Virginia Tech therapy dog’s 4th birthday celebration fosters community spirit on campus
Virginia Tech’s therapy dog, Epcot, celebrated his fourth birthday with a fun-filled party with cake, games and puppy love. Check out the highlights of this paw-some event with the Virginia Tech community.
Michaela Scott and Lilla Gleeson
March 28, 2025
Blacksburg, Virginia, March 28, 2025 — Paws Fostering Community: Virginia Tech community members gather in Newman Library with a giant birthday card for Epcot’s fourth birthday party.
Live Stream on Instagram from Epcot's birthday celebration: We aimed to capture each activity around the party and the lively atmosphere of this event. Our target audience for the live stream are Gen-Z students at Virginia Tech.
Blacksburg, Virginia, March 28, 2025 — Hokies Gather to Paw-ty: Students and faculty unite to celebrate Epcot’s 4th birthday with fun, cake and plenty of love.
Blacksburg, Virginia, March 28, 2025 — Paws in Play: Therapy dogs Epcot, Josie, and Derek having a blast in the ball pit during the birthday celebration.
Blacksburg, Virginia, March 28, 2025 — All Paws on Epcot: Students spent a majority of the birthday party petting and cuddling with Cook Counseling’s furry friends.
Blacksburg, Virginia, March 28, 2025 — Sweet Treats: Virginia Tech’s therapy dog, Epcot’s personalized birthday cake with chocolate and vanilla filling.
Blacksburg, Virginia, March 28, 2025 — Spotlight on Derek: Students shower Derek with love and attention at Epcot’s birthday celebration.
Blacksburg, Virginia, March 28, 2025 — Sharing Cake and Smiles: Students come together on the second story of Newman Library to enjoy Epcot’s birthday cake, and complete a couple assignments.
Virginia Tech’s beloved therapy dog, Epcot, a black Labrador Retriever, celebrated his fourth birthday with a lively party on the second floor of Newman Library on Friday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Cook Counseling Center hosted the celebration with Hokie Wellness, which featured a series of engaging opportunities to play with the dogs and boost mental health. The party also provided snacks, beverages and a customized chocolate and vanilla cake with Epcot’s face printed on top.
The party reinforced the critical role that Epcot and the therapy dogs play on campus for students. According to a study in the National Institutes of Health, animal-assisted therapy has shown stress-relieving effects in environments of high stress and anxiety, such as college campuses.
“When I was touring Virginia Tech as a senior in high school, I met Epcot for the first time and I thought of my black lab at home,” said Claire Edgerly, a freshman and Hokie High Tech cheerleader. “I remember being like, yeah, they have dogs that are the same as mine – I need to come here.”
Epcot’s birthday party kicked off with the students and faculty singing “Happy Birthday,” followed by a chance for guests to sign his card. The celebration continued with an award ceremony, where Epcot received a trophy honoring his two years of service as a therapy dog at Virginia Tech.
Edgerly shared that celebrating Epcot with the cheer squad was a highlight of their week. She added that the only thing missing was the Hokie Bird.
Throughout the event, volunteers handed out valuable resources on mental health and well-being. Guests also enjoyed arts and crafts, raffles for exclusive prizes and the chance to write positive affirmations on the Digital Literacy pennant wall. Additionally, there were free promotional prizes, such as VT Therapy Dog pins, stickers, phone wallets, and pens.
For those who missed the event, the VT Therapy Dog homepage offers daily schedules for Epcot and his therapy dog companion’s “Doggie Pawfice Hours.” Students can discover where Derek, Josie and Epcot will be on campus and enjoy cuddles and support year-round.
“If I could give Epcot one birthday message, I would say happy birthday and thank you for being here for us and for all that you do,” Edgerly said. “You make Virginia Tech a little less stressful and a little more fun.”
Multimedia Reporting (JMC 3154) at Virginia Tech prepares students to meet the demands of modern journalism by developing professional reporting strategies and digital storytelling skills. The course offers hands-on experience in news writing, audio and video production, and data visualization, using industry-standard tools to create compelling multimedia content. Students build a digital portfolio in Adobe Portfolio, showcasing traditional news articles, podcast-style audio stories, and interactive visuals. Tools like Adobe Audition are used to edit audio reports and interviews, while Adobe Illustrator helps transform raw data into clear, engaging infographics. Throughout the course, students are challenged to think critically about how different formats influence public understanding, with a strong emphasis on ethical reporting and audience engagement. Each project builds toward a cohesive, professional portfolio that reflects a deep understanding of multimedia journalism and digital communication.
