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).
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.
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.
Kevin Breiner is a JD-MPP student, currently in his third of four years. He is primarily interested in environmental issues and hopes to practice environmental law after graduation. In addition to working with the Equity and Environment Fund, he is a member of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal and is a staff writer for the Virginia Policy Review.
Allie Clarke is a fourth-year in the Batten School, studying Public Policy & Leadership and Global Security & Justice. During her time on Grounds, Allie has served as a Chair of ULink Peer Advising and a Director of the Blueprint Leadership Program. She also has been involved with Team One Love as a workshop facilitator and has served on the executive board of her sorority for two years. After graduation, Allie will be moving to Washington, D.C., to work as an associate consultant for Boston Consulting Group.
Daniel Chen is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences. He is in the interdisciplinary neuroscience program and plans to attend medical school this year. His volunteer work focuses on providing UVA students with service-learning opportunities. He serves as the co-president of the Brain Exercise Initiative (BEI) UVA Chapter, a Madison House Medical Services Program Director, and the founder of a mission partnership of Friendship Bench (FB) of Zimbabwe in Charlottesville.
Kiko Demetriou is a fourth-year Philosophy major and Sociology minor planning to attend law school in the fall. On Grounds, Kiko is a director for the Blueprint Leadership Program, a program aimed to develop students’ leadership skills by providing the resources for students to create a change in their community. Kiko is also involved off Grounds as the head instructor for an educational nonprofit start-up called Richmond Debate Institute.
Spencer Whitney is a fourth-year majoring in Commerce and Economics. He currently serves as Chair of the University Board of Elections (UBE), which is responsible for coordinating all undergraduate and graduate student elections at UVA. In addition, he serves as a Counselor on the University Judiciary Committee (UJC) and previously served as the Secretary of Third Year Council for the Class of 2021.
Taylor Thompson is a fourth-year in the School of Architecture on the Pre-Professional track. His most significant involvement on Grounds has been serving as the President of the Habitat for Humanity Club (HUVA). Taylor facilitates the organization of fundraising events, education and advocacy opportunities, weekly volunteer shifts, and seasonal trips both locally and nationally.
Maya is a third-year majoring in Political and Social Thought with minors in Arabic and Global Sustainability. In addition to being captain of the UVA Women's Ultimate Frisbee Team, Maya is a Career Peer Educator in the Career Center's Public Service and Government Career Community. She also volunteers with the Virginia Poverty Law Center to help Virginians facing eviction to receive legal information and aid, and currently works closely with a family of Syrian refugees in Charlottesville who are facing financial hardship due to COVID.
Emma Camp is a second-year from Birmingham, Alabama, studying English and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Philosophy. Emma was an actor in Grounds For Discussion last year and is directing GFD's upcoming production this August. GFD is a show produced by Orientation and New Student Programs that uses a series of scenes and monologues to show incoming first-years some of the challenges they may face as new college students.
Maxwell Madani is a fourth-year studying Cognitive Science in the College of Arts & Sciences. He is the Madison House Program Director and Programming Intern at Computers4Kids, social chair for the Persian Cultural Society, and president of the Neuroscience Enthusiasts Club. Maxwell also works as a medical scribe in the Emergency Department and conducts research with Dr. Xiaowei Lu in the UVA Cellular Biology department.
Tobias Addis is a fourth-year in the School of Arts & Sciences. Tobias is the founder and president of the Virginia Woodsmen Team at UVA. Tobias is also an EMT with the Danville Life Saving Crew where he serves as a Special Operations member. He also serves as an EMT and Firefighter for Mount Hermon Volunteer Fire and Rescue and as an Alpine Certified Snowboarding Ski Patroller at Wintergreen Ski Patrol.