UVA, Darden, Dignitaries Celebrate Sands Family at DC Area Grounds Dedication

It was a night of celebration as members of the University of Virginia Darden School of Business community gathered to dedicate the UVA Darden Sands Family Grounds in the Rosslyn district of Arlington, Virginia, and honor the family whose support made the state-of-the-art facility possible.

The dynamic space — housed on the top two floors of a LEED-EB Gold certified 31-story building — includes classrooms, offices and event space. Darden’s Executive MBA and Executive Education and the University of Virginia’s Master of Science in business analytics programs are offered from the Sands Family Grounds, as well as events for alumni and members of the Darden, UVA and external communities. Named for Darden alumni and philanthropists Frank Sands Sr. (MBA ’63) and Frank Sands Jr. (MBA ’94), the facility offers spectacular views of the Potomac River and Washington, D.C., skyline.

Generosity Powers Darden in DC Area

Darden Dean Scott Beardsley commended the Sands’ generosity and the significance of Darden’s expanded role in the D.C. area.

“These beautiful Grounds in this significant location, thanks to such generous philanthropy, are nothing short of momentous for both our top-ranked professors and our students of the past, present and future,” Beardsley said. “Your gift is generating a buzz for Darden and UVA here in D.C. Every day, it seems I receive an email from a friend of Darden who is flying into Reagan International Airport or walking through Georgetown and sees the UVA Darden sign prominently displayed on the side of this building.”

In remarks to the attendees, Frank Sands Jr. described the “fantastic and transformational experience” he and his father both had at Darden. With family roots in Arlington, he said he was proud to see the vision for a Darden presence in the nation’s capital region come to fruition.

“The Sands family is absolutely thrilled to be in a position to help bring Darden here to Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area. We believe it will be and has been already transformational for Darden and massively beneficial for this region,” Sands Jr. said. “And I think we’re just getting started.”

Via a special video message, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan thanked the Sands for their philanthropic support and called the Grounds’ opening a major event that is “driving new public and private partnerships, educating tomorrow’s leaders, and generating new ideas that will make business grow and help make the world a better place.”

Dignitaries Salute UVA Presence in Capital Region

Several dignitaries also attended the event, including U.S. Congressman Denver Riggleman — a UVA alumnus who represents Virginia’s 5th district encompassing Charlottesville and the surrounding area — and Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. Riggleman and Qarni both thanked the Sands family and touted Darden’s impact in the Commonwealth.

“A UVA presence in the nation’s capital is another fabulous step, and cements Darden’s status as the best school in the nation,” Riggleman said. “I thank you all very much. It’s the people here who did this. Wahoowa!”

The dedication event included a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and concluded with a toast led by Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Elizabeth Weymouth (MBA ’94), with the illuminated Washington Monument and National Mall visible behind her across the Potomac.

To support continued development of the UVA Darden Sands Family Grounds, contact Kara Ramirez Mullins at MullinsK@darden.virginia.edu or +1-434-243-0834.