The spring before they started at the University of Virginia, Leah Winston and Destini Ruffner were introduced through a text by a mutual connection. Saturday, they graduated together on the Lawn, along with roughly 4,000 other UVA classmates, with bachelor’s degrees in political and social thought and a deep friendship they will carry with them as they move on from Charlottesville. Another 4,000 Wahoos are set to walk the Lawn Sunday.
At left, Destini Ruffner and Leah Winston smile on the Lawn as they ready for Saturday’s ceremonies. They were introduced via text before they moved to Grounds, and grew as friends and scholars through their four years at UVA. (Left photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications; other photos contributed)
After their introduction, the pair said they clicked instantly. They lived in the same dorm their first year, lived together their second and third years, and will soon move out of UVA’s Lawn, where they both live on the east side alongside fellow friend and new graduate Chandler Nandkumar.
Students from the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the School of Education and Human Development take to the Lawn on Saturday. Thousands more from UVA’s other nine schools will graduate Sunday. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)
Through their four years together, they have traveled in Europe, started student organizations and spent a lot of time singing together.
Class of 2026 Vice President Annie Zhao, left, and Keoni Vega, the class president, lead soon-to-be graduates in the procession down the Lawn. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Both pursued study abroad opportunities through UVA, Winston in Portugal during her third year and Ruffner in Sweden during her first. After Ruffner completed her global sustainability program in Scandinavia, Winston joined her for a tour of England, France and Monaco.
Families and guests fill the Lawn Saturday to cheer on their graduates. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)
“Traveling with each other first year was my first time out of the country, so getting to do it with Leah was very special,” Ruffner said.
They said a cornerstone of their time at UVA has been their time with the UVA Black Voices Gospel Choir, which they both joined after encouragement from Nandkumar, who “volun-told” them about the group.
Three students who volunteered with the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department head down the Lawn. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)
“That has really been my family at UVA, and watching it grow has been so much fun,” Winston said. “We’ve been able to build a culture of care and community, where we have bonding events and look forward to seeing each other.”
Carrying colorful helium balloons down the Lawn is one of UVA’s many traditions. Many of them find their way to UVA Health Children’s. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
The pair graduated Saturday under a sunny sky, with students from the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the School of Education and Human Development. They earned two of the 8,053 diplomas the University will award this weekend, 4,797 of those undergraduate degrees.
