Jaime Lear is a second-year chemistry major with a sign language minor. Jaime volunteers through Madison House as a patient ambassador at the hospital where she fulfills deliveries and special requests from patients by visiting the different floors with a cart of entertaining things to offer, such as magazines or crossword puzzles. Jaime also volunteers with the Blue Ridge Mountain Rescue Group (BRMRG), which is a state-certified team on call 24/7 to search for missing people in the state of Virginia.
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.
Caroline Hallowell is a second-year in the College of Arts & Sciences and serves as the Head Program Director for Madison House's Summer Programs and as the Coordinating Program Director for Madison House Medical Services. Caroline also is a volunteer in the Acute Pediatric Program at UVA Health System and a Project SERVE Site Leader.
Avital Balwit is a second-year in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Political and Social Thought and a student member on the Madison House Board of Directors.
Janee Murray is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences double-majoring in Foreign Affairs and History. Janee is involved with the University's service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega; volunteers with both Madison House and the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center; and has been recognised by Student Council as a Service Scholar.
Vikram Seshadri is a third-year in the School of Engineering and Applied Science majoring in biomedical engineering. Vikram is the program director for Madison House's new program, "The Gym," a member of HELPline's outreach committee, and also works as a mentor for Autism Allies. He's also an Eagle Scout!
Julia Hohenstein is a third-year in the McIntire School of Commerce, concentrating in Finance and IT and also double-majoring in statistics. Julia is the co-chair of the Madison House Board of Directors, a board that is comprised of five student members and 10 community members. She has also volunteered with Madison House as a tutor and an income tax preparation assistant through the program CASH.
Elizabeth Wat is a third-year in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in neuroscience where she is interested in the field of neurodevelopmental conditions. Many of Elizabeth's involvements connect back to this interest, including volunteering with the Accessible Theatre Project and her role as vice president of external affairs for Best Buddies. Elizabeth is also the Madison House Program Director for the acute pediatrics unit at UVA Hospital, and she is the co-chair for Project SERVE, a day for first-year students to volunteer and learn about local service organizations.
Quinn Funston is a third-year in the College of Arts & Sciences, double-majoring in biology and French. She is the Tri Delta Body Image Coordinator and has been involved with UVA's Pancakes for Parkinson's in a number of ways, as a volunteer and dorm representative, fundraising member, and this year's Head of Fundraising.
Andrew How is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences, double-majoring in Biology and Psychology. He is involved in Autism Allies, Special Olympics, the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA), Martha Jefferson House, Crisis Text Line, and Heartland Hospice.
Rachel Newman is a fourth-year in the School of Engineering, majoring in biomedical engineering. She is the head program director for the Madison House recreational therapy program. Through the recreational therapy program, volunteers interact with individuals with physical or mental disabilities, helping others learn and develop essential life skills.
Sam Powers is a third-year in the College, majoring in Statistics and Religious Studies and the Masters in Public Health program. Sam is involved in Center for Global Health research and community-based research with the Legal Aid Justice Center. He also volunteers through the Madison House Music Mentoring program and is the Vice Chair for First Years on the University Judiciary Committee. Sam spent this summer in Rwanda as a Center for Global Health Scholar researching the relationship between faith-based and public healthcare systems and disparities in malnutrition.
Lobna Raya is a fourth-year in the College, majoring in Religious Studies with a concentration in Islamic studies and minoring in Bioethics. Some of Lobna's involvements include Alternative Spring Break (ASB), the Ronald McDonald House, and the Islamic Society of Central Virginia (ISCV). Through ASB, Lobna visited Pensacola, Fla., where she helped build houses with Habitat for Humanity. She also helped organize meals and bake at the Ronald McDonald House and volunteers on Sundays at the ISCV teaching Arabic to a class of nine-year-old students.