What is a Hokie?

When applying to Virginia Tech, or visiting Blacksburg, many of you probably wonder, "What in the world is a Hokie?"

This is a frequently asked question in Virginia Tech athletics, and the answer leads all the way back to 1896 when Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College changed its name to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. 

With the change came the necessity for writing a new cheer, and a contest for that purpose was held by the student body.  Senior, O.M. Stull won first prize for his "Hoki" yell which is still used today.

Later, when asked if "Hoki" had any special meaning, Stull explained the word was solely the product of his imagination and was used only as an attention-getter for his yell.  Stull won the  $5 top prize for his cheer, now know as Old Hokie.  It soon became a nickname for all Virginia Tech teams and those people loyal to Tech athletics.

Later, the phrase "Team! Team! Team!" was added at the end, and an "e" was added to Hokie.

 The cheer goes like this: 

Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy.
Techs, Techs, V.P.I.
Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah.
Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia.
Rae, Ri, V.P.I.

 “Hokie” is the official name of Virginia Tech's sports teams.  Fans, students, and alumni of Virginia Tech are also referred to as Hokies.  The Hokie Bird, is modeled after a large turkey, and has been the official sport mascot of Virginia Tech since 1961.