Monday morning’s early clouds cleared as students and their families gathered on the University of Virginia’s Lawn for the third Days on the Lawn event, designed for accepted, but still undecided, students to get a taste of UVA.
Performances from a cappella groups the Virginia Belles and the Virginia Gentlemen made the mood even sunnier. The Cavalier Marching Band introduced soon-to-be Hoos to the “Good Old Song” and other classics heard at nearly every football game.
Madeline Sauvigne and her father, Mike, pose with Cavman while younger sister Kate and mother Sarah take a photo. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Music on the Lawn dates back to some of the earliest days at UVA, Elliott Tackitt, director of bands, told the crowd. “Historical accounts in our (Albert and Shirley Small) Special Collections Library said that as early as 1831 there were roving bands of students who would play fiddles and tin horns right here as early or as late as 4 a.m.”
He led the band into “The Cavalier Song,” UVA’s fight song, as the crowd cheered and clapped along.
Madeline Sauvigne has had her mind made up since she was a high school freshman in central New Jersey, and officially committed last month. She will enroll in the School of Architecture.
“UVA was the first school I looked at my freshman year, and it was my first love. People say you never get over your first love,” Sauvigne said.
“The Architecture School was small and intimate. The professors knew all the kids as we were walking through for her sophomore visit. We did a ‘Run with Jim,’” Sauvigne’s mother, Sarah, said, showing two photos of Sauvigne and Sauvigne’s father posing with University President Jim Ryan after one of his regular jogs through Grounds.
Jackson Brammer and his parents, Glenn and Jennifer, pose for a photo before Days on the Lawn. Glenn and Jennifer each completed their residencies at UVA. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Standing nearby was Jackson Brammer, who traveled to Grounds from Staunton with his parents Monday morning.
“I grew up going to UVA basketball games, and I’ve just always been a fan of UVA,” he said.
His parents, Glenn and Jennifer, completed their residencies at UVA. Jennifer donned UVA orange in recognition.
“We understood the assignment,” she said.
As the admitted high school students gathered on the Lawn, groups of fourth-year students took their graduation photos on the Lawn.
Dean of Students Nicole Hall welcomes admitted-but-undecided students to UVA. “You are the total package … but UVA is the total package, too,” she said. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“What they would tell you is that even though those four years seem like they’re light years away for you right now, it goes really, really quickly,” Dean of Admission Greg Roberts told the crowd from a stage in front of the Rotunda. “So wherever you go to college, I would encourage you to enjoy every single moment of it. But we’re going to talk to you about what happens in those four years, so you get a sense of what it’s like to be a student here.”
