How One MBA Student Is Changing the Conversation at UVA Darden

The room had quieted. The applause had faded. Psalms Morales (Class of 2026) took a breath and offered a warning.

“It seems to me, in this country, at a time like this, that we are barreling dangerously close to the edge of what little kindness we have left,” Morales said. “So much so that if our foot were to slip, we would fall headfirst into division.”

It was a powerful moment during a special Second Coffee at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, where Morales was announced as the latest recipient of the Lemuel E. Lewis Bicentennial Award for Global Leadership — a unique, student-led scholarship that recognizes values-driven leadership and a commitment to building understanding across communities.

More Than a Scholarship

The Lewis Award is not a typical scholarship. It’s awarded not for grades or résumés, but for perspective — and for a proven ability to listen, lead and bring people together in meaningful ways.

Its namesake, Lem Lewis (MBA ’72), has spent his career doing just that. A longtime Darden supporter and civic leader, Lewis served as CFO of Landmark Communications, founded IvMedia and chaired the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He’s held leadership roles at UVA and remains one of Darden’s most engaged alumni.

His goal in creating the award was simple but profound: to invest in students who reflect the spirit of connection and clarity that shaped his own life and career.

“This award is so much more than financial support,” said Dean Scott Beardsley. “It celebrates students who lead with thoughtfulness, humility and purpose — and who help us see what leadership can look like when it’s rooted in connection.”

A Student-Driven Selection

Each year, the Lewis Award is entrusted to the people who know the Darden community best — its students. A committee of Second Years, drawn from across the School’s affinity clubs, leads the entire process: reading applications, conducting interviews and making the final decision.

This year, the committee reviewed 57 applications and interviewed six finalists.

“We engaged in thoughtful, often difficult conversations to select just one recipient — a task that, as you can imagine, was no small feat,” said Mqondisi Ndlovu (Class of 2025), last year’s recipient of the award.

For Ndlovu and the other committee members, what stood out most was Morales’ vision and clarity of purpose behind it. The committee was particularly moved by a leadership style rooted in thoughtful dialogue and unity, and by a belief that disagreement isn’t something to fear, but something to embrace.

Morales “showed us that friction, when approached with empathy and courage, can be a catalyst for connection, not division,” Ndlovu said.

The committee saw not only a strong candidate, but someone with the potential to make a lasting impact on the Darden community by fostering honest conversation and inclusive leadership.

Purpose in Practice

For Morales, the Lewis Award is more than recognition — it’s a responsibility. In closing, Morales reminded peers of what they’ll carry forward long after graduation.

“We are not left with just a career,” Morales said. “But with something far more fragile and powerful. First, it will be our reputation. And second, it will be the communities that we foster.”

Psalms Morales shares reflections after being named the 2025 recipient of the Lemuel E. Lewis Bicentennial Award for Global Leadership. (Photo by Caroline Mackey)

Support Scholarships for All

Every gift to the Darden Annual Fund, no matter the size, directly supports scholarships that empower students from all walks of life. Your contribution helps fund opportunities for future leaders to thrive at Darden. To make a difference today, make a gift.

Create a Lasting Legacy

Establishing an endowed scholarship ensures perpetual support for students. To learn more about how you can endow a scholarship, please contact Samantha Hartog, senior associate vice president of advancement, at +1-434-981-4025 or HartogS@darden.virginia.edu.

Lem Lewis’ journey from scholarship recipient to donor: