Sydney Weeks

Sydney Weeks believes embracing Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) as a way of life is “all about gratitude for the time you are given.” She sees it as an invitation to make time for others in big and small ways, whether that means volunteering your time to support a cause or remembering to smile at people when walking across the Drillfield, “even on the coldest of mornings.”

Sydney is strategic, competitive, and fiercely driven — especially when it comes to her passion of helping others solve problems and improve processes.

When she joined Student Alumni Associates in 2022, she found that the organization’s pillars of service, philanthropy, spirit, and leadership aligned with her passions. Since then, she has served as director of communications, president of internal affairs, and as a member of the Bylaw Committee.

She has led strategic planning, community engagement, and outreach initiatives for the organization’s 100 members. On the Bylaw Committee, she spearheaded a project to restructure the governing documents to promote efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusivity.

Sydney’s nominators described her as a warm, empathetic, and proactive leader.

One nominator said, “Sydney’s positive energy is complimented by her approachability and her engagement in our executive meetings. She knows she can make a difference in the community around her and has done everything she can to make that passion a reality.”

Nominators also described Sydney’s gift for collaboration. She is a skilled communicator, engaging students, faculty members, and administrators in meaningful dialogue to further shared goals.

“Day after day, Sydney seeks out new relationships to build across campus, working to make each separate organization stronger, together,” said her nominator. “By exercising her voice as an agent of positive change, she has helped Student Alumni Associates expand membership and recruit an exemplary diverse membership class, which better represents the Virginia Tech student body.”

The nominator described Sydney as one of the most influential members in the organization’s 50 years of operation.

In collaboration with Student Affairs Advancement, Sydney and Student Alumni Associates helped plan the dedication of the Quillen Spirit Plaza, which included partnering with programs across campus to ensure a successful and meaningful event.

A nominator said that, with enthusiasm and humility showing her spirit of service, “Sydney’s efforts enabled our team to celebrate this momentous occasion and uplift the dedication of a place for all Hokies to gather, build community, and belong.”

Sydney is a senior majoring in industrial and systems engineering and minoring in science, technology, and law in the College of Engineering. After graduation, she will begin her dream job as a technology consultant in Boston, Massachusetts. Outside of work, she plans on staying connected with the Virginia Tech community.

Sydney said, “No matter where I am or what I am doing, I am thankful to have attended a college that prioritizes a service-based mindset, and I am dedicated to carrying the spirit of Ut Prosim with me throughout the rest of my life.”

For following the call to serve with enthusiasm and heart, Student Affairs is proud to present the Aspire! Award for Embrace UT PROSIM as a Way of Life to Sydney Weeks.