UVA Engagement

An amazing weekend to be a Hoo! Thanks to UVA Clubs from all over the world for participaing in the Worldwide Service Weekend! Another year in the books and we can't wait for 2027. Learn more about volunteering with University of Virginia alumni, families, friends, and fans: https://engagement.virginia.edu/volunteer

Sun-drenched cliffs, lemon groves, and a little orange & blue. Whether you’re Amalfi-bound or staying local, we'll send you a limited-edition pouch to take along for the journey. Give $25+ to UVA to get yours! givecampus.com/s/477bu8

We’re still smiling about Final Exercises.
Among the many highlights? The incredible cap designs from our Hoos. Each one is a reflection of their journey, community, and time on Grounds. Congratulations, alumni! 🎓

Time is running out to join us in Thailand! Explore Bangkok, shop floating markets, visit Ayutthaya, encounter elephants, cook Thai cuisine, and more. 🐘 🇹🇭 ✈️ Only a few seats left for this exclusive UVA travel experience. engagement.virginia.edu/travel/thailand/2026

Pack more UVA into your day! Get a limited-edition UVA pouch when you give $25 or more by June 30. Whatever the occasion—weekend getaways, busy workdays, or everyday life—carry your essentials in UVA style. givecampus.com/s/477bu8

UVA alumni are giving back in a big way for Final Exercises, stepping in as volunteers to welcome guests, assist graduates, and support meaningful traditions like the balloon brigade. For alumni like Quana Dennis (Ed ’23), it’s a chance to revisit an unforgettable moment while making it just as special for today’s graduates. 🎈

Quana Dennis still remembers the energy of walking the Lawn at his 2023 University of Virginia Final Exercises – the cheers; the school bus and apple balloons marking his elementary education degree; his grandmother, sisters, mother and aunt cheering him on from the crowd. Now he’s coming back to help make that moment just as special for others.

“It was so much fun,” said Dennis, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education and administration at UVA. “Everyone’s just cheering, so happy. It can be overwhelming, but a good energy.”

Dennis is one of more than 100 alumni and family members volunteering at this year’s Final Exercises. It’s part of a new outreach effort that started with a conversation between Andrea Devine, senior director for volunteer engagement in UVA’s External Relations office, and Cecil Banks, executive director of UVA’s Office of Major Events. Devine wondered what would happen if the University asked alumni living within an hour of Charlottesville to come back and help. The appeal was simple: Remember how special your own walk down the Lawn felt? Here’s your chance to experience it again through the eyes of the Class of 2026.

“We didn’t know how it would be received,” Devine said. “We’ve never done a big calling for alumni to contribute or volunteer in this way.”

The response quickly erased any doubt. They met their volunteer quota within two days of the emails going out.

For Banks, the turnout was no surprise. “As an alumnus, I know how special UVA is,” he said. “We have the most dedicated and generous alumni in the world. They remember how special and memorable their walk down the Lawn was, and I think they want to make it special for the Class of 2026.”

Volunteers will be stationed across Grounds in three key areas – information tents, ticket assistance and the balloon brigade. The brigade collects the personalized balloons many have with them as they walk the Lawn and helps deliver them to patients at UVA Health Children’s. RMC event staff will continue assisting at guest entrances and providing usher support.

For Devine, the volunteer effort carries a message that goes beyond logistics. “We couldn’t do it without them. This is really important to our students – the value of giving back.”

That spirit of giving back is exactly what brought Dennis back to Grounds. Having volunteered at previous graduation ceremonies when he was an undergraduate, he knew what the day looked like from the other side. But nothing quite prepared him for what it felt like to be the one walking the Lawn.

His advice to this year’s graduates is straightforward: Put the phone down, at least for a few minutes, and take it in.

“It’s going to be tempting to take pictures and record,” Dennis said, “but just take in everything that’s happening in that present moment. There will be pictures – just keep it in your memory as a graduate.” https://uvatoday.me/4u9jP9R

How can community-driven design, smarter building codes, and innovative small-home solutions expand opportunity in cities across the country? 📐🏠

Join UVA Lifetime Learning and the UVA School of Architecture on May 12 for a virtual panel discussion exploring how designers and researchers are reshaping the future of affordable, equitable housing: eventbrite.com/e/rethinking-affordable-housing-codes-design-and-community-virtual-registration-1986347431639?aff=FBOrganic

Volunteer Appreciation Week Highlight: Dr. Diem Nguyen (Col ’94, Med ’00, Dar ’01) is a member of the UVA Darden School of Business Foundation Board, overseeing the Foundation’s strategies, and providing an important link between the academic and business communities. Dr. Nguyen has previously served on the Darden Corporate Advisory Board and has participated as a College Compass and Reunion volunteer. To learn about the many volunteer opportunities UVA offers, visit our website. engagement.virginia.edu/volunteer/opportunities

During this week, Volunteer Appreciation Week, the University of Virginia highlights the voices of volunteers and their inspirational stories. Today, we highlight Alex Wilson (McIntire '13, Engr '20), who is a member of the UVA Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Council, going above and beyond to pilot new programs, including an alumni interest group leader summit.