Todd ’94 and Nena Bleckley

The power of “Why wait?”

When mechanical engineering alumnus Todd Bleckley ’94 attended a College of Engineering luncheon, he heard Joe May ’62 share the inspiration behind the May Family Fellowship Challenge. May posed a simple yet powerful question: “Why wait?” 

The message resonated deeply with Bleckley and reinforced his belief that it is exactly the question donors should ask themselves. In that moment, Bleckley realized he shouldn't wait. Within a few weeks, he agreed to establish a graduate fellowship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering through the May Family Fellowship Challenge, created to accelerate the creation of endowed graduate fellowships across the College of Engineering.

Like the May family and many other Hokie families whose generosity has inspired him, Bleckley is grateful for the defining role Virginia Tech has played across generations of his family.

"As a first-generation college student, Virginia Tech provided opportunities that transformed my life," Bleckley said. "The same was true for my brother and sister-in-law. It was here that we discovered our strengths, developed valuable skills, built lifelong friendships, and found the foundation for our careers. Virginia Tech is truly a special place, and those experiences continue to shape who we are today."

In addition to the education he received in the classroom, Bleckley credits a teaching assistant who made a lasting impact on his personal and professional development.

"Their mentorship and thoughtful guidance were instrumental as I explored my career path," he said. "Experiences like that reinforce my belief that investing in exceptional faculty and graduate students is essential to maintaining the transformative educational environment that defines Virginia Tech."

Inspired by the impact Virginia Tech has had on his family and eager to support future generations, Bleckley hopes his graduate fellowship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will help position Virginia Tech to continue to be a leader in engineering education while creating even greater opportunities and experiences for future generations of students.