Student Stories

After an unfortunate season-ending injury at the beginning of her second year with the WNBA’s New York Liberty, Jocelyn Willoughby has returned to Grounds to finish her Master of Public Policy degree at Batten.

The Virginia Policy Review, Batten’s oldest student organization, offers an ever-expanding space for people with differing perspectives to convene and converse.

Through the generosity of Fred and Mary Buford Hitz, seven Batten students completed summer public service internships with support from the Frederic S. Bocock Fellowship.

As the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approaches, Batten student Jane Frankel (BA '22) and alum Matt Gillam (BA '21) share their impressions of 9/11 and its lasting influences.

After a challenging year and a half, Batten students were especially excited to serve their community in person.

This summer, 50 students have been selected to participate in UVA’s 22nd Century Scholars program, designed to give students public-sector, event-planning, political and historical research, and video documentary work experience. Meet three Batten students participating in this year's program.

Thanks to two University of Virginia alumni, Batten students with an interest in national security have a new pathway to success through the Duke-Richards National Security Fellowship. Batten students Kevin Heaney (MPP ’22) and Sydney Pulliam (BA ’22) are the first recipients of the fellowship.

Matt Gillam (BA ’21), a proud Long Islander, knew he wanted to be a Batten student from the moment he learned about the School. After graduating this month, he'll bring the leadership skills he gained during his time at Batten, along with his passion for service, to the classroom with Teach for America.

The location of Batten Student Jasmine Rangel’s (MPP '21) childhood house changed the course of her life. Now, she’s working to ensure that everyone has a stable, affordable home. 

On Sunday, May 16, more than 2,800 of the graduates who gathered around screens last year massed behind the Rotunda, in person and in full color. A year in the making, Sunday’s ceremonies were full of touching moments, joyful reunions and some fun surprises, including a poem from Batten grad Hannah Semmes (BA '20).

A former sports journalist and investment banker, Batten’s Sean Bielawski, who will graduate with his MPP next week, has no regrets about saying yes to everything.

The Pilot and Legacy Awards are the most prestigious student-nominated awards for graduating MPP and BA students. This year, a record number of nominations were submitted by Batten students, faculty and staff who were impacted by Batten’s Class of 2021.