Virginia Tech’s Alumni Weekend on June 6-8 was a celebration of Hokie pride, engineering legacy, and the enduring bond between past and present students.

As part of the weekend festivities, alumni gathered for a guided tour of the lab spaces in Patton Hall, exploring how the department’s hands-on learning environment has evolved with new research tools, student projects, and innovations.

Former members of the Concrete Canoe Team reunited during the weekend. These alumni recounted the camaraderie, competition, and creativity of designing—and racing—concrete boats that sometimes floated and sometimes… didn’t. The throwback stories were a highlight of the weekend, offering a fun look into one of Virginia Tech CEE’s most iconic student experiences.

During the weekend, James R. Baldwin ’75, donated two beautifully preserved surveyor’s transits to the department. These remarkable instruments, dating back to 1915 and 1950, once belonged to his grandfather and father, John M. Baldwin (Class of 1897) and Raymond S. Baldwin (Class of 1940), both proud Hokie engineers. These tools helped shape real-world infrastructure in their time, and now they’ll continue their service in the classroom by giving current students a tangible connection to the history and evolution of civil engineering.

From lab tours to legacy gifts to shared memories, Alumni Weekend was a meaningful reminder of the lasting connections forged at Virginia Tech—and the impact Hokies continue to have, across generations. You can find more information about civil and environmental engineering alumni events here.