On Friday, nearly 40 Virginia Tech engineering students visited Roanoke as part of the City of Roanoke’s Roanoke Wants U. program. The visit included a tour of the Coca-Cola bottling facility, a walking tour of downtown Roanoke, and a reception with local employers at a popular downtown establishment.

The students were overwhelmed by the hospitality of the representatives at Coca-Cola. It was customer service and community outreach at its best. On the way back, students were interested in bringing friends and other organizations to participate in a future event.

Exposing local college students to the region’s amenities, both socially and professionally, can only increase our chances of retaining these knowledge workers.