# @virginia.tech on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DB1L3fFpCXF
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/24545451-virginiatech-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/7fea14cbf1.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-11-01T13:49:32.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Virginia Tech (@virginia.tech) — https://gondola.cc/virginia.tech

## Caption

Happy Native American Heritage Month from hokieaises and vt_natives! 🧡

Mackenzie Locklear, featured in these photos, is a junior and a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. As the president of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and Vice President of Native@VT, she is passionate about fostering community among Indigenous students.

“I don’t think I would have been part of such a tight-knit community if I hadn’t found the Indigenous Community Center and the Native student organizations on campus. Attending the Indigenous Peoples Day event in 2022 introduced me to a welcoming group that became my closest friends.

“I’ve helped coordinate the annual powwow and grown professionally through AISES. It’s important to me to pay that forward, welcoming new freshmen and raising awareness about our community during heritage month and beyond. I want Native students to know they aren’t alone in navigating college.” – Mackenzie Locklear

Everyone is invited to join hokieaises and vt_natives at general meetings and community events.

This feature is the first in an ongoing social media series uplifting student voices in recognition of heritage and history months.

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 4,038
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 32

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Virginia Tech | @virginia.tech | https://gondola.cc/virginia.tech | University |
| Jackson Sirbaugh | @jsirbaughphotos | https://gondola.cc/jsirbaughphotos | Photographer |
| Jackson Sirbaugh | @jsirbaughphotos | https://gondola.cc/jsirbaughphotos | Social Media Coordinator |

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