Mr. President, University faculty and staff, honored guests, friends, families, and my
fellow Wahoos, welcome to the virtual Valedictory Exercises for the UVA Class of 2021.
My name is Kristin Myers, and I have had the honor of serving as your class Vice President
for the past three years.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way - this is never how we would have imagined our fourth
year looking.
We had imagined the quintessential UVA fourth year experience immortalized in the Instagram
photos of classes before us.
Instead, we’ve had a year of virtual classes, Zoom events, and standing in a parking garage
spitting in a tube.
I think it’s important, even in this special time of celebration, to acknowledge the loss
that many of us are feeling right now.
No matter how this past year has impacted each of us personally, it is okay and valid
to have these feelings.
Despite the many ways this year has been different, and this finals weekend may look different,
let us not look past all of our accomplishments up to this moment.
Class of 2021, we have so much to celebrate!
No matter if you’re tuning in from the socially-distanced masses at Scott Stadium or from the comfort
of your living room, we are one in our identity as Hoos and as the Class of 2021.
Four years ago, we started our UVA experience together, and we will finish it together.
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about our first year move in-weekend.
For me, that meant hauling a minifridge up five flights of stairs at Gooch-Dillard.
For you, it might have meant fighting for an elevator at Watson-Webb or setting up four
fans to make up for the lack of air conditioning in Page-Emmett.
Or maybe you transferred to UVA as a second or third year, and your first weekend was
setting up apartment furniture in Lambeth or on 14th Street.
I have this vivid memory from that weekend when I first met the girls on my hall.
Our incredible RA, Caroline, had lined us up outside Runk Dining Hall on what must have
been the hottest day of the year.
The place was absolute chaos.
It took 15 or 20 minutes for us to be let in.
What I remember most, though, was looking at all of my hallmates, standing single file
against the brick wall, and thinking that these were my new classmates, these were the
people I’d navigate this new place with.
With all the nerves of starting college classes and the sometimes-overwhelming number of opportunities
in front of us, we would all find our way together.
And four years later, we have all lived out such fruitful and unique UVA experiences.
My hallmate Rachel, who remains one of my best friends to this day, dedicated thousands
of volunteer hours as an EMT firefighter and was recently accepted to her top choice medical
school.
Her roommate Lada double majored in Computer Science and Studio Art, spent her Friday nights
hanging out with the Japan club, and recently accepted a tech position at a Fortune 500
company.
My suitemate Kate got a full ride scholarship in Poland second year, where she explored
her passion for Slavic languages.
In the past four years, all of us have lived out our own UVA stories: we’ve fallen in
love with new and exciting disciplines, we’ve fostered meaningful relationships, and we’ve
made an impact on this place even if in small ways.
We have learned and grown and will go into the world with not only a diploma but with
the solid character, steadfast resilience, and the heart of the UVA Class of 2021.
We started this experience together, and this weekend - whether here on Grounds or from
all over the world - we will finish it together.
Congratulations, Class of 2021, and welcome to Final Exercises Weekend.
___
We did it.
In the most difficult year in recent memory, we never quit, we never gave up, and now here
we are, the Class of 2021, ready to take on anything life can throw at us.
This was certainly not the fourth year that we envisioned when we stepped foot on Grounds
as wide-eyed first years, but our strength and resilience empowered us to make this year
meaningful none-the-less.
We may not be out of the woods yet, and it’s crucial that we continue to act responsibly,
but let’s also appreciate how far we’ve come, all the way back to first year.
We arrived at UVA with emotions running high in the wake of the events of August 11th and
12th.
After seeing the solar eclipse during move in, the Concert for Charlottesville helped
our community heal and rebuild from a traumatic summer.
That same year we celebrated two hundred years of UVA; bidding farewell to T Sully and inaugurating
Jim Ryan as our new president.
We had midnight snowball fights, ate more Bodo's bagels than we’d care to mention,
and hosted events for the Charlottesville community, like Lighting of the Lawn and Trick-or-Treating
on the Lawn.
We stumbled, bleary-eyed, up Humpback in order to catch the first light of the day, and careened
through the streets of Charlottesville on the infamous Lime scooters.
The corner bridge had a higher body count than most of us, it must’ve been some sort
of record for roofs claimed, right?
And not to dwell on GrandMarc (I try to forget it too), but remember when an unnamed someone
flooded the building?
We sure do.
We’ve had an absolute roller coaster ride in athletics during our time here, from a
heartbreaking loss in March Madness our first year, to qualifying for a bowl game, beating
Tech, winning national championships in Lacrosse and Swimming and Diving, and let’s not forget,
that National Championship in March Madness.
#1 Baby.
WOO!
And not to mention all the great concerts UPC brought us over our first three years
here: like T Pain, Anderson Paak.
We all embarked on the spring break that "never ended" as we were sent off-grounds spring
2020 for the global pandemic.
However, amidst this hardship, our class saw the ways in which we could preserve, lean
on each other, and support those in need.
Despite the constraints of Covid UVA finished construction on the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers,
commemorating the legacy of craftsmanship and ingenuity of the enslaved people who built
this university.
We successfully transitioned community events like Lighting of The Lawn into a virtual format,
bringing light in ways we never had before.
Our women's Swimming and Dive team won a national championship and the UVA hospital positioned
itself on the cutting edge of Covid vaccine research.
And now, we’re graduating.
Whether staying in Charlottesville, moving across the country or even the world, we'll
always carry with us the moments we shared together during our time here.
We are, and will remain, the class of 2021.
___
Established in 1993, the Trustees’ Community Service Award honors a graduating student
who has endeavored to enrich the University and Charlottesville communities through service
during their tenure as a student.
This year, we would like to recognize Taylor Thompson for this award.
Taylor Thompson has exemplified leadership, altruism, and community service throughout
his undergraduate career.
He has been a part of Habitat for Humanity, serving as president of the organization since
April 2018.
In addition to his contribution to Habitat for Humanity, Taylor has made it a personal
mission to advocate for affordable housing.
He has pushed for affordable housing units within the Charlottesville community and on
a national scale by working at both the US and International branches of Habitat.
He has also represented UVA on Capitol Hill and has lobbied alongside senators for the
implementation of affordable housing.
Within the UVA community, Taylor served as an orientation leader during the summer of
2018, and continued his work as a university tour guide since then.
We would like to honor Taylor Thompson with the community service award for dedicating
countless hours to selflessly striving for equity and their commitment to creating a
better Charlottesville community and UVA community.
I am proud to have nominated Taylor Thompson for this Community Leadership Award.
And I guess I should say that my first memory of Taylor was on the first day of class.
He was assigned to me along with 21 others of first year students in the school of architecture,
which are supposed to orient them to the university as well as to, to the department and to the
curriculum.
And if you've ever met him, you'll know that Taylor Thompson is very tall, and he's clearly
from Texas, because he has a certain way of walking in his stride as he's come off a horse
or two.
So, I always thought sending that group of 21 and I asked them where they're from.
And he said, “Texas,” and I said, “What part?”, because I taught at Rice in Houston.
I kind of know Texas well, and he said, “Austin,” and I said, “Fantastic town.”
And I said, “Why did you come so far to study here?”, and he went on with it all.
But he became literally outstanding, then he has this great modest characteristic, I
think by appearance and manner be like Gary Cooper, who's quiet and authentic, but John
Wayne, I like cowboy movies, that is very forceful and determined, and he certainly
has been consistent.
His great claim to fame is that he's been working with Jimmy Carter since he was 15,
because his mother was a notable architect in Austin, Texas, and did the first houses
for the Austin Coalition for housing.
And she passed away when he was about 15, he was determined to establish a foundation
and pursue Habitat for Humanity.
And it was clearly that before he came, he did beautifully in his academic courses in
his studios.
And I lucked myself out of having some fantastic thesis students, he's among them now.
So his thesis project, which is really notable is to gather international educators and national
educators who design build and involve students and to establish a new major within the School
of Architecture called Community Development and Building and he's working with the Thomas
Jefferson Foundation and community and university organizations, etc. to get that installed
as a four year curriculum within the School of Architecture, which has architecture and
architectural history and landscape and planning.
So he's been instrumental in developing a new curriculum that way, but he's also at
the same time, designing housing for 10th and Paige, right off West Main Street, and
is in my mind as an architect his great claim to fame is not a radical revision of how a
family might live single family house, but he's making an inhabitable basement like a
Grotto, and then out with two part of an outdoor courtyard and he's making an attic which is
an extraordinary room with all sorts of dormers and things that will let light in like Jefferson's
Monticello around the entire thing.
He's very inventive as a designer, but he's also tremendously community oriented.
___
Established in 1996, the Trustees’ Cultural Fluency Award recognizes a graduating student
who has demonstrated an understanding of and appreciation for cultural and intellectual
diversity during their time at the University.
This year, we would like to recognize Alisa Negron Damsky.
Since she stepped foot in this university, Alisa Negron Damsky has highlighted the importance
of culture, diversity, and community at UVA.
Alisa became a Peer Mentor in the Peer Mentoring Program for Latinx students at the start of
her second year.
She then served on the executive committee as the PMP Familia Head.
Through her work, she has helped foster a community for Latinx students to share and
embrace their culture.
In addition, Alisa has served as a Resident Advisor in the Spanish House.
She brings her Latinx perspective to the living community by sharing her interests in cultural
music and practices, but she also takes time to help the residents understand and connect
with other Spanish speaking cultures.
She has also worked to make an impact on the greater Charlottesville community, serving
as a translator for adult immigrants.
She has translated many documents into Spanish during COVID-19.
Through her time at UVA, Alisa has prioritized connecting with others and learning and spreading
cultural awareness.
She takes the time to think about others around her, specifically the cultural impacts of
her action.
We would like to acknowledge and honor her work by presenting her with the cultural fluency
award.
Hi, my name is Sarah Gaedecke and I nominated Alisa Negrón Damsky, for the cultural literacy
award for the class of 2021.
So, there are many reasons why I nominated Alisa for this award.
But besides her accomplishments and involvements, the biggest thing is that she just embodies
cultural literacy through everything that she does.
She always takes the time to think about others, think about how her actions impact others,
and think about how we can connect and be better people and create the best community
here at UVA.
She inspires me every day to you know, continue to learn and ask questions, and, you know,
be curious about those around me.
And she always takes the time to talk about her own cultural background as a Puerto Rican
and how she can connect with others both similar and different than herself.
My time here at UVA definitely would not be the same without Alisa, and I know that many
others would say the same.
Alisa makes UVA a better place.
___
The Resiliency in Action Award was created by the Class of 2021 Trustees to recognize
a graduating student who has demonstrated commitment to their intellectual and extracurricular
pursuits in the face of obstacles and failures.
We would like to recognize Katelyn Ann Shea for this award.
Throughout her four years here, Katelyn Ann Shea has demonstrated what it means to succeed
despite all obstacles presented.
Katelyn has overcome the difficulty of managing ulcerative colitis as well as IBS during her
time at the University.
Because of the complications with her health, she was constantly in and out of the hospital.
This required her to split her time between fulfilling her academic obligations and managing
her physical and mental health.
Her experiences have impacted her professional goals of being a nurse; however, her resilience
is exemplified by her acceptance to the UVA School of Nursing’s Clinical Nurse program.
Despite such obstacles, Katelyn did not let her passion for helping others waver.
She has worked as a mentor in the College Mentor for Kids Program, as well as been involved
in Chronically Ill and Disabled Cavs meetings.
In addition, Katelyn has worked to improve the mental and physical health of her peers
by working with the Mental Health Coalition, as well as the Safety and Wellness Division
of Student Council.
Whether it be juggling school, physical, or mental health, Katelyn has persevered; and
she has used her experiences to educate, help, and uplift the people in her community.
We would like to recognize Katelyn with the Resiliency in Action award in honor of the
perseverance and contribution to the community throughout her undergraduate career.
Hi, my name is Maddie Peterson and I nominated Caitlin Shea for the Resilience in Action
Award because she is the most resilient person I've ever met.
Through her time at UVA, she struggled with Crohn's disease but has gotten through her
struggles and is now going on to be a clinical nursing leader in the CNL program at UVA.
She's going to make an incredible nurse just like she's an incredible friend to everybody
that she knows including myself, and she's my best friend and I love her so much and
I wish her the best next year.
At Valediction each year, the Seven Society presents two unique awards – the Louis A.
Onesty Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award and the James Earle Sargeant Award, which are
given annually to an outstanding student athlete and a student organization that makes major
contributions to the University community.
This year, the 2021 Louis A. Onesty Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award recipient is Paige Madden,
a member of the Swimming and Diving team.
Over the course of her four years at UVA, Paige Madden has demonstrated the highest
standards of excellence both in and out of the pool.
Her recent accomplishments include being a member of the U.S. Swimming Junior National
Team, being a two-time medalist at the 2019 World University Games, a 2016 U.S. Olympic
Trials Qualifier, setting the UVA record in the 200-yard freestyle, as well as bringing
home many wins for UVA, including the first Swimming and Diving NCAA Championship title.
(Wahoowa!)
She has also been recognized as the 2020 ACC Swimmer of the Year, 2020 CoSIDA All-America
At-Large Recipient, and the Co-ACC Scholar Athlete for two years in a row.
Her coach, Todd DeSorbo, describes her as someone who “every single minute is working
really hard.”
He states that “it’s not that other people aren’t exceptional, it’s just that Paige
is on a whole other level.”
While her athletic achievements are impressive; it is important to note her impact outside
the Swimming and Diving community.
A student in the UVA School of Education and Human Development, who is majoring in kinesiology
and minoring in health and wellbeing, Madden is an active member of several other organizations
including Student-Athlete Mentors, Student-Athletes Committed to Honor and Leadership, Madison
House, as well as serving as President of the Encore Club.
For her personal, academic, and athletic achievements and contributions to the University, I’m
incredibly honored to present the Louis A. Onesty Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award to one
of my Class of 2021 peers, Paige Madden.
The 2021 James Earle Sargeant Award goes to The Political Latinxs United for Movement
and Action in Society also known as PLUMAS.
PLUMAS is a community of passionate students who seek to empower the Latinx community in
Charlottesville and UVA through relationship building, direct action, advocacy, and collective
political education.
PLUMAS grounds its work in collective liberation and the recognition of how systematic oppression
plays a role in the inequalities that exist in our communities.
Importantly, their members also ground their work in personal experience.
PLUMAS works to fulfill its mission by working with local community organizations and community
activists to advocate for local issues.
They work with organizations like the Legal Aid Justice Center, Creciendo Juntos, and
the Charlottesville Immigrant Freedom Fund.
They also host events such as monthly Open Mic Nights which allows the University and
Charlottesville community to engage in cultural expression and encourage discussion on heavy
topics that marginalized communities face to shed light on the importance of community
healing.
Each year, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award Committee selects two student recipients from
the graduating class who best exemplify the highest qualities of character, humility,
and unselfish service.
The committee also selects an individual from the University community whose compassion,
service, and influence are widely acknowledged and appreciated.
All of the recipients of this award are wonderful people, but they are distinctly defined by
their acts in support of others.
Their deeds are not spent on their self-interests, but rather in the interest of community.
They represent our highest ideals and our greatest hopes.
I’m Wayne Cozart, and I was honored to receive the community member award in 2020, alongside
student recipients Kaitlyn Diaz and Chesdin Harrington, and I’m delighted to present
the awards to this year’s recipients.
An exemplary mentor, trusted colleague, and loyal friend, Dean Vicki Gist has served multitudes
of students through her work in her early career in Housing and Residence Life, and
now in Multicultural Student Services, and Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Dean Gist is adept in navigating these diverse spaces with fierce intelligence, dedication,
and a care for students that is unparalleled.
The first Director of Multicultural Student Services, Dean Gist built this new unit and
expanded its footprint, working alongside students to create new spaces and places that
provide a home and sense of belonging for so many.
While she never seeks the spotlight, her work speaks volumes.
She is the best of our community and we are proud to honor her today.
Selflessness, humility, warmth, empathy – if you know Lauren Brown – you have experienced
these gifts from her often.
A quiet but impactful leader, Lauren has reshaped the School of Architecture – thinking deeply
to ask essential questions of spatial and social justice in design - while guiding the
courses of action necessary for support, care, and belonging.
Motivated by a deep sense of service and paying forward the privileges and gifts she has received
from others, we are so pleased to be able to honor Lauren’s leadership, positivity,
and generous spirit today with this award.
Finally, while this award often goes to students outside traditional leadership roles, the
tireless work of Mazzen Shalaby to represent diverse student voices to those in power in
this most difficult year required a departure from the usual practice.
With a unique ability to manage difficult conversations with a blend of thoughtfulness,
deep intelligence, and warmth, Mazzen engages others genuinely and seeks to find opportunities
for common ground and a path forward.
A committed friend and collaborator to so many, Mazzen has been a humble and reliable
source of leadership and support through this strange and difficult year, and embodies the
characteristic of matching words and deeds that is at the heart of this award.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Our community is better for your commitment and dedication to others.
Babe, it is our pleasure to present you with the 2021 Gordon F. Rainey Jr. Award for Vigilance
to the Student Experience.
We have watched you for 16 years, I've watched you for 16 years, as you've led students and
cared for them and served the university and the Alumni Association, and particularly in
this past year where that student experience just got turned upside down.
I've watched from the dining room table as you have led them and cared for them in ways
that just went above and beyond in addition to taking on extra duties on the COVID care
team, just in your sense of calling and your sense of purpose to the work that you do,
and the people that you serve.
I want to read one quote from this letter from the Society of the Purple Shadows.
It says, Maya Angelou once said, "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive,
and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style."
And I think that speaks to you in the way you've handled this last year and the way
you've led students for 16 years to a T. We are very proud of you.
We're inspired by you.
We love seeing you in your element and doing the work that you do.
So, congratulations!
We're so proud of you, Mommy, love you.
___
Good evening class of 2021.
You've made it to Valedictory Exercises, and I couldn't be happier to be among the first
to congratulate you.
This won't be the last time you hear from me this weekend.
But it may very well be the last time you see me on video, which is truly something
to cheer about.
As I've said before, your class will always have a special place in my heart from your
first year when you endured the horrific events of August 11 and 12th, to the first-round
elimination of the Men's Basketball Team, to the redemption of the victory in your second
year, to the moment when you found out we were closing grounds in your third-year and
then your return.
This past year.
It has been a wild, sometimes tragic, sometimes joyful, and continually surprising ride, but
you haven't simply persevered.
You've grown and thrived.
And along the way you've inspired others, including me.
You're passionate about fairness, about justice, about health in the environment, and about
caring for one another and for the Charlottesville community.
You've been leaders, friends, fans and classmates.
In short, your Hoos and always will be.
So, if I could only share one wish with you, it would be that you never lose that spirit
and compassion, no matter where you're headed next in life.
And if I could share just one more wish for you, it would be that you cheer your hearts
out at graduation this weekend.
Congratulations, Class of 2021, and I'll see you soon.
Class of 2021,
Today, you stand before me empowered by your time here on Grounds and educated to move
forward in the pursuit of your passions and goals.
We have been allowed this compressed time period to explore the depths of our minds
and capabilities.
We have been given a safe space to explore our identities and come up with comprehensive
ideas and solutions while not being burdened by the idea of “perfection”.
We have been allowed to stumble, to make mistakes, and even encouraged to do so.
In the pursuit of our education, we have relied on each other and the community to keep us
safe while we continued our pursuits.
However, these accomplishments we have achieved cannot be understood without the walls, measures,
and most of all, the people who have worked tirelessly, day in and day out, to guarantee
us this safe space: the healthcare workers, custodians, dining hall staff, RMC ambassadors,
local shop owners, first responders, UVA administration, Charlottesville community members, professors,
family and friends, and so many more.
These people have played major roles in getting us to where we are today.
We send out special appreciation to all of the individuals who have made our time as
undergrads possible.
Without you, we would not be where we are today.
Your efforts and services have not gone unnoticed.
In fact, members of our community are even excited to give shout outs to particular individuals
who have gone above and beyond.
I share with you now these sentiments of thanks for individuals.
Peter Hodgkins has served as UVA dining staff since before our first year.
Every day, he has been completely and utterly integral to dining's success and safety during
the pandemic.
Susan Davis works as the Associate Vice President in the Division of Student Affairs.
Susan provided daily input to University leadership as a dedicated advocate for the students.
Her commitment to a safe student residential experience and her undying concern for the
wellbeing of all students was prominent throughout this unique pandemic year.
Robert Ragland, more often known as "Shawn", is a strong member of the Facilities Management
team.
Shawn took the initiative to salvage hundreds of sheets of plexiglass out of Alderman Library
to create protective COVID barriers for the UVA Bookstore, Newcomb Hall, UVA Libraries,
and the local voting precinct for the Presidential Election.
Shawn is also responsible for installing all the tent heaters around grounds.
Lastly, Shawn took the lead to install the new Fire tables located around grounds.
He has exhibited a "can do" attitude to keep things moving through this global pandemic!
Christine Wagler, a Registered Nurse at Elson Student Health has stepped up time and again
to ensure students have access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leading all nurses and front-line staff at Student Health and Wellness, Christine helped
students who were returning from China, even from Wuhan province, and worked to make sure
that there was a plan in place to care for any that may need medical assessment or care
after their return.
Christine, with her calm, flexible, creative approach to leadership, has worked around
the clock, including evenings, weekends, and snow days, to ensure that staffing, supplies,
and training met everyone's needs.
Anna Fitzgerald works in the Student Affairs Vice President office and she has shown, time
and time again, the drive to support UVA students and CIOs.
In particular Anna went out of her to make sure Africa Day 2021 could come to life for
the organization of African students.
Students continually express their appreciation and admiration for her.
Tanyia Moore leads the custodial team that provides service to UVA's residential housing
properties.
She lights up any room she's in with a warm smile and incredible customer service.
Throughout the pandemic she has solved problems and sought to help make our residents and
employees feel comfortable, even as she worked to learn about Covid-19 and keep our living
and working environments safe.
Move-out for summer of 2020 was unique to say the least, and Tanyia rushed around to
make sure that everyone had the assistance they needed, which helped make a stressful
and uncharted process successful.
Gary Mason is an extremely hard-working individual for Facilities Management and enjoys putting
that energy toward “Lighting of The Lawn”.
Gary meets each student with joy to help prepare and install all the lights for LOTL.
He has made an impression on each and every student volunteer who has helped with hanging
up the thousands and thousands of lights for the annual celebration.
Gary has even expressed to his peers that his interactions and mentoring with students
and the friendships that develop along the way are always a highlight of his year.
Jamal Hurd, a proud Officer of the Charlottesville Police Department, has shown through his interactions
with students, his warm smile, and his dedication what it truly means to serve.
Throughout his patrols, he goes out of his way to help, connect, and even develop friendships
with those he meets.
I, myself, have come to consider Jamal a friend and will never forget the times he has engaged
in conversation with me, inspired me, and even encouraged my pursuits.
Dara Orange, known as “James”, has been a fixture up at The Lawn since he joined the
Ambassador team years ago.
If you have been a resident of the Lawn or Range, you have seen James making his rounds
ensuring all is safe for his Lawn Community.
He is a rock-solid person and always has a smile for whoever he meets, be it the Lawn
residents, Pavilion residents, or the countless visitors he sees everyday.
Michael Montgomery, known as “Mike,” is an Ambassador often on Main Street who has
been recognized for being so dedicated to his job, for engaging in genuine conversation,
and being undeniably a good person.
He has offered his presence and warming conversations to students after difficult nights and students
have expressed how safe they feel as a Charlottesville resident and UVA student to know that people
like him are on the roads.
We recognize, today and every day, the effort and services that surround this UVA community
and the privilege we have had to know that these individuals were there to support us.
And these names only represent a small sampling of hands that work so hard to support and
enrich the undergraduate experience.
We, the Class of 2021, thank you for your efforts.
And finally, let us allow this moment of silence for those of our graduating class that have
passed away and that do not have the opportunity to walk in cap and gown with us.
Josh Richardson, Henry Reed, Nick Marshall, Logan Leemis.
*Moment of silence*
You all have touched the lives of this class.
You were a pivotal part of these years, from every life that you touched and all the joy
and love you brought onto Grounds.
We hope the engraved UVA class rings provided to each of your families by the Class of 2021
Trustees, may provide a symbol of your time and accomplishments here on Grounds.
Today we recognize each of you and your families, with our deepest heartfelt sorrows.
Although today looks a bit different than we originally imagined, we will graduate with
one heart, knowing that we will leave the University of Virginia as scholars, artists,
national champions, friends, and most importantly, as the Class
of 2021.
And for
that I thank YOU.
Congratulations, Hoos!
Good Evening Graduating Class of 2021,
My name is Kia Azadbakht and, today, I am honored to introduce our Valedictory Exercises
Speaker, Jay Pharoah, a phenomenal American actor, stand-up comedian, impressionist, and
fellow Virginian.
From 2010 to 2016, Jay Pharoah was a prominent cast member for NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
He is known for his various celebrity impressions, including Barack Obama, Will Smith, Jay-Z,
50 Cent, and Eddie Murphy, just to name a few.
In addition to his tenure at SNL, Mr. Pharoah has worked on over 25 films and television
programs, including the blockbuster film Ride Along, as well as Family Guy and BoJack Horseman.
You may even recognize him voicing one of the protagonists in the ever-popular Call
of Duty franchise.
Looking forward, you can expect to see Jay Pharoah in the upcoming Netflix romantic-comedy,
Resort to Love, and continuing as the host of Nickelodeon’s Unfiltered.
Pharaoh, a fellow Virginian and alumnus of Indian River High School, is a role model
for me.
As someone who succeeded with a similar academic and personal upbringing, he is living proof
that I too can go on to become the best in my field overcoming any obstacle.
This year has been nothing short of difficult for our year, with fewer job opportunities,
less graduation trips and ceremonies, limited socializing, and canceled fourth-year experiences;
however, I hope we can share one final laugh together before moving on to our different
paths.
With that, on behalf of the Class of 2021 and the University of Virginia, I am excited
to present Jay Pharoah.
UVA.
How are you, Jay Pharaoh SNL, and Virginia native from the 757.
Ah, the first thing to say to you all today is Congratulations!
You're already ahead of most of the world.
Because most of the world doesn't even get accepted into college, let alone finish it.
So for finishing, I would like to say right now, Congratulations.
Now I understand it could be hard.
And it was hard to get to this point.
And it's going to get harder when you graduate because you have so many people competing
against you.
Trust in yourself, believe in yourself.
And know that God doesn't give you anything that you can't handle.
Once he does give you the opportunities, it's your responsibility to put in the work, stay
fresh, stay on top, and keep going.
At a comedy show about 16 years ago, I asked this comedian for advice.
I said, “Man, what advice can you give me while I'm out here trying to make it while
I'm trying to solidify myself as an artist?”
He said, “Don't be afraid to fail.”
So that is the same advice I will give everybody right now.
Don't be afraid to fail, fail, fail and fail again.
Because eventually, from failure comes success.
The predecessor of success is failure.
So don't be afraid.
Try.
If you think about it, try it.
If it doesn't work, it's okay I was talking to a fellow actor of mine.
We had a roundtable conversation.
It was me and it was for other actors.
He said that he went on 1000 auditions before he landed his big role and that was Antwan.
Antwone Fisher was the movie.
And it blew, it blew my mind.
I was flabbergasted to even know that he had to audition that much because he's so good.
But it's a part of life.
So fail.
As Denzel says, “Fail, yep, fail big.
But get back up.”
Fall 1000 times and get up 100,000 times I think he said something like that.
But don't be afraid.
Because the hard part is starting, and you're already there.
I never got the opportunity to finish school.
I want to eventually one day, but you know, I got whisked away on the SNL train.
That's something else for you all to think about.
As you're out here in the world, and you have one thing that pops off.
Don't be afraid to pursue that.
Go with your gut.
Trust yourself.
Nobody's going to care about you more than you do.
Well, your mother, your mother might care about you more than anybody else.
And hey, your father, too.
We don't give dads the proper credit that they deserve.
It definitely takes a village to raise somebody.
And some of you all have representative fathers, you know, or representative mothers or what
have you.
Just trust in yourself.
And trust that the decisions that you are making are steps on your path and understand
something.
It's not a race, it's a marathon.
So, keep stacking.
Keep going hard.
And don't sweat the BS because BS is a part of life.
But my big advice to you all on this day is embrace yourselves, smile, trust your genius,
and never let anybody knocked you off the path.
If any of you turn into publishers, any of you turn into media people, get cancel culture
to cancel important things.
Like not, not the prince kissing, kissing Snow White, not Pepe le pew, all right?
not Dr. Seuss.
Make cancel culture cancel something important, something substantive like student loans because
a lot of you are going to have problems paying them paying them back, and I know people right
now who are still trying to pay them things back, and it's been 20 years.
If you need a helping hand if you need someone to look to pray, God is ubiquitous.
He's always there, and I wouldn't have come so far without his love, my family's love,
and believing in myself.
Congratulations, UVA!
You did it.
You did it during COVID.
Shout out to the parents that took the PPP loans and just tried to throw someone to tuition.
You see that's a sweet act.
We're not talking about the people that took the PPP loans and bought them so Maserati
and studio apartments and girls off the only fans.
We are talking about people who use it in a positive way.
That's a joke.
Congratulations.
Don't be afraid to fail.
And whatever you think, whatever you conceptualize up here is your reality.
So always think positive.
Dream big.
And don't be afraid to put the work in.
Congratulations 2021.
You did it!
I would like to be the first to thank Jay Pharoah for his inspiring remarks.
We couldn’t have asked for a better person to help us celebrate this weekend!
Class of 2021, it has truly been an honor to serve as your class president for the last
three years.
I am so thankful for that privilege and for the opportunity to address you today.
We have spent so much time together and have shared a lot of great memories, experiences,
and passions over the last four years.
When brainstorming how to start this speech, I began by recounting all the major events
– the highs and the lows.
There is always a sense of uncertainty when going away to college.
In addition to this normal nervousness, our incoming class was met with fear.
On August 11th and 12th, 2017 white nationalists descended on Charlottesville and brought with
them hatred and racial injustice.
The events of this weekend made many of my classmates feel like they did not belong in
Charlottesville.
However, our class and the Charlottesville community found a way to persevere.
In one of the community’s darkest times, we managed to find light by creating it ourselves.
We came together to rally behind initiatives, like the Concert for Charlottesville, to support
local businesses and bring awareness to racial inequality.
In a way, the Class of 2021 was already showing our resiliency before our first day of classes
even began.
Towards the end of our third year and during the entirety of our fourth-year, I also feel
that our class has displayed impressive resiliency time and time again.
Before spring break, there were whispers of the coronavirus, but nobody could have expected
that over a year later we would still be feeling its effects.
Many of us have been directly affected by this disease, and I want to say that I am
incredibly sorry to all who have experienced loss because of it.
This pandemic showed us that you cannot take anything for granted and that you have to
soak up every experience as if it might be your last.
Our class did not get to have our last home football game or other in-person events and
milestones, but I want to applaud everyone for how you kept spirits high during these
times.
We found creative ways to stay connected with one another and with our communities.
Student-led campaigns worked to help local businesses and thank first-responders.
In addition, during a time where racial inequality and police brutality were main topics in the
United States, UVA students did not stay silent.
Student-organized protests and activism fought, and continues to fight, for racial justice
everyday.
In a way, the UVA Class of 2021 came full circle from the Charlottesville attacks in
2017, which illustrates that we have been able to overcome the worst of times, by bringing
good to the community and putting others before us.
While we have faced many challenges during the last four years, I also think that our
time at UVA has been defined by some pretty spectacular milestones and events.
It is in many of these times that I truly felt more connected to you all and to our
University.
Experiencing LOTL and Rotunda Sings on the Lawn was incredibly special.
Thousands of students came together and the sense of unity was unparalleled.
Well, unparalleled until April of 2019.
The NCAA Basketball Championship during our second year brought thousands of people together
on the corner and in Minneapolis.
We also watched dozens of sporting events and cheered on the Hoos as they won 4 national
championships during our time.
At class specific events, like the Second Year Dinner Series and the Third Year Ceremony,
we gathered to celebrate our relationships with one another and foster class connection.
So far, I have hit on some of the major milestones of the last four years.
But I also encourage you to reflect on your own college experience by looking deeper at
all those little moments that defined your time at UVA.
Moments like: • Watching the sunset on top of Culbreth
garage.
• Sitting on the Lawn and admiring the many dogs, the intricate architecture, and the
beautiful scenery.
• Spending hours in Clem 2, but only actually doing five minutes of work.
• Becoming best friends with a stranger in the Coupes line.
• Attending an a capella or dance performance -- or even performing in one.
• Getting Bodo’s and laughing about the events of the previous night with your best
friends.
• Checking Snapchat to see approximately 24 pictures of a truck stuck under the bridge
on the Corner.
• Walking past the Rotunda and unknowingly cracking a smile because damn she is beautiful.
All of these small moments, and thousands more, are really what made up our college
experience.
I encourage you to try to remember a few of these moments and share them with the people
who made them special.
Next, I ask that you think about all the communities and all the individuals that got you to this
very moment.
It is these communities and individuals that helped us all feel like we had a home at UVA.
To our consistently supportive parents and families, thank you for believing in us.
To our professors and advisors, thank you for pushing us and for fueling our curiosity.
To all the wonderful organizations we have been a part of, thank you for welcoming us
and allowing us to explore who we are.
To our first-year roommates, hallmates and RAs, thank you for being our first homebase.
And to our friends, new and old, thank you for enjoying the ride along with us.
Finally, I wanted to leave you with a few things that I have personally learned over
the last four years.
First, people might put you in a box or attach some arbitrary labels to who they think you
are.
And while these labels can feel suffocating at times, do not let them define how you think
of yourself and how you carry yourself.
You are so much more than what any single person thinks of you.
Similarly, don’t be afraid to be different.
Many of us have used the last four years to explore what is truly important to us and
what values we want to drive our person.
Second, you are enough, and you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
Everyone at UVA is special and impressive in their own ways, but it can feel daunting,
even intimidating at times.
It is hard not to compare yourself to others, but I really encourage you to try not to.
Some of us have had our post-graduation plans solidified, while some of us are still unsure
of what the next few months will bring.
And both are totally okay!
Take this time to figure out what is best for you and know that your first job or decision
by no means defines what you have to do for the rest of your life.
Third, my mom always tells me, everything happens for a reason.
And I truly believe this.
Whether you know it or not, there is a plan laid out for you, and all you have to do is
trust the process.
While our time at UVA did not finish exactly how any of us thought it would, I am happy
to look back on all these moments – big and small – that have defined our college
experiences.
I am honored to have walked beside all of you on this journey and I am looking forward
to the next chapters that are beginning for all of us.
Once again, thank you being such an amazing class and congratulations to the class of
2021.
Wahoowa!