On Saturday, May 13, 1,108 Hokie Scientists walked across the stage at Lane Stadium to applause. But before that, students, faculty and staff, and family and friends heard from Claire Seibel, the 2023 College of Science Outstanding Senior Award recipient. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, and had a triple minor in leadership, Chinese studies, and applied economic management.
She served as the regimental commander of the Corps of Cadets, the highest ranking cadet in the program, as well as a Residential Well-being Student Leader, and a Bible Study leader through Catholic Campus Ministries. She also regularly volunteered for Future Farmers of America.
College of Science Outstanding Senior–Claire Seibel
“Virginia Tech teaches us and challenges us to live differently to put service before self and the world needs those kind of people. When we look out on that horizon of what we’re going to face, it can be intimidating.
How are we going to provide for this world sustainably? How are we going to face emerging challenges in technology? How are we going to defend and uphold democracy in a more challenging environment? Through service and through that life that is lived differently when we look at the news and we see those challenges spoken about as if they’re unmanageable, that is only because it is from that standpoint of individualism in materialism. When we instead choose to serve, when we instead choose to uphold the values of this university, and seek brotherhood in meaning.
When we choose to lead, when we choose to abandon the safe shores of what is comfortable and instead dive into that sea of what is unknown and what is risky, but what we know we can accomplish together as Virginia Tech, especially the College of Science has taught us, we are capable of facing those challenges and the world needs us to be there the world needs us to continue to aspire towards Ut Prosim.”
Gibbons Graduate Fellow
Among this year’s graduates is Annie Sauer (Ph.D. ’23), the first Jean D. Gibbons Graduate Fellow in the Department of Statistics. Sauer is set to join the Department of Statistics at N.C. State University as an assistant professor.