The UVA Club of Richmond had a wonderful Spring Awards Celebration at Bar Solita on May 13th. After socializing and networking, guests heard from two great speakers. Michael Goetz, Senior Director of UVA Clubs Global Network offered a wonderful overview of the Impact of UVA Clubs Around the World connecting the HOOS community! Brian Campbell, Senior Advisor for External Affairs at Medicines for All Institute shared some of the exciting partnerships being formed through Virginia’s Research Triangle as well as the impact Medicines for All is having on speeding up the production of life saving drugs.

We also recognized our 2024-25 Scholarship winner Simran Chavan and presented the Dabney Award to Taylor Whirley.  Read more about our Dabney Award winner and Scholarship recipient below. 

Congratulations Simran Chavan: 2024-2025 Scholarship Recipient
The UVA Club of Richmond provides a scholarship to a rising first year each year. The Scholarship Committee works with other volunteers to review applications in this competitive process. This year’s winner, Simran Chavan was recognized at our Spring Awards Celebration. Simran shared at the event that she had a fantastic first year at UVA and is looking forward to next year! She is so enthusiastic about "All things UVA!" Congratulations Simran!!!

Congratulations Taylor Whirley: 2025 Dabney Award Recipient
Each year at its Spring Event the UVA Club of Richmond presents the Richard Heath Dabney Award to a graduating fourth year student from the Richmond area who has excelled in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and community service during his or her four years at the University. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Taylor Nicole Whirley!

Taylor graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Arts and Sciences in African American and African Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy in Public Policy and Leadership. She. She was an Echols Scholar, a Ridley-Reid Scholar, and had been on the Dean’s List since the Fall of 2021. She received the Truist Leadership Certification in 2022. She hails from James River High School’s Leadership Specialty Center in Chesterfield.

Her leadership to the University and Charlottesville area included: Serving as the Team Leader for the Rotunda Student Ambassadors who are the points of contact for the many visitors and guests who visit the UNESCO World Heritage site we all lovingly call the Rotunda; serving as an intern in the Office of Admissions, where she delivered engaging and informative tours to prospective students and their families, creating a welcoming experience; serving as an officer in her sorority, Alpha, Kappa Alpha; serving as an officer in the Black Student Alliance helping to develop and execute programming focused on leadership and career development for black students at UVA and serving as a liaison to maximize outreach and engagement within the Greater Charlottesville community for the benefit of Black students; and serving as an intern for the VA House of Delegates member from the Charlottesville area.

She has also been a research assistant for SEE Partnerships, and an Education Policy Associate for the Virginia Partnership Collaborative, and a Fellow at Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership, as well as the Graphic Design Coordinator and the Operations Manager for the Seriatim Journal for American Politics.

In her leadership essay, she had some interesting thoughts about leaders that are worth sharing here: “Leaders support a cause greater than themselves; they are passionate about helping others; leaders impact those around them; leaders give back; when you find a community you care about, you must nurture it and prepare it for a time when you aren’t there.” Her long-term goals include law school, but her immediate future plans are to pursue a Masters of Higher Education at UVA.
 

UVA Club of Richmond Committees and Contacts

Are you interested in a meaningful and engaging volunteer opportunity? Would you like to interact with local alumni? Do you want to get to know other Hoos in Richmond? Do you want to bring in UVA faculty as speakers?

The UVA Club of Richmond is building momentum and we are looking for new members and fresh ideas. Whether you are interested in working with students, planning community service, educational opportunities, or social events, there are many ways to get involved with the club.

Volunteer for a Committee

The work of the Club is made possible by volunteers like you who participate in our active and fun committees which include:

• Programming
• Scholarships
• Schools

Lead a Committee

The Club’s board members serve up to 2 three year terms. Board positions are filled in the Spring (June) for the upcoming term, but there are sometimes vacancies at other times during the year. 

Please let us know which committee you are interested in joining – feel free to reach out to our Regional Engagement Officer to be put in touch with a club leader.