Ellie Thurneysen

“Ellie's leadership is only surpassed by her selflessness,” said her nominator. “She is a constant presence in her living-learning community as well as in the local community.”

As a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Ellie is known for being a committed leader and community member. She regularly volunteers her free time to support corps events, going above and beyond to contribute to the events’ success.

In her junior year, she was selected as the Corps' regimental operations officer for the fall 2023 semester. She excelled at the role, planning every major event for the entire brigade including cadre week, new cadet week, football games, Caldwell march, and recruiting events. She was subsequently selected to be a company commander where she now serves as a student leader and mentor to fellow cadets.

“Ellie is trusted by her community and is frequently sought after for support, mentorship, and advice,” said her nominator.

Outside of her service on campus, Ellie is a tireless volunteer. She has led numerous community support events, including food drives and blanket drives. She has also participated in Veterans Day events, spoken with veteran groups throughout the New River Valley, and supported fundraisers for fallen veterans.

“Over the past two years, Ellie's impact on the Corps and the local community has been immeasurable,” said her nominator. “In an organization that focuses on service above self, she stands out.”

Ellie is proud of her ability to give back to her communities. As a first-year student, the Corps helped her find her place on campus and identify her passion for service.

“The more time and effort I put into it, the more I got to know the people and really lean into the community,” Ellie said.

Throughout her college career, Ut Prosim has been a guiding philosophy for her.

“To me, Ut Prosim means how can I makes others' lives better day to day,” said Ellie. “As a way of life, it involves doing what I can in the moment to improve a current situation or the lives of those around me. It involves sacrifice, but this sacrifice is outweighed by the satisfaction of improvement.”

For her tireless commitment to service on campus and beyond, it is my pleasure to present the Aspire! Award for EMBRACE UT PROSIM AS A WAY OF LIFE to Ellie Thurneysen.