Magnets attract more than $10,000 for scholarship funds honoring two fallen heroes
The first month sales of a special car magnet honoring two Virginia Tech alumni killed in Iraq have netted more than $10,000 for scholarships.
Proceeds from the magnet sale benefit two Emerging Leader Scholarship endowments previously established in memory of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jeffrey Kaylor, of Clifton, Va., and Army 1st Lt. Timothy Price, of Midlothian, Va., both of whom were killed in action in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
Maj. Gen. Jerrold P. Allen, commandant of cadets at Virginia Tech, said, "We are very pleased with the support this special project has received in the university community. Our hope is that even larger numbers of alumni and the general public will avail themselves of this opportunity to assist promising future leaders by honoring the legacy, devotion, and commitment of Lieutenants Kaylor and Price — two graduates who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation and for the cause of freedom everywhere."
The magnet project is a cooperative effort between Virginia Tech and Sayre Enterprises Inc., a Buena Vista, Va., manufacturer and distributor of licensed Hokie merchandise. Sayre fully underwrote the contracting, production, and procurement of the initial lot of magnets in order to maximize the funding devoted to the scholarships.
"As an Army veteran, I appreciate the sacrifices of all our service men and women," said R. Scott Sayre, president of Sayre Enterprises. "I welcome this opportunity to provide direct support in honor of these military heroes from Virginia Tech."
Measuring approximately 10 by 6 inches and selling for $12.95, the full-color magnets are in the form of a stylized version of the letters "VT." A field of white stars on a blue background fills the "V," and the words "Ut Prosim" and a symbolic yellow ribbon are overlaid on the maroon "T." The magnets are being sold on a continuing basis at all Sayre's retail stores and online at http://vt.university.sportswear.com. Direct links to the Sayre website also are available through the Virginia Tech site, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets site, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Alumni site, and the VT Alumni Association website.
