Virginia Tech has named Jason M. Reese of Buckhannon, W. Va., Man of the Year for 2003-2004.

Virginia Tech's Man of the Year Award is the most prestigious award for male undergraduate students at the university and is selected by an application and interview process. The award winner is chosen for his scholastic achievements, service to the university, leadership, and involvement in student activities.

The award is given in conjunction with the university’s Founders Day celebration held this year at 3 p.m. Friday, April 23, in the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center Auditorium.

First taking place in 1972, Founders Day Convocation is Virginia Tech's annual celebration of the academic and professional achievements of the university and recognizing service to Virginia Tech.

The university selected Reese, a psychology major in the College of Science, for his academic excellence, his outstanding leadership, and his commitment to service to others. He has demonstrated his dedication to the university through his involvement with multiple leadership programs and his active involvement with the Corps of Cadets.

"There are so many students at Tech who provide outstanding service to the university, and I am humbled to think that I have been chosen to represent them," Reese said. "I will always endeavor to uphold the values that the Corps of Cadets, the university, and the Army ROTC have instilled in me."

Reese is commander of the Army ROTC Battalion, where he is responsible for ensuring the welfare, training, and discipline of more than 174 Army cadets. He is executive officer for the Association of the U.S. Army Organization and Operations Officer for Ranger Company. Reese also has been a member of the Corps of Cadets regimental band, the Highty-Tighties, for four years and currently serves as executive officer.

Reese has gained national recognition as an outstanding Army ROTC cadet through his placement on the National Order of Merit List for Cadets.

Reese’s exceptional academic and personal achievements have made him a member of numerous leadership and academic honor societies. He is a member of the Scabbard and Blade National Military Leadership Honor Society, the National Eagle Scout Association, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society, and Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society.

In addition to his work in Blacksburg, Reese has made time to reach out to his hometown community. He has contributed his time and dedication as a mentor in Americorp where he worked with underprivileged children in rural West Virginia.

Reese will put his talent and dedication to work when he attends medical school following graduation. He is the son of Mike and Louise Reese.

The College of Science at Virginia Tech gives students a comprehensive foundation in the scientific method. Outstanding faculty members teach courses and conduct research in biology, chemistry, economics, geosciences, mathematics, physics, psychology, and statistics. The college is dedicated to fostering a research intensive environment and offers programs in nano-scale and biological sciences, information theory and science, and supports research centers—in areas such as biomedical and public health sciences, and critical technology and applied science—that encompass other colleges at the university. The College of Science also houses programs in pre-medicine and scientific law.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech has grown to become the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Virginia Tech’s eight colleges are dedicated to putting knowledge to work through teaching, research, and outreach activities and to fulfilling its vision to be among the top 30 research universities in the nation. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 170 academic degree programs.

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