3 UVA Darden Second Year Students Receive Genovese Fellowships

One of the much-anticipated annual traditions at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business returned in in-person fashion on 24 August, with the presentation of the Frank E. Genovese Second Year Fellowships to three Darden students during First Coffee.

The fellowships, which were established in 1991 by Genovese (MBA ’74), include an award covering the cost of tuition and fees for the second year at Darden. Students in the Top 30 percent of the First Year class after their first semester are eligible to apply for the fellowship, which is intended for those interested in seeking employment as a general manager or as an owner and operator of their own business.

The 2021 recipients, who join a network of 77 previous fellows, are Second Year students Cody Swift, Chris Townsend and Katie Winebarger.

An Abbott Award recipient who has served on the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees, Genovese is a member of the Principal Donors Society and has returned often to lecture at the School, notably in “Acquisitions of Closely Held Enterprises.”

Genovese owned and operated many businesses during his career, eventually retiring as president of Rothbury Co.

Genovese has called his experience at Darden one of the critical periods of his life; it inspired him to give back, and Genovese said he hoped one day it would inspire the current students, as well.

This year’s recipients said being selected was an enormous honor.

“I am very grateful to Mr. Genovese and the Darden community, and humbled to be chosen as one of the recipients this year,” said Winebarger.

Added Townsend: “I am humbled to be selected as one of the Genovese Fellows. Frank has made a tremendous impact on the Darden community and I am honored to be a part of that legacy going forward.”

Many Genovese Fellows have made good on Genovese’s suggestion to give back to Darden when possible, and three fellows — Mike Augins (MBA ’99), Dave Banyard (MBA ’04) and Darren Fultz (MBA ’06) — recently established separate scholarship funds for Darden students.

“I am extremely honored and grateful to be recognized by Frank and the committee with this fellowship,” said Swift. “I am now even more motivated to demonstrate to the world what Darden students are capable of and I am excited to follow in Frank’s footsteps by supporting the Darden community in the future.”