Darden Graduation 2020

Current Students - Graduation 2020

Graduation 2020

The Darden School is honored to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2020. Thank you for joining Darden's virtual graduation celebration. 

For information on the upcoming 2021 graduation event, please visit our Graduation page as well as the UVA Major Events page.


On 16 May, Darden celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2020 and the University of Virginia conferred degrees to the School's 465 graduates. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this class has demonstrated uncanny resilience and tremendous ability to navigate uncertainty — traits that demonstrate their preparedness as purpose-driven leaders ready to improve the world. 

Below, find Darden's virtual graduation celebration, including an address from Dean Scott Beardsley; video messages to the Class of 2020 from faculty and elected graduation student speakers for the Executive MBA and full-time MBA programs; the announcement of graduation awards; special messages of congratulations to graduates from the Darden community, family and friends; and a musical send off from Darden’s Cold Call Chorus.

To view the UVA graduation celebration featuring conferral of degrees by the University's school deans, including Darden Dean Scott Beardsley, visit the UVA Virtual Graduation Celebration website.

A Message From the Dean

Dean Scott Beardsley celebrates the hard work, amazing accomplishments and indelible contributions of the Class of 2020 and looks forward to welcoming the School's newest alumni back to Grounds in the future.  

Faculty Congratulations to Full-Time MBA Students

Faculty Congratulations to Full-Time MBA Students

The University of Virginia conferred MBA degrees to 336 Darden graduates who completed the full-time MBA program. Introduced by the Class of 2020's elected student graduation speakers, faculty members who taught the graduates offer their words of congratulations and encouragement.

Faculty Congratulations to Executive MBA Students

Faculty Congratulations to Executive MBA Students

The University of Virginia conferred MBA degrees to 128 Darden graduates who completed the Executive MBA program. Introduced by the Class of 2020's elected student graduation speaker, faculty members who taught the graduates offer their words of congratulations and encouragement.


2020 Award Winners

Each year at graduation, Darden honors students with awards for top academic performance and contributions to the community, in addition to the graduating class electing faculty marshals and student graduation speakers.

Faculty Marshals
Shane Dikolli
Jacqueline Doyle
Elena Loutskina

Honorary Faculty Marshals
Samuel Bodily
L.J. Bourgeois III

Class of 2020 Student Speakers
Christopher Luke Adams, Executive MBA
Max Philip Linden, Full-Time MBA
Morolake Thompson, Full-Time MBA

C. Stewart Sheppard Distinguished Service Award
Metasebia B. Aberra
Taison Durand Bell
Pallabi Chakraborty
Amy Glazier Kohnstamm
Max Philip Linden
Adam Miller*
Jade Moana Palomino
Alyssa Nahir Perez-Melendez
Tiffany Ann Pillifant
Guy Andrew Schwartz
Rachel Wood Southall*
Chloe Marie Stegeman
Morolake Thompson
Vita Fay Wu*
*Awarded Fall 2019

Frederick S. Morton Award
Rachel Wood Southall

The Darden Executive MBA Faculty Award
Karen Owens Henneberger

Samuel Forrest Hyde Memorial Fellowship
Alexandra Medack

Edgar F. Shannon Award of the Z Society
Taison Durand Bell

William Michael Shermet Award
Ann Catherine Begley 
Carson Christopher Brooks 
Kelly Elizabeth Connors
Dylan Andrews Eldridge 
Robert Lucas Elias 
Michael Hovick 
Bryce J. Istvan 
Waleed Jehandad 
Max Philip Linden 
Vineet Paruchuri
Alyssa Nahir Perez-Melendez 
Ravi Kesav Srinivas Pidikiti 
Taylor Anne Shepard 
Natalie Russell Stoll 
Logan White

First Year Academic Achievement Award
Daniel James Aycock
Ann Catherine Begley
James Asher Begley
Blaire G. Bloxom
Brooks Stanfield Bradway
John Frederick Brittan
Cameron Joseph Brock
Carson Christopher Brooks
Philip Joseph Carroll IV
Kelly Elizabeth Connors
Addison Karl Corriher
Dhruv Mihir Desai
Dylan Andrews Eldridge
Robert Lucas Elias
Ryan Earl Ferrera
Alan Steven Fischer
Owen Baughman Fry
Srikar Gullapalli
Michael Hovick
James Austin Howe
James William Igou
Bryce J. Istvan
Waleed Jehandad
Stephen Gregory Joy Jr.
Andrew Thomas Kapral
Harrison Michael Lands
Daniel Anthony Lantz
Daniel James Lapihuska
James Lee Lapp
Max Philip Linden
Steven Matthew McIntyre
Davis Kirk Miller
Vineet Paruchuri
Ravi Kesav Srinivas Pidikiti
Matthew Joseph Redmer
Christopher Ahn Richardson
Ryan Ritchie
Benjamin Louis Salvito
Geoffrey I. Schmelkin
Taylor Anne Shepard
Lauren Emily Sless
Alexander James Spencer
Natalie Russell Stoll
Luiz Felipe Teixeira Brandao
Elizabeth King Thompson
Nathaniel Valaik
Dylan Ellis Weber
Dalton Werner
Samuel Jennings Werner
Logan White
Wei Zhou

Faculty Award for Academic Excellence
Daniel James Aycock 
Sandesh Ballikar
Lacy Dorothea Bedol 
Ann Catherine Begley 
James Asher Begley 
Jessica Block  
Blaire G. Bloxom 
Sean Patrick Brady
John Frederick Brittan 
Cameron Joseph Brock 
Carson Christopher Brooks 
Melissa Looney Carroll
Philip Joseph Carroll IV
Kelly Elizabeth Connors 
Addison Karl Corriher 
Dylan Andrews Eldridge 
Ryan Earl Ferrera 
Srikar Gullapalli
Karen Owens Henneberger 
Michael Hovick 
James William Igou 
Bryce J. Istvan 
Waleed Jehandad 
Andrew Thomas Kapral 
Emma Anne Kinnucan
Paul Willard Kohnstamm
Benjamin Arrison Koppenheffer
Harrison Michael Lands 
James Lee Lapp 
Stephen Matthew Leff
Max Philip Linden 
Steven Matthew McIntyre 
Davis Kirk Miller
Michael Stephen Obar
Vineet Paruchuri
Alyssa Nahir Perez-Melendez 
Ravi Kesav Srinivas Pidikiti 
Tiffany Ann Pillifant
Benjamin Louis Salvito 
Lauren Emily Sless 
Alexander James Spencer 
Natalie Russell Stoll 
Elizabeth King Thompson 
Erin C. Tollini
Jason Turse
Eric Christopher Tyo
Nathaniel Valaik 
Dalton Werner 
Logan White 
Wei Zhou


Join the Kudoboard

Kudos, Graduates!

View a special Kudoboard on which family, friends and the Darden community have left well wishes, words of encouragement and photos for the Class of 2020.

View the Board

 

A Look Back For Our Grads

Swipe through this Instagram slideshow to relive some of the amazing memories and moments from the Class of 2020's two years at Darden. 

Cold Call Chorus 2020 Shenandoah

Cold Call Chorus: Shenandoah

A special thanks to this year's Cold Call Chorus members, who worked together in virtual harmony to create Darden's traditional end of graduation ceremony song.

UVA Major Events

For information on in-person events and other upcoming 2021 graduation activities, please visit UVA's Major Events page.

UVA Virtual Graduation Celebration

UVA Virtual Graduation Celebration

UVA President Jim Ryan delivers a message to the Class of 2020 and the University's school deans confer degrees to graduates, including Dean Scott Beardsley conferring degrees to Darden MBA and Ph.D. students.