Virginia Western offers a depth of cultural opportunities for students on and off campus. One such experience that required extra levels of planning served as a highlight of spring semester’s activities. Here is a Student Activities report about a trip to the nation’s capital:
Virginia Western student leaders toured the White House during a visit to Washington, D.C. on February 29 and March 1, 2024. The trip was supported by Student Activities and Roanoke City CCAP (Community College Access Program) to support leadership and co-curricular learning.
Nine students rode Amtrak from Roanoke to Washington’s Union Station with college staff. The students who were selected to attend represent a variety of college leadership and learning programs.
The White House tour on Friday morning was the key event for the trip. After undergoing several rounds of security checks, the group admired historic rooms, artifacts and artwork. Students also enjoyed talking with Secret Service agents, who were on the tour to provide security but to also answer questions about each room. The tour was organized with the assistance of Sen. Tim Kaine’s office and required a three-month advanced request.
In addition to visiting the White House, students toured other museums, monuments and governmental sites. Nicolas Maiolo, Roanoke City CCAP student and member of Appalachian Engineers student club, said, “I really enjoyed walking around the National Mall and seeing the architecture and historic buildings. But seeing the White House was a once in a lifetime experience. Plus the train ride was really smooth!”
The group also enjoyed seeking out new restaurants and enjoying the amenities that a large city has to offer — like riding the Metro to get to your destination. Elizabeth Morris is a Student Ambassador and a Roanoke County CCAP recipient who attended. It was her first visit to Washington, D.C. “This was a really great opportunity and I’m super thankful for the college organizing this,” she said. “I don’t know if I would have ever had the chance to see these places without the support of the college.” While she really enjoyed the monuments and historic sites, she said she most enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. “The best moment for me was sitting down to have a meal together and traveling with new people.”
Virginia Western students have a variety of leadership and co-curricular learning programs through the Student Life Center. This trip was one of many student activities provided by the college this year.
Student Activities Coordinator Natasha Lee planned the experience. “I get tremendous joy from coordinating activities for our students. I care about their experience at Virginia Western, and I want to provide the best opportunities for them to learn and grow. The students on this trip were not only seeing a historic site, but many were navigating public transportation or even walking in a large city for the first time. I also observed students needing to communicate, share opinions and compromise as they decided what sites to visit or where to eat lunch. These small interactions help our students become stronger in their communication and teamwork skills — which carry over to the classroom and in the workplace,” she shared.
In addition to the organizations already mentioned, students on the trip represented these Virginia Western organizations: Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, TRIO Student Support Services, Fralin Futures Scholars, Community College Innovation Challenge team. They also represented a variety of majors in healthcare, science and business. For more information, contact the Student Activities Coordinator Natasha Lee at or 540-857-6326.
