First-year cadets Ethan Daniell, Aiden Smallwood, and Kathleen Reilly will receive the flags at Saturday’s football game against Georgia Tech.

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.  

Daniell is majoring in history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. A member of the corps’ Citizen-Leader Track, he is known for his enthusiasm and dedication to his physical training. Always prompt, he pushes himself to excel and is an eager participant in his cadet activities.

Smallwood is also in the Citizen-Leader Track and is majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering. He demonstrates daily his dedication to academics and physical training and always shares his motivation with team members. He makes a concerted effort to connect with his fellow cadets.

Reilly is majoring in animal and poultry sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. A Citizen-Leader Track cadet, she is motivated and always encourages her fellow cadets. She has strong communication skills and never backs down from a challenge.

The corps’ Citizen-Leader Track is designed to foster and develop leadership skills in cadets for employment upon graduation in the public and private sectors, industry, nonprofit organizations, and other civilian or government positions.