Irving L. Peddrew III, the first African American admitted to Virginia Tech, has passed away at the age of 88. Breaking Barriers in Education In 1954, Irving Peddrew made history as the first Black student admitted to Virginia Tech, a historically white, four-year public institution in the former states of the Confederacy.  Despite the milestone, Peddrew faced a level of adversity, including being forced to live and eat off campus due to segregation.  He found a home with a Black couple, Janie and William Hoge, who supported him during his