Reaz Mahmood

Let’s be clear up front: getting help for mental illness is nothing people should be ashamed of.

As an engineering student, an Army ROTC cadet, and a member of the Corps of Cadets, Reaz Mahmood faced challenges and saw what rock bottom looked like. A determination to never let himself or anyone else hit that point was born.

Reaz began working with the Corps of Cadets leadership and Hokie Wellness to create mental health resources targeted specifically for cadets, who face different challenges than other members of the Virginia Tech student body. The Mental Health Coalition between the Corps of Cadets and Hokie Wellness came to life in the fall of 2020, bringing more awareness to the mental health resources available to students and advocating for the specific needs and problems cadets may have.

His nominator said, “Reaz turned his struggles into a crusade to make sure others get the help they need. Reaz shares his personal story of facing mental health challenges. He is always willing to listen when another person just needs someone to talk to. He cares about his fellow cadets deeply and actively works to help them be happier in their day to day lives. Reaz is a courageous leader because he is willing to make himself vulnerable by speaking freely about his personal struggles and he is passionate about bringing positive change to his fellow cadets.”

Reaz said, “What gives me excitement to wake up every morning is the pursuit of knowledge and development of personal skills. It’s hard to beat the feeling of improvement, physically or mentally, and I hope to continue down this path of self-development. The most beautiful part about our lives is that we have control over our attitudes! Even the simplest lessons can help someone plant that seed of positivity that can serve them for the rest of their life.”

Reaz is a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a Corps of Cadets Leadership Minor. He is a three-year recipient of an Army ROTC scholarship and is a VTCC Emerging Leader Scholarship recipient. He is a member of the Muslim Student Association, a member of the photography club, and is on the Corps of Cadets Skipper Crew. He grew up speaking Bengali and has traveled throughout Bangladesh from small towns to large cities. He helped build houses in his father’s village and contributed to the building of several mosques in the Feni area.

Reaz has many hopes for his post-graduation life. He hopes to engage in humanitarian work in UNICEF or the Peace Corps. He would like to serve active duty in the United States Army as an armor or engineering officer. He also aspires to work as a mechanical engineer for a private spaceflight company. And Reaz hopes to continue his work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and be able to bring about more love and care to those who are struggling.

Reaz is proud of being able to count his blessings. He said, “In a world of social media and financial pressure among young people, it’s so easy to get caught up in devaluing one’s worth based on external factors. It’s still a work in progress, and it’s definitely not been the easiest path to learning how to be grateful, but I’m proud to say that I’ve been able to find joy in the simplest pleasures of life.”

For finding joy in his own life and for helping others realize their worth and potential, I am pleased to present the Aspire! Award for COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP to Reaz Mahmood.