UVA Darden Bestows Awards for Excellence, Highest Student Honor at Fall Awards Event

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business honored the accomplishments of top Second Year students during the annual Fall Student Awards ceremony, held on 31 August.

The sun shined on Flagler Court as students, faculty and staff gathered for a cheerful celebration to recognize Second Year student achievement in a range of academic and community-oriented areas.

The award ceremony culminated in the presentation of the Samuel Forrest Hyde Memorial Fellowship, which is considered Darden’s highest student honor.

Vashti D. Barran (Class of 2023)

This year the fellowship, which is determined by faculty vote and awarded to the student who made a meaningful impact at Darden School in their first year and shows great career promise, was presented to Vashti D. Barran by Professor Tom Steenburgh, senior associate dean for the Full-Time MBA program.

Described by peers and professors as an “authentic leader” who brings kindness and compassion to her pursuit of excellence, Barran was called someone who “leads from the heart” and is a “great contributor in every discussion, in and out of the classroom.”

“No one is more deserving of this honor,” said one peer.

Professor Kimberly Whitler presented the G. Robert Strauss Marketing Award to Allison Prescott. The award recognizes a student who shows innovative thinking, the ability to develop solutions to real-world problems and demonstrates compassion for other students.

Senior Assistant Dean of Student Engagement and the Full-Time MBA, Sarah Elliott, presented the C. Steward Sheppard Distinguished Service Award, which is conferred to students who display exceptional service to the School and community of a nonacademic nature, to Sukari Ayanna Brown, Fanny Mei, Alexis Maria Orr and Martin Vargas Del Rio.

The William Michael Shermet Award, which honors academic excellence and exemplary determination in the First Year, was presented to 15 students. The award winners are:

• Adesola Oluwatosin Adelaja
• Blake Bethea
• James Tyler Braun
• William James Campbell
• Annabel Cater
• Ryan Spencer Cox
• Bianca Eleisse Salvador Eyales
• Emily Kahn
• Lucile Holswade King
• Brian Edgar Krentz
• Nina Kryza
• Logan Kendall McDivitt
• Sean O’Brien
• Pauline Mason Ukrop
• Pooja Vittal

Executive MBAs Honored at June Event

In June, the Executive MBA program presented awards as part of its mid-program celebration.

The Executive MBA C. Steward Sheppard Distinguished Service Award winners include Sarah Boschung, Annette Stock and LaShondra Ervin.

The Marian Chapman Moore Executive Leadership Award, which honors the legacy of Professor Emerita Marian Moore and is bestowed annually by the Darden School to recognize a rising Second Year Executive MBA student who demonstrates exceptional, responsible and principled leadership within the Darden community, was presented to Erika Keough. Keough was recognized for “an incredible commitment to creating meaningful dialogue in the classroom,” and showing “consistent commitment to improving the Darden experience and to fostering a supportive climate for all members of our diverse community through her leadership.”

Executive MBA students were honored as part of a mid-program celebration in June.