Jacob Poel

“Jacob Poel,” said his nominator, “is a true servant leader who lives out civility in every aspect of his life.”

As Junior Student Leader for Residential Well-being in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Jacob has demonstrated respect, care, and empathy for each cadet and student in his sphere of influence, giving unbiased and non-judgmental support and care while preserving privacy and trust.

Jacob’s fun-loving spirit and calm, steady leadership have shaped both the corps and Residential Well-being communities that he supports. “He never makes anyone feel like a burden,” said a nominator, “even when last-minute responsibilities arise during already busy periods.”

His dedication to others consistently comes before his own convenience. His selflessness and reliability have been a gift to his student leader team as Jacob has stepped up to ease the burden on his peers.

With his ability to patiently form meaningful connections, Jacob provides a powerful example in building inclusive and supportive environments.

In an incredibly high-pressure and time-sensitive situation, Jacob responded with extraordinary maturity, compassion, and professionalism. When things didn’t feel right, Jacob persisted, trusted his gut and continued to express his concerns for this resident.

Making safety and transparency priority, he ensured the resident received immediate support, gave clear and timely updates to the support team involved, and spent many long nights supporting this resident. Jacob’s calm demeanor, sound judgment, and refusal to leave anything to chance helped guide the resident toward the appropriate professional resources.

Because he never hesitated to ask for help and always acted in the best interest of the student, that resident was ultimately connected with the care they needed. Jacob’s actions were not only commendable, but life-changing.

If he notices someone in need, he sits, he talks, he checks in, and he ensures that person feels seen and that they get connected to supportive resources. Jacob has built deep, trusting relationships with residents who see him as both a role model and confidant, and he has made his team stronger.

Jacob is fascinated international culture and history, which he attributes to his childhood in Japan, and looks toward engaging in foreign diplomacy and international policy.

“Hearing that I have connected people to resources, helped them build positive habits, or changed their perspective in some way is what motivates me to keep working hard,” said Jacob.

“Practicing civility is the choice to actively listen to those around me,” he said. “When I enter a conversation with the goal of hearing someone, it is almost impossible to walk away without learning something. And once I've learned something about them, respect comes naturally.”

Jacob said that listening to understand, even to those he deeply disagrees with is a model he routinely saw in his mother.

“Respect doesn't mean agreeing with everyone,” said Jacob, “but it does mean taking the time to understand them.

For his commitment to listening without judgment, his respect for diverse perspectives, and his ability to create space for authentic expression, Student Affairs is proud to present the Aspire! Award for PRACTICE CIVILITY to Jacob Poel.