Oliver Nazarian

“Oliver Nazarian embodies a commitment to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and selfless service,” said one of his nominators. “His leadership has left a positive mark on Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets’ communities.”

Oliver credits the corps with helping him find his place at Virginia Tech. Before graduating from the corps last spring, he dedicated himself to serving his community as a student leader and commander. His nominator describes his leadership style as patient and thoughtful, always able to support his peers with empathy and a sense of humor.

For his presence and impact in the community, Oliver earned respect from peers, Commandant’s Staff, and Residential Well-being team. He is known as a beacon of civility and compassion.

“Oliver demonstrates the highest levels of dignity and respect for those he leads,” said a nominator. “When handling sensitive issues, he resolved each with extreme compassion, courtesy, and kindness as he expertly navigated the complexities of each situation. Time and again, he maintained a positive environment focused on the well-being of both the individual and the community.”

A testament to his leadership skill, he was one of only eight student leaders to retain his role for more than one semester, and he is now in his third semester as a student leader. He also assisted in the training of future student leaders for the corps, going above and beyond to offer support and valuable insights.

Oliver is guided by his faith and said, “It helps me be a better man every day, not just for myself but for those around me.”

He has discovered that the key to being an effective leader and role model is to be respectful, kind, and understanding.

“In those moments where you are not receiving the respect you deserve, your civility is that much more important,” said Oliver. “Being understanding of where a person is coming from, despite your own opinions, goes a long way in getting through difficult topics.”

Oliver’s commitment to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion is evident.

“He creates an environment where individuals feel empowered to be their authentic selves,” said a nominator.

Oliver’s nominators observed that he leads from a place of compassion and care, transcending the expectations of his roles to always lend a listening ear or comfort those in need.

“Countless cadets have benefited from Oliver's random acts of kindness, contributing to their positive corps experience at Virginia Tech,” said a nominator. “His role as a trusted confidant and role model for residents reflects his commitment to building meaningful connections. His selfless leadership is exemplified by his willingness to go above and beyond to improve the lives of those around him.”

Oliver is an industrial systems engineering major in the College of Engineering with a minor in Leadership Studies through the Corps of Cadets' Rice Center for Leader Development. In May, he will join the US Navy as a commissioned officer.

Oliver said with the many opportunities to help those at Virginia Tech, the highlight of his college career was “knowing that my efforts helped someone along their way.”

For his selfless commitment to serving his community and keeping the peace, I am proud to present the Aspire! Award for Practice CIVILITY to Oliver Nazarian.