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In a first for any university in the United States, visually impaired baseball players are getting a chance to step up to the plate at �鶹��Ƶ. Led by a volunteer coach and University Life’s �鶹��Ƶ Recreation and Disability Services offices, �鶹��Ƶ’s Beep baseball initiative is gaining momentum after a successful community learn-to-play clinic last fall.

Student Affairs and Academic Advising professionals from across the country attended the first Student Success Coaching Conference: Ignite Your Success Through Coaching in October. The conference, hosted by �鶹��Ƶ’s Student Success Coaching (SSC) unit, provided an opportunity for more than 400 coaching professionals from 100 institutions—including Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University, and others—to collaborate and learn from each other. 

Tereana Battle can look back on many accomplishments during her time at �鶹��Ƶ, but one of the memories that gives her the most satisfaction is her capstone project, creating an anti-bullying workshop for middle school students.

The Dr. Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year Award honors the essential role families play in supporting their students at �鶹��Ƶ. Students nominate their families, and the Family of the Year Award is announced at Family Weekend in the fall. The Choi family is the 14th Family of the Year recipient. 

Over the three days of this fall’s Career Fair, more than 5,000 �鶹��Ƶ students filled Dewberry Hall in sharp professional attire and with polished résumés in hand—ready to take the next step toward their careers.

Each year, academic professionals teach and conduct research abroad through the highly competitive Fulbright Scholar Program. �鶹��Ƶ has a rich history of sending and hosting faculty and staff through the program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State. This year, Frank Krueger of the College of Science, Nathalia Peixoto of the College of Engineering and Computing, and Yali Pan of the Office of International Programs and Services, received Fulbright awards.

At �鶹��Ƶ, the Student Success Coaching team helps students navigate the transition to college and make the most of their student experience. TJ Pegg has been part of the Student Success Coaching team for five years.

�鶹��Ƶ Empty Bowls is supporting George �鶹��Ƶ's Food and Housing Insecurity Fund through a delicious meal and handmade ceramics.

Through the Knack tutoring program, George �鶹��Ƶ students have even greater access to academic support through peer-to-peer tutoring.

Nandini Koka joined �鶹��Ƶ in April 2023 as executive director of Student Health Services, where she leads a staff of nearly 50 that includes doctors, nurse practitioners, counselors, and nurses. As a medical doctor with training in family medicine and urgent care, she is passionate about helping patients get better quickly and enhancing access to care. At the largest and fastest-growing public research university in Virginia, Koka has found a place where the need for that care continues to grow.