“In addition to her excellent work TAing the EcoAcoustics MUSI 3400 class, Gabrielle is a nationally renowned forager giving workshops in our area and around the country on sustainable subsistence agriculture and wild food webs. Her Instagram Account has 362,000 followers for 349 posts (@chaoticforager). Also, as a GRA for UVA's Coastal Conservatory, she works on the Morven Soundscapes project which is building a spatio-temporal map of sounds at UVA's Morven property.” – Matthew Burtner 

“These three students are the leaders of the Physics Graduate Student Association. They have done countless things to enhance the student experience and sense of belonging for graduate students in Physics. Three examples: 1. They organized a large-item shopping trip with a van for arriving students in August to help with settling in; 2. They organized a Mock Qualifying Exam experience in January, to give first-year students an idea of what the actual Qual will be like in May, something students found really helpful; and 3. They organize bi-weekly pizza meetings for graduate students to talk about physics or cville life or life as a graduate student in general. These are just a few examples. Their contributions have made the Department of Physics a much more vibrant and comfortable place where all our students can thrive. I'd like to honor them for their exceptional work.” –Chris Neu 

“Sophie is an exceptional member of our community and leader in our department. She coordinates multiple department-wide research resources including the Participant Pool and Living Lab, the latter of which is a program that bridges the psychology department with the Charlottesville community. She is also passionate about conducting rigorous research and communicating it effectively to the broader community through programs such as Brain Awareness Week and interdisciplinary research exhibitions like the Huskey Graduate Research Exhibition. While wearing countless hats in the psychology department, Sophie also maintains involvement in extracurricular activities such as performing in local theater shows. Sophie has made herself invaluable to the UVA and broader Charlottesville community and is a worthy honoree for graduate student appreciation week.” --Zoë Robertson 

“These three students are the leaders of the Physics Graduate Student Association. They have done countless things to enhance the student experience and sense of belonging for graduate students in Physics. Three examples: 1. They organized a large-item shopping trip with a van for arriving students in August to help with settling in; 2. They organized a Mock Qualifying Exam experience in January, to give first-year students an idea of what the actual Qual will be like in May, something students found really helpful; and 3. They organize bi-weekly pizza meetings for graduate students to talk about physics or cville life or life as a graduate student in general. These are just a few examples. Their contributions have made the Department of Physics a much more vibrant and comfortable place where all our students can thrive. I'd like to honor them for their exceptional work.” –Chris Neu 

“On top of his commitment to Latin and Greek, from his first semester at UVA Carl has pursued his passionate devotion to performance as a percussionist in local jazz, classical, and popular music. Since 2021 he has played with the Charlottesville Symphony, traveling to Washington DC with the group in Spring 2024. He has also performed at local churches (Westminster Presbyterian, University Baptist). In the local jazz scene, he drummed for UVA's jazz band in 2021 and in small group jazz for various events around grounds, such as garden graduations and Alumni Hall receptions. He also appears occasionally at the legendary jazz nights at Miller's downtown, organized by John D'earth. 

With the Live Arts community theater he has drummed at musicals, such as the productions of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" in Spring 2022 and "Violet" the following Fall. At WTJU, he has been involved with the weekly show "Classical Sunrise on Fridays" since October 2021, participating in 4 marathons and hosting over 50 shows (currently he is halfway through playing all 106 Haydn symphonies). Finally, Carl has found time to play timpani with the Youth Symphony since 2022, mentoring younger percussionists during rehearsals.” -- Anthony Corbeill 
 

“I am pleased to nominate Nick James for Graduate Student Appreciation Week recognition. He has made outstanding contributions to the Dark Skies, Bright Kids (DSBK), an astronomy outreach program involving many of our graduate students. Nick has demonstrated exceptional dedication to science communication and public engagement, making a meaningful impact on the program and the communities it serves. Nick played a key role in producing training videos for new members, ensuring that future volunteers are well-prepared to continue the program’s mission. His technical skills and attention to detail helped create clear and engaging instructional materials, improving the overall efficiency of volunteer training. 
  
Beyond video production, Nick actively participated in outreach events at libraries and local schools, where his enthusiasm for astronomy inspired countless young learners. Whether leading hands-on activities or answering curious questions, he engaged with students in a way that made complex scientific concepts accessible and exciting. Nick played a key role in managing the finances of Dark Skies, Bright Kids, ensuring that resources were used effectively to support our mission. Additionally, Nick contributed to telescope observing sessions at community events, guiding attendees through the night sky and fostering a sense of wonder about the universe. His ability to communicate science and the joy of astronomy made him an invaluable member of our DSBK team.” – Whitney Richardson 

“Nina has been a force for good both within and beyond the department of Classics. In the initial year and a half of the Covid pandemic, when the University moved online, Nina created the office of "graduate social chair." In that role she organized departmental Zoom get-togethers and outdoor events such as hikes, providing a much-needed unifying element when people were feeling alone and isolated. In 2022/23 she coordinated our annual graduate colloquium on the topic of African and Asian interactions with the ancient Mediterranean. In the process she realized that our departmental library holdings in related areas needed improvement and worked to create a purchase list to fill those gaps. Beyond the department and university she has served as a volunteer with Sin Barreras in Charlottesville, working to assist and empower Hispanic immigrants and their families in Central Virginia.” –Gregory Hays 

“Max is graduating this semester, and will start a job at Microsoft after graduation. His dissertation is about the effects of Spofify’s recommendation algorithm on what music gets made and what people listen to. We nominate him for service on the Grad Council among many other service activities.” – James Harrigan 

“Mirella is an EMT. Before graduate school she worked for a volunteer rescue squad (Henrico County, VA). Since starting graduate school she has maintained her certifications and periodically volunteers at large events where certified EMT/first experts are required.” – Michael Pace 

“We nominate Reynier Squillace (Rey) for Graduate Student Appreciation Week in recognition of their outstanding leadership and commitment to helping and uplifting others. From teaching to mentoring and outreach, Rey’s unselfish service has had a profound impact on our department and community.  For example, as a TA in the Constellation Laboratory, Rey identified significant problems; e.g., students had to answer questions with little prior experience or background knowledge. Rey proactively—and outside their formal responsibilities— redesigned the lab to focus on teaching the concepts rather than assessing what students know. Rey tested the updated lab, and with good results it was adopted for all sections, enhancing the learning for several hundred students each semester. Rey was also instrumental in our graduate student recruitment — beyond helping with the planning/logistics for the visit day, Rey again of their own initiative, independently organized individual visits for two students who could not attend with their cohort. Furthermore, as an organizer of the Graduate-Undergraduate Astronomy Council, Rey has fostered a culture of mentorship, guiding undergraduates through graduate school applications and internships and facilitating opportunities for networking and peer mentoring. Rey’s drive and dedication to building a vibrant and supportive community make them truly deserving of this recognition.” -- Shazrene Mohamed 

“In addition to her excellent research in the College of Arts and Sciences Music Department, Carlehr won Miss Virginia in 2024.  The position of Miss Virginia requires a rigorous outreach schedule, and she currently tours the state serving in this important outreach position while still continuing her graduate work. Carlehr has traveled over 40,000 miles across the state of Virginia making appearances to further her social impact initiative, visit schools, and for the Miss America Organization's national Children's Miracle Network campaign. As Miss Virginia, Carlehr will also compete in the Miss America pageant in 2025.” – Matthew Burtner 

“DeShawn is a 4th year student working in macroeconomics. He is being nominated for organizing the faculty-grad student happy hours.” – James Harrigan 

“These three students are the leaders of the Physics Graduate Student Association. They have done countless things to enhance the student experience and sense of belonging for graduate students in Physics. Three examples: 1. They organized a large-item shopping trip with a van for arriving students in August to help with settling in; 2. They organized a Mock Qualifying Exam experience in January, to give first-year students an idea of what the actual Qual will be like in May, something students found really helpful; and 3. They organize bi-weekly pizza meetings for graduate students to talk about physics or cville life or life as a graduate student in general. These are just a few examples. Their contributions have made the Department of Physics a much more vibrant and comfortable place where all our students can thrive. I'd like to honor them for their exceptional work.” –Chris Neu