Chris Saccoccia

If Virginia Tech were to rate students based on involvement, leadership, academics, and service: Chris Saccoccia would easily be a five star Hokie. He balances being an honors student, numerous responsibilities and a demanding social circle. A typical day for Chris involves countless emails, back-to-back meetings, classes, lunch with friends, studying, manning information booths in Squires, and of course Facebook. Currently he is a co-chair for the National Collegiate Advisory for Relay for Life as well as an Internal Coordinator for Tech’s Relay. As a residential advisor, Chris is a role model and friend to both current and former residents. To him being an RA is more than a job because he loves it. He is a brother of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity and was recently chosen to be on the 2011 Homecoming Court.In addition he is a Leadership Chairand Sorority Relations Chair of the Fraternity.This means, as a Leadership Chair, he assists in finding leadership opportunities for the brotherhood and helping them with their applications and resumes. Sorority Relations involves supporting goals such as philanthropies, house cleanups or welcoming new girls to Greek Life. As a former Assistant Director for the Hokie Effect Program, Chris loves to show his Hokie pride and to encourage others to do the same. Despite all of his accomplishments, in the end, it is his dedication, work ethic and intense school spirit that make Chris Saccoccia a true campus celebrity.
 

Her Campus Virgina Tech:What makes you a great leader?
 
Chris Saccoccia:My lacrosse coach in high school always said, “You need to know when to lead and when to follow.” This sense of self-awareness and understanding of need has really driven me to understand what makes a leader great. It’s about the followers; if those people are motivated, driven and positive, then greatness isn’t just brought to leadership, but the whole group. As for me, I think “great” is a very subjective term, leadership is a process and we still have a long way to go.
 
 
HCVT:What is your greatest accomplishment?
 
Chris:It probably isn’t my greatest accomplishment, but I think planning the Orange Effect Game and being a factor in turning 66,233 fans orange to support the Hokies is pretty cool. It felt great to be able to give something back to this Virginia Tech spirit that I’m completely infatuated with.
 
 
HCVT:Why did you decide to become so involved with Rely for Life?
 
Chris:After freshman year, our all-freshman team was the third highest fundraising team and I decided that joining the Logistics Committee of VT Relay for Life would be cool.  So the next fall I did and the rest is history. It’s all about the people you meet. The stories, the heart, the spirit; it’s contagious.
 

 
HCVT:What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as residential advisor?
 
Chris:That as much as I look at these kids and want them to always do the right thing, you’re a mentor to them and we can do our best to put them in the best position to succeed, but it’s their life and their college experience and allowing them to learn based on their own actions is best for them.
 
 
HCVT:What do you plan to do after graduation? Long-term goals?
 
Chris:After going to Mexico and Haiti for the past two years for an Alternative Spring Break service trip, I’ve definitely thought about the Peace Corps. I would absolutely love to be able to take on that challenge and see how we can help this world in a greater context. I’m interning this summer for a Sports Marketing company and I’m very excited to learn more about that and see if there is a future in that as well.
 
 
HCVT:What is your personal philosophy on life?
 
Chris:Oh my, I’m a huge quote guy and I have about 20 of my favorite ones running through my head right now. So often you hear people saying “Big Things.” While I love doing big things just like the next person, I have a much bigger appreciation for the small things. The random acts of kindness; the little things in your day or life that really make you happy. It’s the small things in others that make us fall in love with them.