Charity Hall

Four Student Affairs staff members came together to nominate our next Aspire! Award recipient -- Charity Hall. This, in part, is what they wrote:

“Virginia Tech’s mission, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), calls on faculty, staff, and students to live their lives in service to others. From our Land Grant heritage, to the Corps of Cadets, to our efforts during COVID-19, Hokies have always lived in service to others, across the Commonwealth and around the globe.

Since fall 2018, Charity has been lead student worker in Housing and Residence Life.

During a normal year, the student in this position answers phones, responds to emails, and works on administrative tasks. In the midst of COVID-19, though, this position was transformed. The customer service aspects of the role continued, but meeting the needs of students in isolation and quarantine was paramount. 

Early on in the fall 2020 semester, Charity consistently volunteered for extra tasks and shifts. Last spring, she volunteered to change her schedule to ensure that the students in quarantine and isolation were taken care of. She was always the first to say yes. She did all of this out of a sense of selflessness and an understanding of her calling to live a life of service to others. 

Charity also took on a central role in training new student workers, actively working to ensure the new team members understood our commitment to service. Not only does Charity live a life of service – she also encourages others to do the same. 

Remarkably, Charity did it all with a constant smile and positive attitude that were hard to come by in the midst of a global pandemic. Charity did not lose her sense of humor, and she served as an inspiration to us all.” 

Charity will graduate this spring with a degree in Fish and Wildlife Conservation and a minor in Biological Sciences. The recipient of several named scholarships, she recently spent a month in Belize in Central America conducting fieldwork for Professor Marcella Kelly’s Jaguar Project.

Charity said, “It truly opened my eyes to what I am capable of, and what opportunities the world has to offer. I lived outside of my comfort zone and thoroughly enjoyed it. My passion is traveling and having new experiences. I am always looking for the next adventure. Spending time working outdoors always presents unexpected scenarios, and you never know what you’ll be getting into.” 

She went on to say, “To work hard in the spirit of helping others is extremely important to me. It feels very rewarding to have a position in Housing where I can have a direct positive impact. In my almost four years in Housing and Residence Life, I have worked through some of the most challenging obstacles the university has faced thus far, and I’ve never been one to shy away from a call for help.”

Charity, it is my pleasure to present to you the Aspire! Award for embracing UT PROSIM as a way of life.