So close, so far

Even within a 5-mile radius of each other on campus, the quadruplets had unique academic and social experiences. Each pursued a different major in a different college: Greg, statistics in the College of Science; Steve, business information technology in the Pamplin College of Business; Chris, building construction and real estate in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies; and Kate, human nutrition, foods, and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "We were able to maintain our own identities. Nobody ever came up to me and asked if I was part of the quadruplets at Virginia Tech," Kate said.

Beyond academics, they also enjoyed their own activities, jobs, clubs, and friends. Chris admitted that he may have tried to do too much, but he's glad he did. "I never wanted to look back and say, 'I wish I had done that,'" he said.

Greg, Steve, and Kate each served as a residential advisor. "I had such a good experience with the community aspect of it all [my first year]. I really wanted to pass that on to other freshmen," Kate said. "There is no place like this school."

Despite their diverse endeavors, the siblings took advantage of being able to meet for dinner, grab coffee, or attend one of the fitness classes Kate taught. Catching up on a whim won't be possible after graduation, however. By mid-summer, they will be as many as 5,000 miles apart.

In their lives, the quads' farthest separation was about 1,200 miles—for only a week.

Give them wings

After Chris had been offered a field engineering job with Hansel Phelps in Honolulu, he gathered his siblings to discuss the opportunity. "To have that special moment—he wants us in on this big life decision because he wants us to know this is hard for him, too," Kate said.

A few months later, Greg received a job offer from Elephant Insurance Co. He will move overseas to Wales for a year of training and then will work in Richmond. Closer to home, Steve accepted a position with Deloitte Consulting in Arlington, Virginia, and Kate will pursue a doctorate in physical therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

While the quads are ironing out the logistics of their upcoming moves and are excited by what's ahead, they also realize that the separation will be an adjustment. "For some reason, if you are part of twins or triplets or, in our case, quadruplets, everyone thinks that you are with each other all of the time. But for us, it's not that way. We are definitely close, but have our own lives," Chris said. "It's exciting to see everyone branch out and find their own interests."

"I wanted the kids to spread their wings," Tina said. "They certainly took me up on that!"

Alison Matthiessen (communication '05, M.A. '16) is the communications coordinator in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.