Collegiate Times

I am a 2010 graduate and have committed my life to our motto of Ut Prosim, That I May Serve, through a career in community organizing. 

After working on various campaigns across the country, I am now with the Sierra Club in Denver, C.O.

During my years at Virginia Tech, my on-campus involvement blossomed with the Environmental Coalition. In 2008, I received Tech’s Gwin-Parker-Gwin award for my “exceptional commitment to community engagement.” 

During my years at Tech, I grew an appreciation for the town of Blacksburg, and in 2009, I proudly ran as a student candidate for the Blacksburg Town Council. My campaign had two pillars: community and sustainability.

Since graduating last year, I have lived in six states and visited another 38. Altogether, I’ve traveled at least 50,000 miles criss-crossing the country for organizing work. 

Having been to countless communities, I can strongly affirm that Blacksburg is quite unique and lives up to its slogan as “a special place.” 

I sincerely miss and care deeply for the Blacksburg community, and I look forward to returning in the future.

During my campaign, I got to know three current Town Council candidates, the two incumbents: Leslie Hager-Smith and John Bush, along with second-time candidate Michael Sutphin. 

They each share the devotion and care I hold for Blacksburg, and are committed to serving the town well.

Michael, especially, is closely connected with the student community, which desperately needs such representation on the Town Council. 

Because of the similarities of our campaign values, Michael and I split the vote and neither of us was elected in 2009. Let’s get him on board this year.

The reason why I ran for Town Council was because of Don Langrehr, current Town Councilman and candidate for the 12th Virginia House District. 

He reached out to me as a rising student leader and has remained a personal inspiration
for his amazing hard work and determination for Blacksburg and the region. 

I can’t beat his campaign slogan in describing for what he stands for: community, experience, results.

I whole-heartedly endorse these candidates for the upcoming election because I know that they will keep our community a special place for generations to come. 

If you believe in our community like I do, please not only commit your vote to these amazing candidates, but also volunteer for them an hour or two in the next few weeks. 

If there is anything I’ve learned in my journeys since my election and graduation, a little volunteering goes a very long way.

Bryce Carter

class of 2010

humanities, science and environment

A version of this article appeared in the Oct 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.