC