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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 26, 1992                   TAG: 9202260147
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

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APPLES SHINE IN THANKS TO FACULTY AT VIRGINIA TECH

Although Virginia Tech was celebrating only its first Faculty Appreciation Day on Tuesday, students used an old-fashioned gesture: They gave apples to their professors.

Radford Brothers donated about 1,000 apples, which were dispersed to students Tuesday morning.

"Hopefully, they made it all the way to the faculty members," said Tom Tillar, director of alumni relations. The Alumni Association organized the program.

"The association has wanted to recognize faculty for some time," Tillar said. "It's especially important during this period of reduced budgets and salary freezes."

He said students seemed enthusiastic about the event.

They were encouraged to take their professors to lunch.

Several student groups set up receptions in the late afternoon.

Many wore stickers, shaped like apples, that said, "Thank you, faculty, the core of education."

Tech has about 1,800 faculty members.

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