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Kirwin Scholars

Current Scholars

Erica Szymanski, 2022

Erica SzymanskiA rising fourth year at the McIntire School of Commerce, Erica Szymanski is a serial entrepreneur with business ventures ranging from handmade jewelry to printed artwork. She is a published author of a children’s book, A Shark Tooth Fairy Tale, and writes for the Cavalier Daily as a Health and Science staff writer. Erica volunteers with FoodAssist in Charlottesville and works to raise public awareness of food insecurity through website design and social media.

Ruohan Ding, 2022

Ruohan DingRuohan Ding entered UVA laser-focused on earning a computer science degree, but as his studies progressed, he started looking for ways in which his technical skills could offer broad social solutions. In 2020, he developed an alternative social media platform, Moves, with the goal of spreading positivity and connecting family and friends. With an eye towards making the world kinder and more social, Ruohan’s future goals center on how technology can both facilitate real-life relationships and solve common challenges.


Past Winners

Amy Liao, 2021

Amy LiaoAmy Liao, from Virginia Beach, VA, is pre-med student in the Class of 2022, who enjoys taking on a challenge. She has taught her parents how to invest, published a children’s book about Covid-19, opened a business on Etsy and taught ESL classes to workers at UVA. She serves as the Sports Chair for the Chinese Students Association, a scribe in the emergency department and recently won a Harrison Undergraduate Research Award to conduct an independent project in neuroscience. After graduation she plans to attend medical school and launch a career as a plastic surgeon. This will allow her to use her talents and creativity to help people in a variety of ways eventually helping those in disadvantaged communities around the world.


Alexis Thorpe, 2020

Alexis ThorpeAlexis Thorpe, from Manhattan, NY, will earn her B.A. in Media Studies with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Alexis has spent her summers interning as an equity sales and trading intern at the boutique investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and has worked at multiple news stations in New York City, where she developed a passion for media. Upon graduation, Alexis hopes to reside in Manhattan, working in either the sports or news industry.

At UVA, Alexis is on the executive committee for the Advertising and Marketing Association (AMA), on the recruitment committee for her sorority Kappa Alpha Theta and is a student volunteer for local elementary school students.

Liam Flaherty, 2019

Liam FlahertyLiam Flaherty, from Barrington, RI, will earn his B.S. in Commerce with a concentration in Finance as well as a degree in English in 2020. During the summer of 2019, Liam enjoyed San Francisco, CA, as a private equity intern at Alpine Investors. As an intern, he sources and analyzes companies that fit Alpine’s strategy and commitment to investing in people first

At UVA, Liam is a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters for an 11 year old boy from Charlottesville.

Josh Hurwitz, 2019

Josh Hurwitz, from Vero Beach, FL, will earn his B.A. Religious Studies in 2020 while also completing the required premed classes. He plans to earn his MD and potentially his MD/MBA. His career plans include going into medicine and from there, potentially either hospital administration or the biotechnology industry. Josh volunteers during his free time with Lacrosse the Nations (both internationally and at UVA), Boys and Girls Club, Project SERVE and as a Scribe at Indian River Medical Center.


Muhammad Ahmad, 2018


Ugochinyerem Krystal Ejesieme, 2017


Jack Ross, 2016

Jack RossJack Ross, from Arlington, VA, earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering in 2017. He is the co-founder and CTO of Beanstalk, a company that builds and operates robotic, vertical farms that grow pesticide-free, local produce. https://beanstalk.farm He remains involved in the UVA iLab as a mentor. At Beanstalk, Jack continues to teach students how to develop software through a summer internship program, an opportunity he began in Charlottesville at HackCville.

Corrine Thomas – Kirwin Scholar 2016

Corrine ThomasCorrine Thomas, from Palm Beach Gardens, FL, earned a B.S. in Commerce on 2017 with concentrations in finance and global commerce. In 2018, she earned a Master of Philosophy in Financial Sociology from the University of Cambridge. She currently lives in New York City, NY, where she is an Investment Banking Analyst at Credit Suisse.  She works in the Financial Sponsors Group serving as an advisor and arranger for private equity clients in a variety of corporate transactions, including leverage buyouts, refinancing, and exits. She serves on the Credit Suisse Philanthropy Committee representing the Financial Sponsors Group where she has assisted in community events such as preparing food bags for City Harvest, and I am currently planning our group-wide philanthropy event. Corrine also takes every chance to see UVA friends and explore the amazing cultural offerings of New York City.


Caroline Barton, 2015

Caroline BartonCaroline Barton, from Westbrook, CT, earned a B.S. in Commerce in 2017, concentrating on finance and entrepreneurship, and completed a second major in mathematics. She is the founder of Modatrova, a traveling store featuring a revolving mix of emerging fashion and accessory brands. Caroline also serves on the McIntire Young Alumni Council as Chair of the Entrepreneurship Committee.

Emily Lodge, 2015


Brigid McDonald, 2014

Brigid McDonaldBrigid McDonald, from Livingston, NJ, earned a  B.S. in Physics in 2016. She is now pursuing her PhD in Medical Physics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Houston, TX. Her research involves using advanced functional MRI techniques to guide the treatment planning process in radiation therapy for head and neck cancers. The goal of her project is to reduce side effects from radiation therapy and improve individual patient outcomes. Brigid also volunteers with a community outreach group UTHealthCares to run health fairs and other community events. Brigid also takes flute lessons, volunteers at a local animal shelter, and enjoys hiking and camping.


Gregory Bayliss, 2013

Alexandra Griswold, 2013

Allie GriswoldAllie Griswold, from Collegeville, PA, earned a B.S. in Commerce in 2015, with concentrations in marketing and finance. She spent three years at McKinsey where she focused on consumer and healthcare client work, serving her third year in the chief-of-staff role with the Global Managing Partner. In 2018, Allie launched a FemTech start-up, Athena Club. Based in New York City, FemTech’s mission is to simplify women’s lives by delivering high quality, reasonably priced self-care products straight to their doors. Allie is excited to be building out the social impact side of the business, partnering with charities both local in New York and abroad.


Kenny P. Lorenzo, 2012

Matt Voda, 2012

Matt VodaMatt Voda, from Manhattan, NY, earned his B.S. in Commerce in 2014 with a concentration in marketing. He is working as a data visualization engineer at Lazard. He creates user interfaces in 2D and 3D. Matt has a particular interest in AR/VR and has worked as a UX designer and engineer around this. Matt has grown to enjoy and take pride in this industry.


Courtney Luckman, 2011

Courtney (Luckman) MargulisCourtney (Luckman) Margulis, from Newport News, VA, earned a B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science in 2013. In 2017, she earned her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Maryland. She works as a speech-language pathologist and is pursuing her PhD in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at NYU with a focus on stuttering. On the side, she is writing a memoir about her experience as a person who stutters. When she is not working on stuttering-related things, she enjoys traveling the world with her husband, spending time with her dog, and reading anything nonfiction. She serves on the Glenn D. Kirwin Scholarship Committee. She truly believes that this award laid the foundation for her courage and success.

Stephanie Nguyen, 2011

Stephanie NguyenStephanie Nguyen, from Boston, MA, earned a B.A. in Digital Media Theory and Design through the Interdisciplinary Studies Program in 2012.  She has also earned her Masters in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School in 2019. She serves as a research Scientist in the MIT Media Lab. Stephanie is a user experience designer and researcher focused on the intersections of data privacy, human-centered design, and policies that impact marginalized populations. Stephanie co-founded DCFemTech, a grassroots women in tech alliance that is still actively involved in encouraging tech education and mentorships for women and minorities for thousands of women in the DC/Metro area.


Elliott Burris, 2010

Elliott BurrisElliott Burris, from  Richmond, VA, earned his B.A. in Music in 2011. In 2012, he earned his Masters of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. He currently lives in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA, where he serves as Founder and CEO of Dynasty.com, the largest developer of artificial intelligence for the residential real estate industry.  Only 1.5 years after founding Dynasty.com, he sold the company to AppFolio (NASDAQ:APPF) in January 2019 for $75 million. He continues to run the Dynasty division in AppFolio.  Elliott enjoys playing basketball on Venice Beach and the piano.


John Zettler, 2009

John Zettler, from New York, NY, earned a B.S. in Commerce in 2011. He currently serves and Founder and CEO of Rare Art Labs. John is a product-focused entrepreneur in the cyrptocurrency/blockchain industry.  John is deeply passionate for capital markets and comes from a hedge fund investing background.


Daniel Lee, 2008

Daniel LeeDaniel lee, from Washington, D.C., earned a B.A. in Economics and English in 2010. Currently he is earning a Master of Information and Data Science from UC Berkeley and expects to graduate in 2020. Daniel is employed by Accenture where is serves as the Management Consulting Manager. Daniel helps partner with federal organizations to define and implement strategic data and analytics initiatives.


Adrienne Felt, 2007

Lawrence J. Galante, 2007


Angie Ferrero, 2006


Yolanda Muchnik, 2005


Christopher S. Cutrona, 2004


Benjamin Hicks, 2003

Ben HicksBen Hicks, from New York, NY, earned a B.S. in Commerce in 2005, with a concentration in Finance. He currently serves as a Director, focusing on currency option trading with Credit Suisse. He follows macro markets and helps institutional clients put on option positions in currency markets through ideas and pricing, and he manage currency option risk for Credit Suisse.  Every April he participates on the Glenn D. Kirwin Scholarship  Selection Committee. Ben and his wife are currently raising twins and he occasionally tries to hit a golf ball straight.