We Look Back at 2024: The People, Places and Things That Define UVA

Andrew does a wonderful job invoking previous days of Cavalier glory.

Matt Kelly’s Selection
The ‘Baseball Guardian Angel’ Behind Henry Ford’s Record-Breaking Season

By Andrew Ramspacher

It’s baseball. It’s family. It’s Frank Capra’s America.

Andrew does a wonderful job invoking previous days of Cavalier glory by bringing up the names of Cavalier players when Henry Ford was a youngster. And he weaves the generations of the Ford family throughout the story. At the time, it worked as a good backstory for an ongoing baseball tale. Now, it is a nice story about a family and baseball, and intergenerational love for each other and for a sport.

Andrew locks down the tale with details: “Section 110, Row B, Seat 3, two rows up from the backstop,” and “John was once invited to a tryout for the Cleveland Indians, how John had a sweet left-handed swing and how John always wore jersey No. 9.”

The sign of a good obituary is when you are done reading it, you think, “I wish I had known him.” In this story, the reader gets to know John Ford and the Ford family, blessed with a baseball gene, in a nice, tug-at-the-heartstrings backstory of baseball and a UVA family.

Alice revealed tantalizing details about issues of UVA’s student newspaper, the Cavalier Daily, dating back to the 19th century.

Jane Kelly’s Selection
The Last Card Catalog in the Library

by Alice Berry

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading a story by Alice Berry, let me introduce you to her work.

The University of Virginia’s massive library system, which houses copies of the Declaration of Independence, is just part of her “beat,” one of the many areas she is responsible for covering.

Her storytelling task ballooned as the school undertook the gigantic overhaul of Shannon Library. In her story on one of UVA's last card catalogs, Alice revealed tantalizing details about issues of UVA’s student newspaper, the Cavalier Daily, dating back to the 19th century. Her piece even inspired UVA Today’s latest installment of Obscura, which documents lesser-known objects and places across Grounds.

Zeina found an angle for our back-to-school coverage that was fresh and, more importantly, useful for our readers.

Alice Berry’s Selection
All Roads Lead to Grounds. Here’s Where To Pause

by Zeina Mohammed

It’s hard to find a new way to write about an event that we cover every year. As a relatively new UVA Today writer, Zeina found an angle for our back-to-school coverage that was fresh and, more importantly, useful for our readers.

This piece also reflects the writer. Zeina enjoys road trips and especially making fun detours along the way. Even in the short entries about pit stops for ice cream or a short hike at Natural Bridge State Bark, you can tell Zeina had a good time researching and writing this story. Our talented team of web developers and illustrators also got in on the fun to create a special design for this story. That always makes for an engaging read.

Jane worked the room at the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department until she found its most compelling story.

Andrew Ramspacher’s Selection
She Died at Age 26. A UVA Graduate Helped Bring Her Back

by Jane Kelly

This story is an excellent representation of Jane Kelly’s tremendous value to UVA Today. Hearing our video team had an interest in documenting students who are volunteer firefighters, Jane asked to join them on their trip to the local fire station. What followed was reporting genius.

Jane worked the room at the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department until she found its most compelling story: A UVA graduate saved a young woman’s life on the woman’s first wedding anniversary. Jane later found that woman, Jessica Hearn, a local elementary school teacher, and learned she was expecting a daughter. Hearn was considering “June” as the little girl’s middle name to represent the month she was married and when she survived cardiac arrest.

When all put together – Jane’s beautiful storytelling plus captivating photos from Erin Edgerton and video from Kelly West – the piece was a major hit with our audience, pulling in more than 25,500 page views.

McKenzie demonstrates his ability to turn an unconventional topic into a compelling narrative.

Renee Grutzik’s Selection
Hoo’s a Wizard? They Just Handed Their Pinball Crown to Him

by Bryan McKenzie

“The clangorous cacophony of dings and rings from dozens of pinball machines in the basement of Charlottesville’s Decades Arcade does not distract Colin Sartori, not in the least.”

This sentence alone is more than enough to draw in readers, immersing them in the atmosphere of the arcade. Bryan McKenzie’s story about second-year student Sartori’s pinball triumph stands out as one of his best of the year. McKenzie demonstrates his ability to turn an unconventional topic into a compelling narrative. What could have been dismissed as a small, niche interest unfolded into a meaningful story about a student’s passion, curiosity and community.

McKenzie doesn’t just report on Sartori’s win at the third annual Pinball Wizard Challenge, he paints a picture of a multifaceted member of the UVA community, balancing his love for pinball with the demands of studying systems engineering.

I might be biased, though, as Sartori is a fellow member of Club Swim at UVA. Nevertheless, learning something unexpected about a familiar face from Grounds was fascinating. Stories like this one remind me of what makes the UVA community so special. Sure, many students excel in the classroom, but it’s our passions that truly set us apart and guide us to the paths we choose to follow.

Renee writes a compelling narrative, weaving Sona’s life experiences with practical advice.

Zeina Mohammed’s Selection
Strength in Stillness: How This Student Shares Her Passion for Yoga

by Renee Grutzik

Renee Grutzik’s profile of second-year student Sona Durairaj is inspiring from the first quote: “Failure is just an event. It is not a characteristic.” A great balance of well-written prose and great quotes, it’s a lovely read all the way through.

Renee writes a compelling narrative, weaving Sona’s life experiences with practical advice for those looking to lead a stiller life. It’s especially helpful for newer members of the UVA community, like me, who are looking to get active and don’t yet know all the resources available to us.

The accompanying photos of Sona in action are the cherry on top!