Student Experience

UVA Students Say Thank You to the Donors Who Made College Possible

As the third child in her family, Corinne Lile-King knew she would need extra financial help to attend her dream college, especially as an out-of-state student.

“My heart was set on coming to the University of Virginia,” she said. “Donors who have given to scholarships at UVA absolutely made it a possibility for me to be here. AccessUVA saved me.”

So just weeks before she would walk the Lawn for Final Exercises, she sat down to write thank-you notes to donors. She wasn’t alone.

Portrait of Corinne Lile-King on the University Grounds

Corinne Lile-King says the generosity of donors has helped fund her UVA experience. (Photo by Maggie Rowland, UVA Advancement)

More than 4,000 such letters are coursing through the mail this week, intended for donors who have contributed to students’ UVA education and experiences. UVA’s Office of Advancement expected 800 students for the annual letter-writing drive called Hoos Grateful; more than 1,300 showed up.

Hoos Grateful plays a key role in raising awareness of the impact of donor contributions, Sasha Monty, director of donor relations, said. “We hope it empowers our exceptional students with a deeper understanding of how philanthropy enriches both the student experience and the broader UVA community, and inspires them to give back in their own meaningful ways, now and for years to come.”

Gabriel Hwang, a first-year student participating in his first Hoos Grateful, said he appreciates how directly donor contributions help students. “It all adds up,” he said.

Anderson Garner, a second-year student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, said he enjoyed taking time to hand-write notes.

Lile-King and Gabriel Hwang talking at the Thank You note writing event held on the Lawn in front of the Rotunda

Lile-King and Gabriel Hwang, a first-year student, chat during the thank-you letter campaign. They joined 1,300 students in expressing appreciation to UVA donors. (Photo by Maggie Rowland, UVA Advancement)

“It’s just a small little token of what we can do for all the help these donors provide,” he said, adding that he sees the impact of donor support for his student group, UVA Rocketry.

Lile-King, now a fourth-year student, has participated in several Hoos Grateful letter-writing events. She said opportunities like this help other students understand that resources and experiences not funded by tuition are often supported by donors.

“I think about the funding that has allowed me to have resources to work in a student lab where I’ve not had to pay for lab materials,” Lile-King said.

As she prepares to graduate, Lile-King has her sights set on entering the Peace Corps and then returning to continue her education in health care. She said she is grateful for all the experiences – and people – who have helped her along the way.