As the war wound down in his native Croatia, Stanislav Licul (electrical engineering '99, M.S. '01, Ph.D. '04) arrived in the U.S. as a student in a high-school exchange program. "I didn't know [that the war was ending] at the time, so it played a part in my leaving home. But I came to the United States to experience something new and different and to have opportunities I might not have had back home," says Licul.

Licul is now president and CEO of Maxtena, a Blacksburg-based company he founded in 2006 to develop and produce antennas and antenna systems that are used to communicate with satellites. "In a start-up company where everything is new and undefined, it's all about understanding your strengths and weaknesses and finding the position that feels comfortable and right--where do you best fit in; what is the best use of what you have to offer?" he says.

Licul credits his days at Virginia Tech with teaching him lessons that have been crucial in his business. "Balancing both academic and athletic careers, I learned valuable lessons about leadership, pressure, and time management," says Licul, who played varsity soccer for the Hokies.

"Playing on the soccer team and being an engineering student was a tough combination. It taught me to work hard," Licul says. "I hold myself to high expectations, and then I try to exceed them."

Licul maintains this drive in his current work at Maxtena, where he is joined by several fellow alumni: Nathan Cummings (electrical engineering '98, M.S. '01, Ph.D. '03), vice president of engineering; Vanja Maric (international studies '06), sales and marketing manager; and Paul Piccione (electrical engineering '02, M.Eng. '08), senior radio frequency engineer.

by Chelsea Newman '10

Larissa Mihalisko (political science '08) has more on her plate than the average 24-year-old.

When the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA) office created a cultural intelligence team to support Marine operations in Afghanistan, Mihalisko--who interned at MCIA before being hired there full time--volunteered to deploy. The role of the cultural intelligence team is to inform Marines about the mindset of the locals and identify which cultural factors may impact military operations. After six months of Pashto language training, Mihalisko was deployed to support operations in the Helmand, Farah, and Nimruz provinces. She now holds the title of "Afghan culture analyst and Pashto linguist" for the Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Of the many rewarding aspects of her job, Mihalisko particularly enjoys working directly with Marines and Afghans, which requires her to understand both Marine Corps operations and the ideologies of the locals.

"I am surprised every day at how the Marines are able to get the job done well, despite this being a very unconventional operating environment for them," she says.

Mihalisko sits inside the locals' homes and experiences everyday life in Afghanistan. One night, a shopkeeper, one of the first to return to his city after being displaced, played music on several instruments for her. Under the Taliban, this was strictly prohibited.

The Afghans around Mihalisko continue to impress her. "I have learned so much from them over the last several months about history, tribalism, war, forgiveness, and determination," she says, adding that these lessons are best understood over a "cup of chai."

Mihalisko took a spirit of service overseas. "Virginia Tech's commitment to service is unique and continues to drive what I do," she says. Inspired by her parents, who were Cold War journalists; her Marching Virginians director, Dave McKee; and her professors, Mihalisko wants to continue the tradition of service by one day teaching at Virginia Tech.

She urges other recent alumni to use their skills to serve others. "Being young is not an excuse for doing nothing, and ... hard work coupled with a good support network can open wonderful opportunities."

CHELSEA NEWMAN (English '10) is an intern with Virginia Tech Magazine.

During one summer break, seven Virginia Tech students--(pictured left to right, back row then front row) Janet Hoffman Szoch (management, housing, and family development '82), Joy Todd Calkins (public administration '82), Kim Way (marketing management '82), Liz Erickson Foit (communication '82), Linda Robichaud Serpe (art '82), Liza Davis (psychology '83), and Mary Upchurch Kruger (animal science '82)--rented a beach house in Ocean City, Md.

Along with their suntans, the group developed a bond that has lasted three decades. Despite living miles apart and having plenty of adult obligations, they still gather at least once a year--usually at a beach--to celebrate their extraordinary friendship.

They call themselves the Orange Hat Girls because of their tradition of wearing matching beach hats that Serpe bought for the group before their 2005 gathering.

"I couldn't find seven in any other color, but over the years orange has come to symbolize the bond of our friendship, which began at Virginia Tech," says Serpe, of Virginia Beach, Va. "We'll be friends for life."

Davis says that even when she lived in California she made it a priority to reunite on special occasions like weddings. Since she moved to Cary, N.C., getting together has been a bit easier.

"These women have been such a wonderful part of my life," Davis says. "I feel very fortunate."

Kruger, of Olney, Md., says the group has celebrated multiple marriages and the births of 19 children but also has offered consolation though divorces, illness, and tragedy.

"I tell my daughters, ‘Know who your real friends are, people that stick with you in good times and bad, people you can count on,"' says Kruger, a mother of two. "I always use this group of women as an example."