Vincent Russo
To be perfectly blunt, there were no easy jobs during COVID-19. As an Isolation Assistant, Vincent Russo worked with the I/Q team, Housing and Residence Life, and the entire Student Affairs and Virginia Tech community to care for the mental, physical, and educational needs of students who needed to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure. He assisted with preparing temporary housing spaces, referring students to resources, planning opportunities for engagement, and serving as an after-hours resource for all students in Isolation/Quarantine.
One of his nominators said, “Vincent navigated the complex work environment of Isolation/Quarantine, with all of its nuances, problems, inconsistencies, and frictions, with ease, actively seeking ways to become part of the solution to complex problems. He often commended other members of the team for their work, uplifting them as part of his overall goal of bringing together a unified team. Service is central to his character and work, and I am proud to know him as the type of student leader that Virginia Tech hopes to foster.”
Adaptable, caring, hard-working, and authentic, Vincent served in both formal leadership capacities, representing the IA team in Student Staff Council, as well as informal roles mentoring new staff members.
His second nominator, a fellow I/Q team member, said, “Vincent has brought nothing less than comfort and energy to our team. It takes a lot to remain both vigilant and graceful during this time. Vincent somehow makes it look easy. As someone who has always struggled with seeking help and relying on others, it means the world to me to know that I never have to hesitate when approaching Vincent for anything. It has been an honor to work alongside him and to call him one of my friends. Nobody embodies Ut Prosim better than Vincent Russo.”
Vincent has a strong drive to serve and does so with a can-do attitude and no expectation of thanks. It is evident in all of Vincent’s interactions that he finds great enrichment in serving others. He said that, to him, “Ut Prosim means that I serve the community by creating a safe and welcoming environment where every individual involved feels that they belong and can be themselves.”
Vincent is a senior majoring in Animal and Poultry Science on the pre-veterinary track with an emphasis on companion animals. He wants to go to veterinary school and eventually become a veterinarian in the military and specialize in K9 Units.
Vincent said, “My passion is constantly improving not only myself but the communities I am a part of by using a variety of experiences that I have been exposed to. In my opinion, there are no bad or good experiences. There are only learning experiences.”
Vincent, for your professionalism, work ethic, thoughtful insight, and uplifting spirit, I am pleased to present the Aspire! Award for EMBRACING UT PROSIM AS A WAY OF LIFE TO Vincent Russo.
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