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Dakotah “Koda” Hamilton, DeRay Manning, Ethan Quiah, Bryce Daniels, & Craig Arthur

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Mission Statement

Founded in 2016, VTDITC: Hip Hop Studies at Virginia Tech or �Virginia Tech Digging in the Crates, exists to foster a sense of Ujima (community) among Hip Hop artists, fans, and scholars. Through �Hip Hop culture, we equitably create scholarship alongside numerous communities. We hope to model that students’ and community members’ interests are worthy of academic study and to further strengthen Hip Hop Studies’ presence at Virginia Tech. We celebrate creative, critical scholarship through Umoja (Unity) and community-based experiential learning.

For more info, check out VTDITC.com and Instagram.com/VTDITC

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Hip Hop Crew-Based Culture in Higher Education

Moving together toward common goals
Elevation of the culture
Making something great with limited resources
Hip Hop culture created and nurtured by those who are not as well served by higher education

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Hip Hop

and

STEAM via Hip Hop
VT Science Festival, C+I Day, Science Museum of Western Virginia, & community-based workshops

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Experiential Learning

Learning by doing

Ethan

Experiential Learning is defined as “learning from the reflection on doing” and this type of learning is something that you cannot always get in a classroom, it’s something that goes beyond the classroom itself.

By releasing a mixtape, the experiential learning of understanding music release work such as: understanding streaming, how project rollouts happen, using marketing tools, and being endowed with the knowledge of music and editing software.

Jasmine - Through the experience as A&R on the 5th anniversary mixtape I had to learn about all the moving parts that goes into releasing a musical piece of work. It take a lot of coordination, especially when multiple people that are working on the project are not in the same geographic location. Through my positions I’ve learned to interact with community partners in a professional manner, how to write formal emails, and how to keep records. I would not have been able to make it through my years at Virginia Tech if it were not for VTDITC.

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Student Fellows

Student-led program
“Agency”
Sharing resources with broader student community and the community beyond campus

Devoted to individual student goals
Mentorship
Student Development Theory

Craig

Student-led Program

How are we student lead? How are we given this opportunity? What work do we put in?

Agency / sharing resources

We have agency, we allow student follows to make decisions that impact the program

What resources do we provide? Why is this helpful for students?

Craig plugs in resources, we share those resources with the community in the New River Valley

Mentorship

Distinction between teaching and mentoring, sense of community

We have a network between those who have served in the past, and those in who serve in the present. Where we reach a sense of community and comfort in reaching out to one another

Devoted to individual student goals

Through mentorship we are resources for them. Why are we the mentors? How are we gaining this knowledge? How are we spreading our knowledge for good?

Student Development Theory definition - how students develop and grow as a community, better said holistically, when being apart of education

VTDITC allows us to develop as professionals, with this program as a platform.

“Constantly learning, providing chill / educational events, always available to ask questions and be a mentor”

Through community learning we are helping students develop, more than just hip hop fans but truly themselves

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Current Student Fellows

Bryce Daniels, Digital Storyteller, Multimedia Journalism, May 2023
Dakotah “Koda” Hamilton, Creative Director, Philosophy, May 2023
DeRay Manning, Technical Director, Business Management with a Minor in Music Technology, December 2022
Robbie Magalong, Assistant Technical Director, Business Information Technology, December 2022
Ethan Quiah, Assistant Technical Director, Business Information Technology, May 2025
Zaire Reddick, Assistant Technical Director, Business Information Technology, May 2025
Mikaela Saint Hilaire, Graphic Designer, Graphic Design, May 2025

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Current Teaching Artists

Sam “Stimulator Jones” Lunsford, multi-instrumentalist/DJ/singer/songwriter/producer based in Roanoke

Check out his new album on Stones Throw Records!

Edward McClain,�MC/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/producer based in Christiansburg

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#VTDITC Partners

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Recent Grant-Funded Projects

The Sankofa Tape

ICAT SEAD Grant ($3000) - 4/2022
University Libraries Collaborative Research Grant ($5000) - 5/2022

Lucy Addison Middle School Studio & Curriculum project

Jones/CENI SEAD Grant ($3000) - 2/2021

Radford High School Bobcat Studios & Curriculum project

Jones/CENI SEAD Grant ($3000) - 1/2020

�

Craig

Center for Educational Network & Impacts (aka CENI - pronounced SINNY)

Through our February 2020 CENI SEAD (pronounced SEED) grant, we were able to create Radford High School’s Bobcat Studios and curriculum to support it

Using the funds, we’ve purchased all the equipment needed for a professional-quality recording studio in the Armory Building at the High School
We are also working on creating curriculum to support both students and faculty so they can effectively use the tools at their disposal

Thanks to our January 2021 CENI SEAD grant, we have been able to undertake a similar project to Bobcat Studios, but this time it’s home is outside the New River Valley. Lucy Addison Middle School, who’s minoritized enrollment is 87%, is located in Northwest Roanoke. Starting this afternoon, we will be visiting Addison every week to work with their 21st Century afterschool program to create a recording studio and op programming in the space.
Many thanks to CENI’s Dr. Jamie Little for her assistance with both of these projects!
Finally, we need to mention the $2000 ICAT SEAD grant we received way back in April 2018 - just 1.5 years into VTDITC’s existence!

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March 24, 2022

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Questions?

vtditc@gmail.com�@VTDITC (Instagram)�

Next #VTDITC seminar?

Thurs. 10/20, 7-9PM�True School Studios

(Media Building 101 Draper Rd. NW,

Blacksburg, VA) �Vol. 38: Hip Hop & Service featuring Ozay Moore

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One more thing…

be sure to check out our

5th Anniversary Mixtape

& take some stickers!

VTDITC.�bandcamp.�com�