Nicole Tuckman, a recent graduate of the Department of Human Development and Family Science and the Department of English at Virginia Tech, won an Aspire! Award for exemplifying and exceeding the university’s values of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) in her everyday life.

Tuckman’s way of showing Ut Prosim comes in many forms. Her favorite was working for the Hokie Ambassadors. Every year, she and her fellow colleagues gave tours to prospective high school seniors around the Blacksburg campus.

She said showing off the Virginia Tech community is the reason she loved to give out tours. She ended every one of her tours by explaining the definition of Ut Prosim and what it means to the community.

“Everyone here holds the aspect of giving back to others as part of their character,” said Tuckman. “Everyone has their own way of serving the community and others around them. It’s what makes the environment of this school so great.”

Another way Tuckman served the Virginia Tech community was being the chief recruiting officer for her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. Every semester, Tuckman leads a team of six to seek out new members for their sorority. Over the span of 10 days, she prepared and actively recruited the thousands of young women who wanted be a part of Greek life.

“This role taught me a lot about leadership as well as myself,” Tuckman said. “It was a lot of responsibility and commitment, but I wouldn’t change that experience for the world.”

Her leadership and giving back continued to the Student Alumni Associates where she served as the director of membership. Much like her position in her sorority, she oversaw their entire recruitment process.

Tuckman’s Student Alumni Associates advisor, Andrew Foiles, nominated her for the award. Foiles said that she gave back to the community in so many ways and that she fit the criteria and outlines of the Aspire! Award perfectly.

She kept all of our newest members engaged and committed to an organization that couldn’t host its normal events this year,” said Foiles, the university’s assistant director for student and young alumni engagement. “She put so much of her time, energy, and herself into her organizations. She wasn’t required to do any of this; however, she gave of herself freely and completely.”

Written by Clay Williams, a rising senior majoring in multimedia journalism.