Virginia Tech and MITER Relationship Grows Strong Five Hokies from “A Think Tank Of The US Government”

All five Hokies were able to make the unusual trip by connecting with MITER Corporation, a non-profit organization that supports various US government agencies in the fields of aviation, defense, health care, homeland security and cyber security. Each played a key role in the day-to-day operations of the Virginia-based McClean Corporation while gaining valuable experience in real-world situations.

“A little over two years ago, there was a company-wide initiative where they allowed their employees to come up with inclusion and differentiation initiatives that could help MITER long-term,” Grant Bowden, a former Virginia Tech punter and current MITER employee, said of the development for the first time. Student-athlete internship program between both parties in December 2020.

“I submitted the NCAA Student-Athlete Initiative as a proposal,” Bowden continued.

“We prepared a brief, presented it to HR, the MITER directors, and our executives… We got a lot of buy-in.”


Shop for good reason too.


Bowden and Williams came up with the perfect sales pitch to the top brass on why adding student-athletes was a great move for a fast-growing corporation.

In the grand scheme of things, logic is like a puzzle piece.

“MITRE is very project- and team-oriented. As both Justin and I are former college football players, we realize that some of the soft skills you develop as a student-athlete are being part of a team, managing problems, and things like that. Things, in order to be really good in the MITRE environment. It lets you, which is basically a think tank for the US government.


From there it is a public effort.


Soon after, Tech, Virginia, and Boston College became the first three schools in the newly formed program. In the year In February 2022, the ACC sent compliance director Marra Havozdovic to the corporation’s headquarters to discuss formal partnerships with senior executives.


The connection between the two was almost instantaneous.

“What they’re doing is incredible. I’m so thankful for MITER’s recognition and appreciation for the student-athlete experience,” said Hvozdovic, a former softball player at Tech.


“I’m very grateful that they recognize the ACC as a destination for talented student-athletes. We don’t have to convince them that student-athletes have value in the workforce. They already know that and believe it.” she continued.

“There’s a sense of togetherness that they bring that’s really unique … we hope it leads to more career opportunities for current and future student-athletes.”


Hvozdovic, a 2012 graduate of Virginia Tech, was classmates with Bowden during their time together at Bluesburg. So to cross paths after all these years, seeing how much success the partnership has achieved, was definitely a sight to behold.

“It was a full-circle moment for both of us to meet Grant in his role at MITER on behalf of the Atlantic Coast Conference,” she added. “I’m proud to see the work Grant is doing going above and beyond and ensuring that current student-athletes are represented in the MITER internship program and focused on their full-time career opportunities. I think it’s something that should be respected and I’m glad we’re recognizing it [partnership].”


The rankings of the student-athletes themselves are completely bogus.


“The experience was awesome,” said Ben Nibelink, a 2022 graduate of the track and field program. “The environment at the MITER campus was great. The culture at the company was great, everyone was super supportive, I never felt like I had any support.”


Nibelink, a Leesburg native, will begin full-time employment with the corporation upon completion of graduate school. So this was not a one-time experience for the former computer science student.

Cheerleader Chris Maksimovich certainly felt the same way when talking about the culture. Maksymowicz, who has a degree in computer engineering, explained that he is a strength in the MITER organization, and that he tries to convince others if he gets the chance.

“You can walk up to anyone and have a simple conversation. It’s not like people are trying to fire you because they always have something to do…they see you and are willing to give you time to pursue a better career,” he said proudly, describing the home-like atmosphere at the corporation.

“They see you as the next generation. They see everyone else as being at the top. Like, ‘Oh, you’re an intern, get rid of it.'” They’re great people. It’s a great organization.


As Bowden said, there are many different ways to connect being a student-athlete with joining MITRE. One of the primary reasons for how the practice schedule was ultimately laid out.

It’s something student-athletes have noticed themselves, especially softball player Jenna Pearson.

“There’s a sad misconception that many athletes don’t care about school or that they go to college just to compete in their sport. But I think this program highlights a lot of the positive qualities and attributes they have that they can bring to the workplace,” she said.


So what exactly are those qualities from a student-athlete perspective?


“Things like communication, teamwork and persistence,” Pearson explained. “Being able to solve problems and overcome any obstacles, just like you do on the field or on the court. It’s a great program that I hope to see more companies take.” [take after] Trying to attack NCAA student-athletes.


Pearson notes that student-athletes in college athletics are often overlooked for opportunities to practice because of their physical limitations. A resume that stems from an athletic time commitment. So to see MITER taking the initiative to specifically target student-athletes, as the corporation plans to do, is certainly welcome and admirable.

“Knowing that the work I do contributes to something meaningful and can be applied to real-world problems is extremely satisfying,” said the redshirt junior from North Stafford.

“This is a unique experience, especially with a busy schedule as a student-athlete. It’s hard to get that industry experience. So working with the staff at MITER over the summer to create a finished product was extremely fulfilling and insightful.”


So how do these five specifically relate to the corporation?


Most of them are connected by Sarah LageLombardi’s Senior Director of Student-Athlete Career Development at the Center for Student-Athlete Development, is widely recognized for helping these student-athletes achieve such a sought-after and high-level opportunity.

Each of the five has had the opportunity to represent Virginia Tech in various fashions. Whether it’s the university, training school, athletics or their respective team as a whole, each individual shines when discussing the right to don the yellow and orange in a positive light. Something Alex Ray is very proud of.


“If someone takes a chance on a student-athlete, they know they’re going to get someone who works hard. I definitely want to represent that,” said Rhee, a senior member of the cheer program.

“Coming from a very high-level, complex engineering program at Virginia Tech, I want to go above and beyond and show both the engineering program and the athletic program. My time management skills and my ability to push myself,” he exclaimed. “[I want to be able to] Have the background knowledge, experience and ability to solve these complex problems by seeing these challenges holistically.

Rhee has accepted a full-time position with MITER when he completes his undergraduate degree in May 2023, so it’s another example of how much the internship program has impacted all parties in one way or another.


“It definitely laid a great foundation for real-world professional experience,” said 2021 track and field alumnus Reagan Bustamante, who also participated in the internship program last summer.

“MITRE is fundamentally a learning organization. There are always opportunities to expand your professional portfolio and your personal attributes. So it’s definitely been a good next step for me after graduation.”

Bustamante is actually a member of the second-year internship program and was part of the inaugural team that MITER brought in before the summer of 2021.


Just 10 of the ACC’s total student-athletes were accepted into the program last summer, meaning nearly half of the participants represented hockey.


When you consider those numbers in the grand scheme of things, it must be something that makes Bowden smile when he thinks about what he envisioned for the program before everything fell into place. And being a former Tech student-athlete himself, his sense of pride and connection to what’s going on in Biscburg right now all comes out when he talks about the finale.


“As they go through their fall sports and Jenna and softball run through states and Ben through NCAAs, it’s allowed not only me but some of our leadership team to cheer them on through it all,” he said. “It’s great that you’re not only connected to their success here at MITRE, but their success behind them. [at Tech].”


And sure, Hvozdovic might be employed by the ACC right now, but you have to know that when all is said and done, her inner hockey student will be happy to see her on the case.


“The unique collaboration allows for a natural connection between the grant’s history and MITER’s current location at Virginia Tech,” she said. “It’s great to see five Tech student-athletes represented on a team of 10. I’m glad we have student-athletes getting a job like this and I think it should be given to the student-athlete, as well.


“They are trying to find work opportunities during the summer when they are away from class or taking time off or can focus on their athletic development,” she continued. “They should have some credit and recognition that will ensure they are getting the growth they need over the summer and are preparing themselves for life after Virginia Tech.”


That’s what MITER was all about. And with the overwhelming positivity surrounding the program and broadcast, it doesn’t look like this partnership with the ACC and Virginia Tech athletics will end with the organization anytime soon.

“We hope that we are just the beginning of this partnership and it is something that will have a lasting impact on the student-athletes. [both at Virginia Tech] and ACC,” added Hvozdovic. “This is the beginning of an ongoing relationship that will hopefully lead to career opportunities through internships, but also full-time career opportunities for many ACC student-athletes.”