GRADUATING SCHOLARS CLASS OF 2026
Class Highlights
The Class of 2026 represents a historic milestone as the inaugural graduates of the Walentas Scholars Program joined Jefferson Scholars in leaving their mark on the University. Together, these remarkable individuals served as presidents, founders, mentors, researchers, teaching assistants, student government leaders, and advocates across dozens of organizations.
Their impact reached every corner of Grounds, from public health, medicine, engineering, and education to the arts, public policy, business, and civic engagement. They volunteered in local schools, hospitals, legal aid programs, and conducted research alongside faculty and graduate students.
The Class of 2026 exemplifies the ethos of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation: community-minded individuals who contribute their talents to strengthen and uplift those around them.
THE SCHOLAR EXPERIENCE
Throughout their time at UVA, the Class of 2026 benefited from enrichment programs that extended well beyond the classroom. Scholars pursued research alongside graduate students and faculty, studied and traveled abroad, explored careers through internships and professional development funding, and developed entrepreneurial ideas through the Foundation’s Exploratory Fund. They also participated in leadership institutes, mentorship programs, and a vibrant community of peers, faculty, and alumni, creating experiences that deepened their academic pursuits, broadened their perspectives, and prepared them for lives of leadership and engaged citizenship.
MEET THE CLASS OF 2026
