We are equal parts sad to see them leave, and excited to see their futures unfold. Here the Class of 2019 shares some highlights from their experiences as Echols Scholars:
“I had a very enjoyable time at the Echols social at the beginning of my second-year, where I was welcomed into the Echols Scholars program. I also very much enjoyed reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks for the Echols reading and leading a discussion on the book.”
- Lauren Bredar
“The meditation retreat was an incredible experience. The Echols capstone symposium was really cool to attend b/c of all the crazy things everyone is doing! also had a great time speaking.”
– Dan Xia
“Really enjoyed the Echols fireside chats.”
- Tsering Say
“Living in Balz Dobie was the best experience I had at UVA.”
- Julianna Kang
“I really enjoyed all the activities/events that allowed all of us to get together and meet up because it is so much harder to meet up with people if they are not your close friends or if we do not share classes.”
- Jane Nguyen
“I was truly able to explore my specific academic interests through the freedom provided by the Echols program. I can confidently say that I only took classes I genuinely wanted to take, yet I still feel that my education was broad within the field of social sciences. The program is the reason I attended UVA as opposed to a different university and I'm so glad I made that choice.”
- Ankita Satpathy
“Serving in so many positions with Echols Council let me see so many sides to the program: from starry eyed First Years to grizzled thesis-writing Fourth Years. Dancing and painting and movie watching Scholars of all years, disciplines, and personalities characterized my time with the program, and I wouldn't have wanted to do UVA any differently.”
- Morgan Feldenkris
“I loved the Echols Symposium this spring and the dinner that followed! Hearing from people about their passions was such a joyful, curiosity filled endeavor. I also absolutely loved living in Balz-Dobie. Living in a community of curious, passionate people was truly special and really defined my UVA experience.”
- Charlotte McClintock
“With the academic freedom I was given, I was able to double major in Biology and Art History, which was pretty cool. I could get training for my future career in science while also pursuing my passion for art. I was on the founding board of the Cavalier Symphony Orchestra, UVA's only fully-student run non-audition full orchestra.”
- Michael Hilzendeger
“It is thanks to the Echols program that I chose UVA, and got to spend four amazing years here. I am not sure I would have discovered my passion for science as early as I did without the freedom to choose classes available in this program. It is also what allowed me to complete a double physics and math major with an astronomy minor. These things have certainly shaped who I am today, and helped along the path to grad school.”
- Kristen Schumacher
“The person I would like to thank the most is Dean Cole, the Echols Dean. She was able to help me navigate through all of the changes and assured me that everything would be alright. She is wonderful and I definitely appreciated her input on situations, as well as her understanding of my concerns throughout.”
- Charles Carter Newton
