MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

David Greenawald (left) a baritone player with the Virginia Tech Marching Virginians, holds a board steady as Ben Neas (center), a tenor saxophone player, hammers a nail as other band members watch. The band is helping build a home in honor of former band member Ryan "Stack" Clark, who was killed in the April 16, 2007, shootings.

MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Dave McKee (left), director of the Marching Virginians, talks with some of his band members. "This is a great project and opportunity for these kids to be a part of something meaningful to the community," McKee says of the Cedar Hill Drive project. "The Marching Virginians are like a typical college group: Once one of them wants to do something, they all will participate."

Ryan Clark

Former member of Virginia Tech's Marching Virginians

Their performances off the field, however, are making an even stronger impact for the community.

The Marching Virginians, the town of Blacksburg and Community Housing Partners have banded together to build a home in honor of former band member Ryan "Stack" Clark. Clark was killed in the April 16, 2007, shootings on campus.

From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, more than 100 student volunteers are contributing to the work being done on the house on Cedar Hill Drive. It is a "speed build" project. They began working on building the home on Monday and plan to complete the house by May 24.

The band announced plans to build a house at the end of the fall season. Since then, its members have raised more than $41,000 and have been flooded with support from students, faculty and community members.

"This is a great project and opportunity for these kids to be a part of something meaningful to the community," said band director Dave McKee. "The Marching Virginians are like a typical college group: Once one of them wants to do something, they all will participate."

Many students are staying here to work on the house, even though exams are over and their summer break has already begun.

"They all wanted to be a part of this to honor Stack," McKee said.

Tech senior Kate Millman, who will begin her service in the Peace Corps in a few months, talked about how Clark was constantly involved with community service. Clark even volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, so building a house in memory of his life was a natural fit.

"I've done home repair projects before, but this is so cool," Millman said. "We get to see it from the ground up."

There will be a June 20 dedication ceremony, in which the Clark family and many of the Marching Virginians are expected to be in attendance.

"I think just being here says a lot, even if you're not a construction worker, per se," Millman said.

The Marching Virginians were created in 1974; the band will celebrate its 36th season this fall of supporting and performing for the Hokies.

The band has played for hundreds of football games and parades, including Tech's recent appearances in the 2007 Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta and the 2008 and 2009 Orange Bowls in Miami.

"The students are already discussing doing one of these every year," McKee said with a laugh. "My answer was 'Let's just get through this one first.' But I'm really proud of these guys."