Charlie Sloop

Charlie Sloop, his nominator said, “has the gift of being nothing but himself. Charlie knows who he is and who he is meant to be.”

A first-generation student pursuing a dual degree in Communications and Theater Arts with a minor in Leadership and Social Change, Charlie guides our newest Hokies as an Orientation Leader. In this role, he has facilitated programming for over 2,000 incoming students to increase their knowledge of Virginia Tech and ways for them to find community here.

As a residential well-being student leader for belonging and inclusion, Charlie plans community experiences that let students engage across differences, cultivate curiosity, and promote community involvement and connections. In the process, he has built meaningful relationships with dozens of students while providing support and connection to resources.

Charlie also assists communicators in Student Affairs with creating ideas and content to engage and inform the campus and broader community.

Charlie said, “When I started here, I had this vision that I wanted to be a part of a group or develop a company where I work with clients to understand their needs and give them resources in order to be successful. Now, this vision has shifted to work with students in a higher education setting.”

Charlie recognizes that SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND INTEGRITY are not found entirely through oneself, and he credits his community with his ability to “live who he is.”

“We develop habits that are not only our own but those that we have a relationship with,” said Charlie. “To be able to make and sustain those relationships while I’m here at Virginia Tech is truly something to be grateful for.”

Self-understanding, said Charlie, requires “finding love for the imperfect aspects of yourself, because success can be in the smallest acts as long as it fills the mind, heart, and soul,” while integrity requires “recognizing that I have to contribute those small acts.”

“My living-learning community was the main platform for a lot of what I am involved in. The faculty principal, peers, and friends I’ve become close with started right in O’Shaughnessy Hall through the Leadership and Social Change Residential College.”

Charlie’s nominator said, “Charlie’s energy and encouragement for others allows his fellow Hokies to find their light and shine just as bright as he does. He advocates for his fellow Hokies to embrace different perspectives and he challenges them to actively listen and learn something new from each person they meet. He supports and advocates for the queer community at Virginia Tech and has been an inspiration for self-understanding. In these ways, Charlie Sloop embodies the Aspiration of SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND INTEGRITY.”

I am honored to present the Aspire! Award for PURSUE SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND INTEGRITY to Charlie Sloop.