From Colbert and Webb to the Amazing Grads, Complete Coverage of U.Va.’s Class of 2013

There’s lots of reason to celebrate the University of Virginia’s 184th Finals Weekend. Stephen Colbert will speak May 18 at Valedictory Exercises. Former U.S. Senator, veteran, author and filmmaker Jim Webb will deliver the graduation address May 19.

And if U.Va.’s graduates are looking younger than usual this year, there’s a reason for that. More and more of them are opting to graduate in three years or less and either enter the workforce earlier or use that extra year or more to complete a master’s degree.

You can read about some of them, along with other students whose work reflects the University’s top initiatives – research, public service, patient care, global efforts, online education – along with coverage of the weekend’s events here.

Profiles of the Class of 2013

• Class of 2013: After VMI and U.Va. Law, Elizabeth Dobbins Ready for Marine JAG Corps
• Class of 2013: Elliot Rosenberg Seeks to Create New Traditions in Social Enterprise
• Class of 2013: Patient Seeks Out U.Va. Student Nurse Who Cared For Him
• Class of 2013: Faiza Jamil Works to Support Teachers, Becomes U.S. Citizen
• Class of 2013: Elliott Oakley Rocks a Hammock in the Amazon
• Class of 2013: From Cardboard Boxes to Sacred Spaces, Pinyan Explores Meaning of Architecture
• Class of 2013: Caroline Hackett Uses Engineering Education to Help People, Solve Problems
• Class of 2013: Justin Mutter Follows in Family Footsteps to Care for Those Most in Need
• Class of 2013: U.Va. Grad Shares Her Passion for Art as Multi-talented Performer
• Class of 2013: Graduating Engineering Student, Soldier Jeff O’Dell Designs, Tests Armor
• Class of 2013: Undergraduate Interns Bring Diverse Perspectives to President’s Office
• Class of 2013: Fast-Track Grads Comment on What It Means to Finish Their Degrees in Three Years or Less
• Class of 2013: In a New Tradition, U.Va. Honors Grads Who Earn Degrees in Three Years or Less
• Class of 2013: Amy Curtis Sculpts Her Own Educational Path, and Shares It With Others
• Class of 2013: Segura Networks His Way from Peru to the U.S. Supreme Court
• Class of 2013: Darden MBA Student, Computer Science Alum Found Tech Company to Manage ‘Big Data’
• Class of 2013: U.Va. Student Trio to Dedicate Next Year to Advancing Potential Breakthrough Medical Test
• Class of 2013: Class President Has Practiced Leadership in Many Ways
• Class of 2013: Brewery Engineer-Turned-Nurse Pivots From Beer to Bedside
• Class of 2013: U.Va. Faculty, Students Give Online Education a Mostly Positive Grade
• Class of 2013: Obama-Approved, Edward Smith Grows His Passion for Politics
• Class of 2013: U.Va. Graduates Are Awash with Research Awards, Scholarships

Additional Coverage of Finals Weekend

• Final Exercises Mark 2013 Graduates’ Passage Into the World (May 19, 2013)

• Darden Graduation 2013: 'Hang on, Hang in There and Make a Difference' (May 19, 2013)

• Colbert Entertains Class of 2013 and Even Sprinkles in Some Advice (May 18, 2013)
• Class of 2013: Sullivan Awardees Genda, Snyder, Pearson Among Those Honored at Valediction (May 18, 2013)
• University of Virginia Ready for This Weekend’s 184th Final Exercises (May 16, 2013)
• Webb – Senator, Veteran, Writer and Filmmaker – To Be U.Va. Finals Speaker  (Jan. 17, 2013)
• Stephen Colbert Will Be 2013 Valediction Speaker (Nov. 11, 2012)