1. Name: Justin Graves

 2. Where were you born and where do you live? Fredricksburg, VA

 3. Grade level and major: Senior Class of 2012. Sociology (Social Inequality)

4. Why did you want to become a Hokie? In high school, I had never heard of Virginia Tech- I had no idea where it was. When 4/16 happened, seeing all of the Hokies around the country band together really spoke to me about the community and the bond here in Blacksburg. Once I visited, I could feel it and I automatically could feel that there wasn't anywhere else that I wanted to spend at least the next four years of my life.

 5. How does you involvement on campus make you a Hokie? I base my life on five main pilars: Service, Friends, Community, Academics and Personal Happiness. The activities I'm involved in help me do this while also bonding with all kinds of different Hokies, from the student newspaper, the Collegiate Times, to Greek life,  from Hokie Ambassadors to University Council with Dr. Steger. Through living out our university motto "Ut Prosim" I am a Hokie. I also always make sure to have "family dinners" weekly with some of my best friends, that I lived with all the way back in freshman year, and I always make sure to sleep in at least once a week. And, sometimes I'll go to class.

 6. What's your favorite thing about being a Hokie? Meeting people. I love engaging with people, remembering their names and getting to know them. On my tours, each prospective student gets asked one question: what makes you tick? I love learning about people and seeing how we are different. Being at a university our size, really allows me to do that. That's why I never join organizations that confine or define me- I always look for opportunities to meet people without any affiliation and that's why I always ask people what their first name is before I tell them mine. My life is more about others than my own.

 7. What's been your favorite part about being an undergraduate Hokie? Probably when I meet people and they tell me that I am the reason they are here at Tech or that I am an inspiration for them in someway. Through Hokie Ambassadors and giving campus tours, that's really changed my life. Knowing that jsut an hour of my time has helped change the rest of their lives. I love knowing that I have impacted someone in such a unique way. Even if I haven't given them a tour, sometimes people will tell me that they've seen me giving tours aroung campus, rolling backwards in my wheelchair. Yes, I do events that help large numbers of people, but knowing that I've impacted a person PERSONALLY and that we'll remember each other forever, that makes me excited.

8. How do you plan to continue to embody the motto of Ut Prosim once you graduate? I plan on still being a Hokie! I want to get my Master's degree in Higher Education Administration and study to become an Admissions counselor or Student Affairs professional. I love being around students and just working with students- the innate excitement and eagerness to always learn more really drives me. I never want to be in a setting where that isn't the case, so I figured why not try to continue working with students?!

9. To find out more about Justin, check out his website: He's on Wheels