James, a first-generation student pursuing a degree in public relations from the School of Communication within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, was in New York City, along with her mother, Toshia, as part of the “Today” show live festivities. She was joined by the HokieBird and a group of Highty-Tighties who played “Tech Triumph” in the background.

James, invited by the “Today” show to appear on Monday’s show, presented Kotb a basket of Virginia Tech-branded merchandise as part of the birthday celebration, but she never expected to be the recipient of The Hoda Kotb Scholarship.

“I’m honored and very happy and excited. I’m just blessed for the opportunity to even go to New York, but the fact that they chose me, they wanted me to do this, and they gifted me the scholarship, I’m just extremely honored,” James said on Tuesday.

She said the presentation of the scholarship initially caught her off guard.

“I froze for a minute,” James said when “Today” co-host Jenna Hager made the announcement. “I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ I was very, very surprised. Obviously, overjoyed and happy, but very, very surprised. I thought maybe I’d get a T-shirt or something like that for being a part of it, but that’s a lot more than a T-shirt obviously.”

James arrived at Virginia Tech in 2017, with a goal of becoming a veterinarian. But after more than two years of handling the rigors of coursework, she said she struggled mentally and decided to return home to focus on her mental health. She spent a year at home and then moved to Richmond, which she said helped her to work through challenges on her own. She took a few online courses at Virginia Tech during the COVID pandemic, switching majors from animal and poultry sciences to public relations, and in 2022, she returned to campus. She will graduate in December, with her degree and a minor in property management.

During her time at Virginia Tech, James worked on the Blacksburg campus, and she worked at Sheetz this summer. In her spare time, she stays involved with Virginia Tech’s Belly Dancing Club, Black Cultural Center organizations, and The House of Elite Dance Team.

James is teaching herself American Sign Language and eventually wants to go to a school for that. Following graduation, she wants to pursue a position in a public relations firm to gain experience.

And she said the gift she received will help her toward her goals.

“I’m extremely appreciative of everything that’s happened,” James said. “First of all, I had never been to New York. That was an experience itself. But everybody [with the “Today” show] was so nice to meet, so kind, and of course, I’m super appreciative of the gift that they gave me. I know that there are other students going through similar things that I’ve gone through, but they don’t have the opportunities. I’m just extremely grateful and appreciative that I’ve had the opportunity and the help that they’ve offered me.”

“You’re going to do great things, incredible things, and when you do, will you come back here and tell us about it?” Kotb asked James on the air. “Is that a promise?”

Kotb, who graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism from College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, has been the host of the “Today” show since 2007 and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2010. In 2008, she delivered the university’s commencement address, and in 2022, received the University Distinguished Achievement Award.