Three students reconnect on the west side of the Lawn between classes on the first day of the spring semester. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Monday marked the first day of classes for the spring semester at the University of Virginia, offering a fresh start for the approximately 18,000 undergraduate students and 9,000 graduate and professional students on Grounds.
As students navigated new routes to classrooms and reconnected with friends, anticipation and excitement filled the air, a defining characteristic of the start of each new semester.
For third-year student Thomas Cusick, the spring semester brings both academic challenges and new leadership opportunities. The double major in data science and economics is taking an inference and prediction course for data science alongside an econometrics course this semester.
Third-year student Thomas Cusick and second-year student Annie Carstater gather with fellow Club Swim at UVA members for a study session at Shannon Library. Both are looking forward to Wednesday’s first practice of the semester. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“I’m excited to see who’s in my classes and to meet my new professors,” Cusick said.
Beyond the classroom, Cusick is preparing for his new role as one of the vice presidents for Club Swim at UVA. With the team’s first practice of the semester scheduled for Wednesday, he’s eager to start organizing swim meets and building on the club’s momentum.
First-year students Samantha Henske and Grace Berik have coordinated their schedules to share classes this semester as they work toward applying to the McIntire School of Commerce at the end of the month. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“I’m ready to hit the ground running,” he said.
First-year students Samantha Henske and Grace Berik have secured one of college’s great assets: a reliable class buddy. The duo coordinated their schedules to share as many courses as possible, making the transition into the second semester as Hoos smoother.
“We made a lot of our classes at the same time, so now I have a class buddy to look forward to seeing,” Henske said.
The pair met as dormmates in the Shannon House and realized they are working toward the same goal: applying to the McIntire School of Commerce when applications open at the end of January. This semester, they are tackling prerequisites together, including Foundations of Commerce and an introductory economics course.
Beyond the classroom, Berik said she is looking forward to continuing her participation with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Club, while Henske said she is excited to return to SEED Consulting, a student organization that provides consulting services to nongovernmental organizations.
Associate professor of public policy and economics Sebastian Tello Trillo celebrates his 10th year of teaching at UVA. He invited former students to share advice with current enrollees in his Research and Data Analysis II course. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Sebastian Tello Trillo, an associate professor of public policy and economics, is celebrating his 10th year teaching at the University. He’s been teaching Research and Data Analysis II, the second course in a required sequence for Master of Public Policy students.
Monday’s course included the typical first-day introductions, but Tello Trillo invited former students of the class to join the session, allowing current students to ask questions and hear firsthand perspectives about navigating the course.
For Tello Trillo, connecting with students is one of the biggest joys of teaching at UVA.
“I love developing relationships with students,” he said. “I get a lot of joy from that.”
Here are a few more scenes from the first day of the spring semester.
