The Lawn Selection Committee Wednesday notified 47 students selected to live on the Lawn next year, chosen from 255 rising fourth-year applicants.
The committee selected next year's Lawn residents based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, demonstrated commitment to further involvement in the University community and an appreciation of the opportunities and responsibilities of living on the Lawn, as well as the ideals of the Lawn community, Head Lawn Resident Reedy Swanson said.
Residents of seven endowed Lawn rooms, five of which are reserved for members of prominent organizations on Grounds, have not yet been announced. Residence Life, the Honor Committee, the Trigon Engineering Society, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and Kappa Sigma fraternity have endowed rooms, according to the Office of the Dean of Students' Lawn application website.
An ad hoc committee selects the resident of Room 15 West, known as the Gus Blagden Memorial Room or the "Good Guy" room, according to the website. Candidates for this room do not need to apply using the regular Lawn selection process.
Room 1 West, the John K. Crispell Memorial Room, is assigned to an outstanding pre-health student, chosen from Lawn applicants who accept offers from the Selection Committee.
"Since [selecting the endowed-room residents] usually includes drawing at least a couple of students from the waiting list, we don't release the information until the final Lawn Community has been selected," University Housing's Director of Accommodations John Evans said.
Third-year Commerce student Charlie Miller, one of those selected for a Lawn room, said he applied to live on the Lawn because he loves Thomas Jefferson's ideal of the Academical Village.
"The Lawn is what makes U.Va. special," Miller said. "It needs to be a place where people come and meet and form the community of U.Va."
Swanson said the sense of community the Lawn creates is a central element in Jefferson's vision of the Academical Village.
"The Lawn is a way to bring together 54 of our most remarkable students for their final year and to give them a chance to form collaborative relationships that can be really beneficial to the University community," Swanson said. "It's something that really sets us apart from other schools. It's probably the most beautiful place I might ever live, but more important are the relationships I've had the opportunity to form."
Complete information about Lawn residents is never officially released, Swanson said in an email, but occupants of endowed rooms are usually selected by mid-March.
Read More
University advances sustainability goals outlined in 2030 Plan
By Vyshnavi Tatta | YesterdayAs part of the 2030 Plan’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and fossil fuel-free operations by 2050, the University has prioritized environmental resilience and sustainability.
U.Va. researchers identify that HIV drugs can protect against Alzheimer’s disease
By Lauren Seeliger | 5 days agoDoctor Jayakrishna Ambati and his research team have begun work on a new drug called K9 which could treat and prevent Alzheimer’s.
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | May 21, 2025Many students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
