My teaching and scholarship has benefitted in numerous ways through interactions with VTDITC. Most recently, VTDITC's creation and performance of "The Sankofa Tape" at Cube Fest 2022 (for which I was a co-Artistic Director) was a path-breaking immersive spatial audio Hip Hop event presented at an international music festival, which demonstrated great maturity and professionalism, leading to a glowing review in the international peer-reviewed Computer Music Journal. VTDITC events are often of direct relevance to classes on music technology that I teach in SOPA, and I regularly send my students to experience and review these events. VTDITC also recently presented a lecture on the history of drum machines to my MUS 4014 "Beats in Space" class that was both scholarly and experiential. It was inspirational for the students in my class to experience professional co-teaching from other students in VTDITC.

For me, VTDITC comprises an inspirational constellation of achievements. First, it is a student-driven organization for the study of Hip Hop. Undergraduate research is highly valued at Virginia Tech, and VTDITC fosters exemplary forms of undergraduate research such as published papers, and practice-based research. The community aspect of VTDITC is important, both in how decisions are arrived at within VTDITC, and the many ways in which VTDITC's outreach programs benefit people (especially pre-college students) regionally. These activities are great examples of the practical benefits that can be provided by a land-grant university.

Eric Lyon - 3/18/23

Professor of Practice

School of Performing Arts

Virginia Tech

Amy Guerin - 3/22/23

STEM Specialist

Virginia Tech-Montgomery County Public Schools Liaison

VTDITC is an amazing program!  Our students and staff love interacting with this group and their passion for what they do is contagious. They meet our students where they are and enjoy sharing their love for music and creating, they even work in a bit of STEM. MCPS loves working with VTDITC.

I've really enjoyed working with VTDITC over the last year. They are personable, caring and relatable. The group creates an environment where we can be ourselves and express ourselves through music while learning how language, technology, history and music intersect.

VTDITC has had an immense impact on the culture of the Blacksburg community in my opinion. Every time I take part in an event, I'm surrounded by hope, energy,  and enthusiasm towards Hip Hop and I couldn't be more grateful. Truly appreciative of how much the culture is kept alive through VTDITC.

Rebekah Meadows - 3/28/23

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia

VTDITC: Hip Hop Studies at Virginia Tech has been enriching Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Southwest Virginia since 2019. The kids light-up every time the VTDITC team comes to the Clubs. The learning is rich and diverse. They learn about music, history, careers, expressing themselves, people and so much more. The music is the hook, but the people are what make the experience so memorable. I will never forget the first day of programming together, an elementary student looked up at me and said something along the lines of, ‘I can’t believe this is happening, we will remember this the rest of our lives.’ That is the experience the VTDITC team brings to our students, and I am so grateful for that.

Lisa D. McNair - 4/3/23

Deputy Executive Director, Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology

Professor, Engineering Education

I have worked with VTDITC through ICAT and the Center for Educational Networks and Impacts for many years. I love the way VTDITC always shows up with full heart and energy. They bring teachers and students together as artists and everyone learns as we create beautiful works!

Jon Catherwood-Ginn - 4/4/23

Associate Director of Programming 

The Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech

What does VTDITC mean to me? In a word, Digging in the Crates is an inspiration. An aspiration for sustained, deep, and joyful community engagement. Since its inception, I’ve watched with admiration as the VTDITC student leaders, faculty mentors, and superfans have cultivated community through inventive programming, bold experimentation, ambitious teaching/learning, and –always--a lotta love. As a partner with the Moss Arts Center, VTDITC has consistently welcomed guest artists with warm reception and a high level of engagement. (I only wish I would participate and partner more often!) Whenever I need a dose of motivation in my personal commitment to community engagement, I look no further than VTDITC and I’m good. I’ve always been a hip hop fan, but never a practitioner or scholar. Nonetheless, VTDITC has always made me feel welcome to learn, contribute, and create the kind of community we want to see flourish in the NRV.