An Achievable Dream Middle and High School at Lynnhaven hosted its first annual Hokie Day, bringing an exciting and engaging tradition from An Achievable Dream in Newport News to the Lynnhaven campus for the very first time.

This event connected Dreamers from grades six-12 with staff from Virginia Tech through a series of hands-on learning experiences designed to spark curiosity, collaboration and future aspirations.

Students participated in a variety of interactive activities that highlighted creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.

Challenges included designing foil rafts to determine which could hold the most pennies, building spaghetti towers to test engineering and structural design skills, and participating in “Unmute Me,” an activity focused on exploring emotions and sound.

Additional sessions centered on career exploration, life after high school, college readiness, and strategies for student success.

An Achievable Dream at Lynnhaven is grateful for its partnership with Virginia Tech. The college’s staff and student volunteers helped make the day meaningful and inspiring. Their continued collaboration helps create valuable pathways and opportunities for Dreamers as they prepare for college and future careers, including the possibility of attending this prestigious institution.

Mary Grace Campos, director of the College Access Collaborative at Virginia Tech, said Hokie Day began 13 years ago at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School in Newport News.

“We were thrilled to bring Hokie Day to the Virginia Beach campus this year as part of our long standing partnership with An Achievable Dream and look forward to future programs and visits to help all Dreamers realize their path to college,” she said.

Lynnhaven’s principal, Dr. Dawn Kramer, described “Hokie Day” as an incredible opportunity for students and a powerful example of what can happen through strong partnerships.

“This collaboration between Virginia Tech, An Achievable Dream and Virginia Beach City Public Schools allowed our high school students to explore potential career pathways while our middle school students engaged in hands-on STEM activities that sparked curiosity about their future,” Kramer said. “I am incredibly proud to work alongside both Virginia Tech and An Achievable Dream to create experiences like this that help our students see the possibilities ahead of them.”