Ogunkoya heard about UVA through a program, Hoos First Look, that allows high school students to visit Grounds and stay overnight with current undergraduates. She jumped at the chance and was impressed by the warm welcome she received from the community. After visiting a handful of other times, she decided she loved the University, applied for early action admission, and was accepted.
Shortly thereafter, Ogunkoya was thrilled to discover that she’d been awarded the prestigious Blue Ridge Scholarship, established in 2014 by Board of Visitors member John Griffin, a McIntire School of Commerce alumnus, to support students with exceptional academic promise and significant financial need.
“I was so grateful and honored for being chosen,” Ogunkoya said. “Without it, I wouldn’t have had a future at UVA. Now I can focus on my academics and extracurricular activities without having to stress about financials.”
Spend any time with Ogunkoya, and it’s clear that she has a deep appreciation for the role that community plays in a person’s success. Like those who’ve helped her, she’s committed to providing people with the skills they need to succeed.
Since arriving on Grounds, the second-year student has logged serious hours as a Madison House volunteer, leading a local effort to teach citizens how to create résumés and apply for jobs. She’s also a member of the Second Year Council, as well as an intern with the Charlottesville-based Ron Brown Scholar Program, an organization that provides academic resources to underserved black youth.
“I want to help others like myself,” she said. “Information tends to miss certain populations – especially first-generation college students. I want people to have as much information as possible so they can get where they need to go.”
Ogunkoya intends to major in commerce and hopes to one day channel her talents into building a more equitable community in her Queens hometown. With a knack for real estate, as well as connecting people to academic and professional opportunities, she envisions a future where the residents of Jamaica work together to lift each other up.
For now, she’s enjoying life as a college student.
“I’m so happy to be at UVA,” she said. “This place inspires me to be my best in every endeavor. It’s a good model for the rest of my life.”
For information about the Blue Ridge Scholars program, contact Adam Fentress at 434-529-7193 or af7cr@virginia.edu.
