Rebecca Franks (she/her) is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Bioethics. For the past three years, Becca has served as the Madison House program director for Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy (CART), a therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities. Becca is also a volunteer EMT with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS). At CARS, she responds to 911 calls in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area, proving medical care and transport to the hospital. Lastly, Becca volunteers at the Charlottesville Free Clinic. Next year, Becca will be returning to Texas for medical school.
Hoos Serving
Every other week, UVA Public Service recognizes students involved in public service in various ways, whether through volunteering, community or civic engagement, activism, social entrepreneurship, service-learning coursework or research, and other co-curricular service activities and interests.
Nina Robertson is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in global public health. Nina serves as the Madison House program director for Adopt-A-Grandparent (AAGP) at Charlottesville Health and Rehabilitation Center (CHRC), through which she works with elderly residents and other student volunteers to facilitate healthy connections and bonding experiences. Nina also volunteers on the Madison House HELP Line outreach team, a 24/7 free and confidential cries hotline run by students. In addition, she is a research intern at the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC), a national nonprofit that aims to eliminate barriers of treatment for individuals with severe mental illness.
Isaiah Woo is a fourth-year student in the School of Engineering majoring in mechanical engineering. Isaiah volunteers at the Virginia Discovery Museum as a gallery assistant, where he interacts with children ages 2-10 and helps facilitate creative, active learning. The Virginia Discovery Museum specializes in the development of motor skills, critical thinking, and cooperative play.
Annie An is a fourth-year human biology and biostatistics major in the College of Arts & Sciences. Annie's involvements include working as a medical scribe in the UVA Emergency Department, helping to organize Take Back the Night, and volunteering with VISAS (Volunteers with International Students, Staff, & Scholars). Annie also is on the Peer Health Educators (PHE) leadership team and recently helped co-organize the 30th Annual Fourth Year 5K (4Y5K), whose proceeds go to the Leslie Baltz Art Study Fund.
Hannah Zaveri is a third-year majoring in Global Public Health and Sociology. Hannah serves as the Habitat for Humanity UVA (HUVA) Youth Leadership Team Coordinator, through which she works with high school students passionate about affordable housing. She also volunteers at UVA Children's Hospital through Madison House Medical Services and is on the Peer Health Educator (PHE) leadership team. As a PHE, she recently co-organized the 30th Annual Fourth Year 5K (4Y5K), whose proceeds go to the Leslie Baltz Art Study Fund.
Olivia de Cuba is a second-year in the biomedical sciences graduate program (BIMS) in the School of Medicine pursuing a PhD in biophysics. She is a coach at the First Tee of Virginia Blue Ridge. The First Tee is an international youth development organization that integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum. After UVA, Olivia hopes to continue to make a difference in the lives of young people through sports while carrying on her research in bacteria and human disease at a molecular level.
Jennifer Bobowski is a fourth-year in the McIntire School of Commerce with accounting and marketing majors. She has been the executive director of the UVA Community Food Pantry for her third and fourth year and served as the organization's drives coordinator during her second year. After graduating in Spring 2022, she will work as an assurance associate at PwC in Washington, D.C.
G. Michael Haas is a second-year in the College of Arts & Sciences planning on majoring in physics. He is involved in UVA Student Veterans of America as vice president and College Council. After UVA, Michael hopes to continue to serve in the military and is considering public service out of uniform.
Neeka Samimi is a third-year in the College of Arts & Sciences in Politics Honors and minoring in Urban and Environmental Planning. She is vice president of Culture of Respect Educators (CORE) and an investigator on the University Judiciary Committee, among other involvements like writing for the Virginia Review of Politics.
Tim Brown is a second-year prospective commerce student and serves as the president of the UVA Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter. Tim is also an analyst at the McIntire Investment Institute and plans to pursue a career in the financial services industry.
Grace Kurcina is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Global Security & Justice and English. She volunteers at UVA as the head program director of the Madison House Arts Mentors Program, which helps to bring the arts to students in underrepresented communities within Charlottesville. In addition, Grace co-chairs the Echols Council mentorship committee, serves as the president of the International Justice Mission UVA chapter, and serves as the president of the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF).
Damir Hrnjez is a third-year studying systems engineering. He has been involved with FoodAssist since his first year at UVA and has served as the club's president for this past academic year. Damir has also volunteered for Meals on Wheels in Charlottesville throughout the year as a way to further help fight food insecurity in our local community.