Valedictory Exercises

Myles C. Plummer

Louis A. Onesty Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award

Myles C. Plummer is the recipient of the Louis A. Onesty Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by the Seven Society to a scholar-athlete dedicated not only to the betterment of themselves and their team, but to the well-being and empowerment of communities across Grounds. Named for a beloved track and cross-country coach who served the University for more than twenty years, the award recognizes this year in Myles an individual who has shown unparalleled devotion to UVA's Athletic Department and to every community he has been a part of.

A Media Studies major and an integral member of the Men's Track and Field team competing in both the indoor and outdoor programs at the Division I level, Myles has embodied the spirit of a scholar-athlete in the truest sense. A recipient of the All-ACC Academic Honor Roll Award, he has pursued excellence in the classroom and on the track simultaneously, channeling the same intellectual curiosity that drives his academic work into a genuine enthusiasm for music, film, and photography. As a co-host of weekly episodes on WXTJ Student Radio, he curates thoughtful playlists and leads compelling conversations for listeners across Grounds, bringing creativity and care to every broadcast.

Beyond his athletic and academic achievements, Myles has distinguished himself through his commitment to community. As a member of the executive committee of Black Student-Athletes Offering Service and Support, he has worked to foster unity among Black student-athletes, uplift the broader University community, and ensure that those around him feel seen and supported. Those who know him describe a quiet discipline and genuine warmth that inspires without seeking attention, and a friendship that has meaningfully enriched the lives of many.

Myles leaves UVA having made a lasting mark as an athlete, artist, student, and friend. His steadfast authenticity, boundless generosity, and unceasing commitment to excellence have shaped the University community in ways that will endure well beyond his time on Grounds. The Seven Society is honored to recognize him.
 

Bridges to Learning

James Earle Sargeant Award
 

Bridges to Learning is the recipient of the Class of 2026's James Earle Sargeant Award, presented by the Seven Society to a student organization that has dedicated itself to enriching not only the University community, but the broader Charlottesville and Albemarle region it calls home. The award recognizes Bridges to Learning for its unwavering commitment to education as a force for human dignity, opportunity, and rehabilitation.

Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all regardless of circumstance or background, Bridges to Learning partners with the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail to provide tutoring in basic literacy, writing, and math for incarcerated individuals preparing for their GED. With its foundation in the engineering school, the organization has connected engineering students to service-based learning while breaking down barriers between the University and community members who are often marginalized and overlooked. Every week, at least twenty-eight members tutor regularly at the jail, each one choosing to show up and invest in another person's growth.

What Bridges to Learning has built inside those walls is more than a tutoring program. It is a space of trust, patience, and humanity, where students working through a first equation or refining their writing for a final exam are treated as valued individuals whose potential is boundless and whose future is worth fighting for. In doing so, the organization embodies the University's mission to contribute to the common good through education, and contributes meaningfully to efforts widely recognized as among the most effective in reducing recidivism.

The Seven Society is honored to recognize Bridges to Learning for transforming all who participate and for demonstrating, week after week, what it means to center care, kindness, and the belief that every person in our community deserves a genuine chance to thrive.
 

Rachel S. Mulvaney

Community Service Award

Rachel S. Mulvaney is the recipient of the Class of 2026’s Community Service Award, an honor recognizing a graduating student who has made a lasting impact on both the University and Charlottesville communities through service and civic engagement. A Public Policy & Leadership major in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Rachel has distinguished herself as a compassionate advocate, thoughtful leader, and dedicated community organizer whose work has consistently centered the needs of others.

Throughout her time at UVA, Rachel has combined creativity, advocacy, and public service in ways that have strengthened both student life and the broader Charlottesville community. She served as co-Editor-in-Chief of VMag, UVA’s arts and literary magazine, where she helped expand opportunities for student expression and collaboration. At the same time, her leadership as Vice President of Friends of PHAR  -  a student organization supporting Charlottesville’s Public Housing Association of Residents  -  became a defining part of her impact on Grounds and beyond.

Under Rachel’s leadership, Friends of PHAR organized initiatives that connected students directly to issues of housing justice and community advocacy in Charlottesville. Her efforts included co-hosting a benefit jazz concert supporting the Legal Aid Justice Center, organizing student attendance at city council meetings related to housing development and public housing policy, and helping facilitate a documentary screening exploring the history of racialized housing policy in Charlottesville and the story of the Westhaven community. Through this work, Rachel not only amplified important local conversations, but also created meaningful opportunities for students to engage in civic life and community-centered action.

Those who know Rachel consistently describe her as deeply empathetic, humble, hardworking, and passionate about improving the lives of others. Her nominators emphasized the extraordinary warmth and care she brings to every space she enters, noting that her impact is felt immediately by everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her. Whether through advocacy, the arts, or public policy, Rachel has demonstrated a profound commitment to building stronger and more equitable communities.

Rachel’s leadership and service have left a lasting mark on UVA and Charlottesville alike, and her contributions will continue to shape both communities long after graduation.
 

Dareen Y. Aloudeh 

Cultural Fluency Award

Dareen Y. Aloudeh is the recipient of the Class of 2026’s Cultural Fluency Award, an honor recognizing a graduating student who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to fostering understanding, empathy, and connection across cultures and communities.

A transfer student from Piedmont Virginia Community College pursuing a B.S. in Biology on the pre-med track, Dareen has become a remarkable leader and advocate during her time at University of Virginia. Since arriving at UVA in 2023, she has balanced the demands of being a full-time student, a full-time employee at UVA Health, and the primary caretaker of three children  -  all while dedicating herself to supporting others both on Grounds and throughout the Charlottesville community.

At UVA Health, Dareen cares for patients while also serving as an Arabic translator for patients and families with limited English proficiency, helping ensure compassionate and accessible care across language barriers. Beyond her work at the hospital, she has become a trusted mentor and advocate for fellow transfer students, tutoring students in both the Arabic and Biology departments and helping community college transfers navigate the transition to UVA with confidence and support.

Dareen’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. As an active member of Charlottesville’s immigrant community and a former refugee who later earned U.S. citizenship, she has devoted countless hours to helping newly resettled women and families adapt to life in a new environment. She is also a passionate advocate for special education support in Charlottesville schools, frequently attending meetings and working to improve resources for students with disabilities, inspired in part by her own experiences as a parent and caregiver.

Her nominators describe her as fearless, selfless, and endlessly compassionate  -  someone who consistently uses her voice and lived experience to uplift others. Through her work as a transfer ambassador, Dareen has returned to community colleges across Virginia to encourage underrepresented students to pursue opportunities at UVA, showing students from all backgrounds that they belong and can succeed at the University.

Whether mentoring students, supporting immigrant families, advocating for patients, or building bridges across cultures and communities, Dareen has embodied the very spirit of cultural fluency. Her extraordinary compassion, resilience, and dedication to service have left a profound impact on UVA and Charlottesville alike, and her leadership will continue to inspire long after graduation.
 

Grace E. Caramanis 

Orange and Blue Award

Grace E. Caramanis is the recipient of the Class of 2026’s Orange and Blue Award, an honor created by the graduating class to recognize a student whose spirit, leadership, and care for others embody the very best of the UVA community. The award celebrates a member of the Class of 2026 whose “colors shine true” through empathy, authenticity, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to supporting those around them.

For countless students at University of Virginia, Grace has been exactly that kind of person: a source of positivity, encouragement, and unwavering support. Peers describe her as “a light at this university unlike anyone I know,” someone who approaches every friendship, responsibility, and challenge with compassion, enthusiasm, and joy that is “entirely infectious.”

Grace’s impact has been especially profound through her leadership in the University of Virginia Cavalier Marching Band, where she served as clarinet section leader. From her first day of band camp, she made younger students feel welcomed and valued, helping foster a culture of inclusivity, effort, and community within the band. Known for learning the names of all 250 members of the marching band, Grace consistently demonstrated the small but meaningful acts of care that made others feel seen and supported. She organized social events, mentored fellow students, and became someone many peers looked to for guidance and encouragement.

Beyond band, Grace has also been active in the First-Year Players and at the The Fralin Museum of Art, contributing to the artistic and cultural life of Grounds. Across each of these communities, she has earned a reputation for leading selflessly and showing up for others in moments both joyful and difficult.

Friends note that Grace’s compassion became especially meaningful during periods of grief and hardship within the University community. Following tragedies on Grounds and the loss of a fellow band member, she became “an example to follow on how to process and accept grief, as well as how to find the joy in life and learn to live with it.” Her ability to support others with empathy and resilience left a lasting impact on those around her.

A Charlottesville native, Grace’s lifelong love for UVA is unmistakable. Friends describe her as someone who has “grown up bleeding Orange and Blue,” a spirit visible at every football and basketball game regardless of the score. More importantly, she extends that same loyalty and belief in community to the people around her, becoming what many describe as their “biggest fan” during moments when they need support most.

Grace Caramanis defines what it means to love UVA and to share that love generously with others. Through her leadership, kindness, and extraordinary commitment to her peers and the University community, she has left an enduring mark on Grounds and exemplifies the true spirit of the Orange and Blue Award.
 

Megan C. Life

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
 

Megan C. Life is a recipient of the Class of 2026's Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an honor recognizing a graduating student whose character, heart, humility, and unselfish service embody the very best of the University community. A Youth and Social Innovation major in the School of Education and Human Development, Megan is known across Grounds for three things: consistency, a willingness to work behind the scenes, and a happiness that is entirely genuine.

Over four years, Megan has been the steady, quiet engine behind UVA's first impression. As Co-Chair of the Admissions Intern Executive Board, having been promoted twice within the Office of Undergraduate Admission, she gave over 300 ninety-minute tours and trained four full cohorts of interns during a period of significant transition for the University's visitor program. Tour guests describe being moved to tears, and at least one current intern chose UVA because of the tour Megan gave them as a prospective student. Her supervisor describes her simply as "never asked twice" and always a step ahead. She has become, in the words of those who work alongside her, a proper noun in the office: the standard by which others are measured.

What defines Megan most is that her service happens precisely when no one is watching. After a grueling out-of-town swim tournament weekend, she returned to Grounds and quietly covered high-priority admissions tours without a word. When a fellow intern received devastating news of a family death just before a scheduled tour, Megan happened to be passing by, stayed to comfort him, and took his tour so he could go home to his family. During a campus lockdown, she remained calm at the front desk, helping professional staff account for every tour group on Grounds. Beyond admissions, she coached a local high school varsity swim team through a state championship season, mentored younger students in her major and sorority, and served as an Education School Ambassador, all while planning to continue at UVA pursuing a Master of Education in Higher Education.

Those who know Megan best say she is most alive when talking about a swimmer who hit a new personal best or a new intern who finally found their tour voice. She did not pursue high-profile titles or elite recognition; she pursued what she loves and brought everyone around her along with her. The ripple effects of her generosity, in the interns she trained, the swimmers she coached, and the students she welcomed to UVA, will be felt for years to come.
 

Lucas R Fuller

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

Lucas R. Fuller is a recipient of the Class of 2026's Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an honor recognizing a graduating student whose character, heart, humility, and unselfish service embody the very best of the University community. A Public Policy and Leadership major in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and a proud Charlottesville native, Lucas has spent four years at UVA quietly and consistently making the people around him feel seen, valued, and at home.

Lucas's involvement across Grounds is as broad as it is purposeful. As a Posse Scholar and Trustee, a teaching assistant for two leadership and resilience courses, a co-captain of the Club Soccer team, a member of Hoos Connected, and an MLI Fellow, he has woven himself into the fabric of student life not in pursuit of recognition, but out of genuine care for others. Peers describe him as a powerful connector, someone whose presence creates a unifying thread across organizations, classrooms, and leadership spaces and whose authenticity strengthens every community he enters.

The personal dimensions of Lucas's service are equally telling. When a peer faced serious health challenges, he responded immediately with empathy and continued checking in long after the moment passed. When given the opportunity to enjoy one of UVA's most celebrated traditions, the Lighting of the Lawn, he gave it up to raise money for a nonprofit, even while managing significant stress of his own. He remembers small details, follows up, and offers candid and caring guidance during difficult moments. Many describe him as a mentor, a support system, and an older brother figure whose impact is felt long after a single conversation.

Those who know Lucas consistently describe feeling genuinely known and cared for in ways that are rare among peers. He serves as a particular role model for young men navigating complex social expectations, demonstrating through his own example how to lead with authenticity, empathy, and integrity. His dedication to fostering belonging and connection at UVA has left a lasting mark on Grounds, and his contributions will continue to shape the community long after graduation.
 

Tashana Dawn Starks 

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
 

Tashana Dawn Starks is a recipient of the Class of 2026's Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, honoring a member of the University community whose unselfish service, humility, and deep care for others have left a lasting mark on students and colleagues alike. As Director of Advising and Academic Support in the School of Architecture, Tashana has become one of the most beloved and indispensable figures on Grounds, someone colleagues describe as extraordinary, transformative, and simply irreplaceable.

Tashana's path to UVA is inseparable from the empathy she brings to her work. Having transferred to the University and earned her degree while working full time through personal hardship, she carries a firsthand understanding of the obstacles students face. That experience shapes everything she does. She has an exceptional ability to anticipate students' needs before they are voiced, and she responds with emotional intelligence, steady encouragement, and unconditional care. Her impact is so profound that students consistently thank her by name at every graduation ceremony and she receives the loudest applause.

Her commitment has never wavered under pressure. When the pandemic forced a sudden transition to remote advising, Tashana redesigned her entire approach and personally advised over 600 students across different time zones, setting her alarm for 3 a.m. to ensure no international student was left without support. When she encountered a student quietly going hungry rather than miss a social gathering, she reached into her own pocket without hesitation. These acts, small in cost but enormous in meaning, reflect the spirit that defines her service every day.

Beyond her formal role, Tashana mentors without expectation of credit, inspires curriculum decisions with insight faculty seek before their own colleagues, and maintains connections with students long after graduation. Those who know her say she does not simply have a job; she answers a calling. Her dedication to the public mission of the University, and to the young people who pass through it, has changed lives and shaped an institution. Algernon Sydney Sullivan is honored to recognize her.
 

Carrie Heilman

Gordon F. Rainey, Jr. Award for Vigilance to the Student Experience

Carrie M. Heilman is the recipient of the Gordon F. Rainey Jr. Award for Vigilance to the Student Experience, presented by the Society of the Purple Shadows to recognize an individual whose dedication to students has left a profound and lasting mark on the University community. A beloved professor at the McIntire School of Commerce for more than two decades, Professor Heilman embodied, in every dimension of her work, a deep and unwavering commitment to the people in her care.

At McIntire, Professor Heilman taught courses in brand management, marketing, and strategic brand consulting at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2013, she assumed leadership of the school's renowned Promotions program, guiding students each year to the National Student Advertising Competition and earning national titles in 2016, 2020, and 2021. In 2018, Poets and Quants recognized her as one of the top fifty undergraduate professors in the country, and in 2020 UVA honored her with an All-University Teaching Award. Students described her as someone who made them feel like equals, like members of a team capable of making real decisions, not simply pupils in a classroom.

Beyond the classroom, Professor Heilman served as UVA's faculty athletics representative beginning in 2017, working on behalf of more than 700 student-athletes across the University. She participated in certifying athlete eligibility, conducted student-athlete exit interviews, and served as a trusted bridge between the academic and athletic enterprises of the University. Coaches, administrators, and athletes alike described her as fair, honest, deeply supportive, and the kind of person whose company you never wanted to leave.

Professor Heilman passed away in 2026 after a yearlong battle with cancer. The Society of the Purple Shadows is honored to recognize her extraordinary service and the generations of students whose lives she shaped.