Willis and Mary Nolen Blackwood: The Hokie Nation Personified

“It amazes me,” Mary Nolen Blackwood joyfully reminisces, a Virginia Tech grad of ‘73, “you love each other in spite of your idiosyncrasies.”  Willis and Mary Nolen Blackwood, Class of 1972 and 1973 respectively, have continued to maintain their connection to Virginia Tech for the past 50 years following graduation through heavy family ties and financial involvements. Even in Florida, …

Matt Arden: Merging Creativity and Mentorship

Virginia Tech graduate Matt Arden, Class of 1999, dreamed of being a sportscaster since he was 13 years old. With a prolific career in sports television spanning almost 20 years and garnering him three Emmy awards, he has brought his dream to fruition. Arden was born in Washington, D.C., and when his parents divorced, he stayed in Woodbridge to live …