Changes

Virginia Tech was founded in 1872 as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, with 132 students, a president and three professors: one each in English; natural philosophy and chemistry; and technical agriculture and mechanics. By Great expansion took place between 1890 and 1895 , and at that time the student body had grown to 400 and the name was changed to "The Virginia Polytechnic Institute."<ref>Heatwole, Cornelius Jacob (1916), ''A History of Education in Virginia,'' [http://books.google.com/books?id=BuscAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA204&dq=%22virginia+polytechnic+institute%22&as_brr=1#PPA207,M1 pp. 204-7]. Note: the Virginia Tech website says the name change was in 1896 and the new name was "Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute."</ref> The name change rendered the previous school cheer obsolete, and in 1896 contest was held to create a new one. The winning entry was written by one O. M. Stull, and was::Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy. :Techs, Techs, V.P.I. :Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah. :Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia. :Rae, Ri, V.P.I.Stull said later that the word "Hoki" was a pure invention, meant to be an attention-grabber. An "e" was later added to the word, and ''Hokie'' became the nickname for Virginia Tech students. 1896 was also the year in which the school colors were changed from black and gray to burnt orange and Chicago maroon, and in which the college seal and school motto&mdash;''Ut Prosim,'' "That I May Serve&mdash;were adopted.