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Cascades waterfall
The famous Cascades waterfall! Photo and caption by Shannon Houck

LIFE IN BLACKSBURG

Blacksburg is a small town nestled in the New River Valley located in Southwest Virginia. There is always something to do in every season, whether it is hiking at the Cascades, visiting the Blacksburg Farmer's Market, taking in a baseball game, or simply enjoying the view. Take a look at the pictures below, submitted by current graduate students, showing off what life is like outside of the lab.

(Note: all pictures were taken prior to the pandemic)

Picture of a group of graduate students laughing at a summer cookout. Picture of Chemistry graduate students at the base of the Cascades waterfall Picture of Moore research group hiked to the top of Sharp Top Mountain together as a summer activity. Picture of chemistry graduate students have an intramural softball team in the local Blacksburg rec league. A photo from the annual Steppin Out festival, featuring local food, artisan goods, and live music! Chemistry graduate students enjoying a summer beer festival in Blacksburg! Picture of Santos Group at the end of the Hokie Half Marathon Picture of graduate students at the Virginia Tech "White Out" Football Game Picture of chemistry graduate students in the Moore Research Group at a Salem Red Sox minor league baseball game. Fun picture of members of the Schulz group at Pirates Cove in Orlando, FL after the ACS National Meeting Picture of the Crawford group at Monticello Aerial picture of Gobblerfest showing hundreds of people milling around the Drillfield green space. Picture of Jacob Murray and his personal best Bass caught from the local pond. Group of students on McAfee's Knob, part of the Appalachian Trail. Schulz group in costume for a costume contest, 2019 Picture of Heritage Park in the Fall Picture of Moore Research group enjoying a traditional Chinese lunch at local Hunan King restaurant. Picture of First year students and Nobel laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart Snow blankets the ground and trees, with only the walkway, warmed by the steam tunnel underneath, clear of snow. Schulz Group students with a massive snowball! This is my haul from a summer trip to the Blacksburg Farmer's Market: a muffin, challah bread, and peaches. Some of the beautiful fall foliage on the Blue River Parkway. The Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival. A bit of a drive but definitely worth the trip! This is Bald Knob-- a short but steep hike with a gorgeous view! Madsen group completed the escape room Members of Madsen group on the top of Dragon's Tooth Hike. Madsen group on the top of Dragon's Tooth Hike. Graduate student Brad Gibbons on the Ropes Course at Mountain Lake Lodge

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