2023
Rising fourth-year student Gianni Cidron has been awarded the 2023 Kishore Scholarship.
From Henrico, Virginia, Gianni is majoring in Public Policy and Leadership with a minor in Global Studies in Education at the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
From the moment you meet Gianni, you are struck by her passion for uplifting youth and devotion to serving others. She possesses a kind of quiet leadership that has the power to change individuals and communities.
Since middle school, Gianni has dedicated herself to lifting up low income and underrepresented youth. As a UVA student, Gianni has served Charlottesville-area youth as a leader and volunteer with Collegiate 100, a collective of university students that are part of the Central Black Men of Virginia chapter. She has served as a mentor to local students through Collegiate 100, My Sister’s Keeper, and Girl’s Up. She has also been a passionate history teacher, student advocate, and grant-contributor with Upward Bound and Uplift at UVA.
On Grounds, she has invested in inspiring and connecting others as a Batten Ambassador, a teaching assistant in the Bridge to Batten program, treasurer of Black Student Leaders in Policy (BSLIP), and member of the Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness. Her service extends to school breaks and employment choices. She has worked in a daycare, taught YMCA swim lessons, and volunteered in food pantries. Even her work in Charlottesville-area restaurants has provided a window into the needs and concerns of the greater Charlottesville community.
Gianni’s drive to uplift others is personal. As one nominator wrote, “Her desire to participate in the community and uplift it comes from careful inspection of what her desires and aspirations were for her high school and community when she was younger. Coming from a low-income school, the value of community strengthening is not lost, so she focuses her energy towards attempting to provide the services that she sought and values most.”
Gianni was selected from more than 70 candidates nominated by students and faculty this spring. On April 15th, Kishore Scholarship Trustees interviewed finalists and then celebrated at the 8th Annual K-Fest, a gathering of Kris Kishore’s family and friends, to continue the fellowship and community he so lovingly and effortlessly created during his life.
The Kishore Scholarship aims to enable a rising fourth-year student to continue leading a life of public service that inspires others and brings lasting, beneficial change to the community. As the scholarship’s eighth recipient, Gianni will receive a one-year full-tuition scholarship toward her continued studies.
2022
Rising fourth-year student Laura Boyle has been awarded the 2022 Kishore Scholarship.
From Falls Church, Virginia, Laura is majoring in English and Sociology at the UVA College of Arts and Sciences. Her degree program and involvement on Grounds reflect her curiosity for knowledge, a propensity to uncover underlying meanings, and compassionate leadership. Upon meeting Laura, she instantly makes you feel at home. Her infectious sense of humor, enthusiasm for education, and authentic care for the people in her communities are powerful.
She is deeply involved in many formal roles in organizations such as the University Guide Service (UGS) as the probationary member chair, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Charlottesville City Public Schools as a substitute teacher, ONSP as an Orientation Leader, and an Office of Admissions Summer Intern. However, her nominators highlight how her contributions to her communities go above and beyond by fostering meaningful connection, saying, “She always tries to support the whole person, not just the work they are doing or the role they play.” Laura is known for lending a helping hand and offering support in the form of fresh-baked cookies and a listening ear. She is a true friend who finds joy in supporting others through both the bad and good times.
During her time as a University Guide, Laura was part of the initiative to give HEAAL (History of Enslaved African American Laborers) tours to first-year students to help them understand the race-related dynamics that shape and continue to shape the University today. She helped build understanding by meeting people where they are and embracing everyone who is in the process of reckoning with the school’s history. As an Orientation Leader and Admissions Intern, she was on the front lines of making sure students felt at home in the University community in their first days on Grounds. Laura’s intuitive and inclusive leadership has made the University community a better, smarter place, by fostering important dialogues and inspiring others to uplift those around them as well.
Along with being an inspirational teacher, Laura is a passionate learner who relishes her time in the classroom. Her nominators shared that, “course sign-ups are basically a holiday for her,” along with her passion for facilitating the best classroom space possible as a substitute teacher. She pours herself into the details because she recognizes the high impact of good educational environments on students. Laura intends to direct her talents toward becoming a public school teacher, continuing her education at the UVA School of Education and Human Development.
Laura was selected from over 70 candidates nominated by students and faculty this spring. On April 23rd, Kishore Scholarship Trustees interviewed finalists and then celebrated at the 7th Annual K-Fest, the first in-person gathering in three years, joined by Kris Kishore’s family and friends to continue the fellowship and community he so lovingly and effortlessly fostered during his life.
The Kishore Scholarship aims to enable a rising fourth-year student to continue leading a life of public service that inspires others and brings lasting, beneficial change to the community. As the scholarship’s seventh recipient, Laura will receive a one-year full-tuition scholarship toward her continued studies.
2021
Rising fourth-year University student Valencia Lagbo has been awarded the 2021 Kishore Scholarship.
Hailing from Virginia Beach, Valencia is an Echols Scholar enrolled in both the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the College of Arts and Sciences, where she majors in Global Development Studies.
From the moment you first meet her, you notice that Valencia has a radiant smile, and she lights up the room with her infectious positivity. Valencia brings to everything she does, her optimistic outlook and an authentic desire to improve the world through critical thinking, compassion and connection. As one of her nominators wrote:
“Valencia’s servanthood shines through in her roles as a Resident Advisor and Peer Advisor, and as Orientation and Bonding Chair on the Executive Board of the Office of African American Affairs Peer Advising Program. Her values of commitment and radical joy enable her to serve those around her in ways that create networks for support beyond herself.”
Valencia’s enthusiasm can make even the most mundane tasks more joyful. While working at the University’s Covid-19 test lab, she made sure to greet every person by name. No matter who walked into the lab, she welcomed them with a bright smile, fostering a culture of inclusion and hope during an otherwise dreadful time.
Gifted as both a listener and a communicator, Valencia is known to ask probing questions and talk for hours to help solve problems and to identify alternative paths forward. She inspires others to learn about themselves so that they can serve their communities. Another nominator wrote: “Her impact has an incredible breadth across UVa, [because of] her commitment to service, joy, and collective growth through collaboration.”
Valencia demonstrates the ability to translate observations and concerns into actions for the community. To help address a gap that she identified at the University, Valencia co-founded the Environmental Justice Collective, as a forum to promote awareness of climate change and how it intersects with racial injustice.
With a humble leadership style, Valencia ushers in bold changes. She embodies the selfless service that the Kishore Scholarship seeks to recognize. She is deeply committed to the University community and its members. She has formed lasting personal connections with her peers, and she gives generously of her time and energy. She has made the University a better place during her tenure here, and will leave behind a legacy of service, connection, and leadership.
Valencia was selected from nearly 75 candidates nominated by students and faculty this spring. On April 17th, Kishore Scholarship Trustees interviewed finalists and then celebrated at the 6th Annual K-Fest, a (virtual) gathering of Kris Kishore’s family and friends to continue the fellowship and community he so lovingly and effortlessly fostered during his life.
2020
Rising third-year student Stefan Lizarzaburu has been awarded the 2020 Kishore Scholarship.
Lizarzaburu is from Yorktown, VA and majoring in psychology. Throughout his time at UVA he has demonstrated a passion for building community, fostering connections, and serving others through his roles as a leader, mentor, resident advisor, tour guide, and tutor. He continually seeks out opportunities that allow him to uplift, educate, and empower others. Said one of his nominators, “He cares so much about leading the younger generations toward their own paths in a way that makes them feel safe and important.”
As a second-year, Lizarzaburu participated in the Latinx Leadership Institute (LLI), where he explored ways to empower the Latinx community through identity-centered activism and structural change. After engaging with marginalized students, he worked with faculty, staff, and students in the creation of the Latinx Student Center in Newcomb Hall. A peer notes that Lizarzaburu “humbly and selflessly worked hours upon hours to ensure that those who would come after him in the Hispanic/Latinx community would have a safe space to grow and thrive.” He has continued his involvement with the LLI recently being elected Executive Director for 2020–21.
Among his peers in the University Guide Service, Lizarzaburu is recognized as a role model and leader, known for giving tours in his “authentic,” “introspective,” and sometimes “goofy” style, and mentoring other students in how to address the University’s complex history. As a course facilitator for INST 1605, he organized discussions, lectures, and guest speakers to present that history to a broader UVA audience.
Lizarzaburu also works as a research assistant in the Psychology department’s Emotions and Behavior Lab and writes a music column for the Cavalier Daily Arts and Entertainment section.
Lizarzaburu was selected from among a field of more than 71 candidates, nominated by students and faculty this spring. The Kishore Scholarship Trustees interviewed an inspiring group of finalists this April via videoconference. The COVID crises cancelled this year’s K-Fest, an annual gathering in remembrance and celebration of Kris Kishore and the community he created. The Scholarship Committee and Kris’s family and friends look forward to celebrating in April 2021.
2019
Rising fourth-year University Student Jessica Harris has been awarded the 2019 Kishore Scholarship.
Harris is an Echols Interdisciplinary major from Fluvanna, Virginia, pursuing a self-designed program in Arts Administration, Youth and Social Innovation, and Drama. Her degree program reflects her deep passions for the arts and service, and her activities around Grounds and in the larger Charlottesville community put those interests into action. Harris is the founder of Empowered Players, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing young people with access to the arts and supporting transformative experiences through engagement with underserved communities. Harris is also active in a number of arts organizations at the University—including Kids Acting Out, the UVA Arts Board, and the UVA Arts Council—and several other on-Grounds organizations. In April 2019, the University wrote an article about her accomplishments.
Harris embodies the selfless service that the Kishore Scholarship seeks to recognize. As one nominator observed, “Sometimes I marvel at how she manages to give so much of herself to theater, teaching, and kids—but if you try to ask her, she’ll shrug and brush the question off. It’s what brings her joy and purpose.”
She works passionately to bring people together from different communities. Recognizing that her own rural community is often underserved, Harris has worked to build ties to the University and the larger community. Harris “knows that her own connection to the place she is from enriches the quality of teaching she is able to provide,” one of her nominators noted, and draws on her background to “build trust with community members.”
Harris is deeply committed to the University community and its members. She has formed lasting personal connections with her peers, and she gives generously of her time and energies to support others. Many of her contributions come away from organized groups or activities, enriching the daily experiences of those around her. Harris has a passion for the University and displays an infectious enthusiasm. In short, she has made the University a better place during her tenure here, and will leave behind a legacy of service, connection, and leadership.
Harris was selected from nearly 100 candidates nominated by students and faculty this spring. On April 13, Kishore Scholarship Trustees interviewed finalists and then celebrated at the Fourth Annual K-Fest, a gathering of Kris Kishore’s family and friends to continue the fellowship and community he so lovingly and effortlessly created during his life.
The Kishore Scholarship aims to enable a rising fourth-year student to continue leading a life of public service that inspires others and brings lasting, beneficial change to the community. As the scholarship’s fourth recipient, Harris will receive a $30,000 award toward her continued studies.
2018
Special Note: The Kishore community was saddened to recently learn of the unexpected death of Rehan while hiking with friends in Spring 2019. In our short time of knowing Rehan, he left us with a deep impression of his amazing character and accomplishments. We know that he will be missed by family, friends, and our community.
Rising fourth-year University of Virginia student Rehan Baddeliyanage has been awarded the 2018 Kishore Scholarship.
Baddeliyanage is a Biomedical Engineering major from Sterling, Virginia. On Grounds, he devotes his time to organizations that foster community, such as Housing and Residence Life, Madison House, University Peer Advising Link, University Guide Service, Third Year Council, and will serve as a Class of 2019 Trustee. Baddeliyanage also is a member of the Engineering Student Council and the Theta Tau Professional Engineering Society.
As one nominator states, “Rehan Baddeliyanage is profoundly dedicated to making the University a home for everyone. He emphasizes multiples avenues for success at UVa…empowering all people to be themselves and pursue their unique goals.”
Baddeliyanage strives to build an inclusive community – by advocating for diverse perspectives, promoting respect and trust, cultivating shared experiences, and facilitating connections between students. He is skilled at bringing people together to learn from one another and formulate positive, equitable solutions for a more cohesive community.
As an empathic listener and selfless advocate for others, Baddeliyanage spends countless hours helping students to identify their true aspirations and access the resources necessary to reach their full potential. He encourages students to challenge themselves through interdisciplinary coursework with an emphasis on the intrinsic value of learning, finding one’s own path, and contributing back to the whole of society. Baddeliyanage offers a beacon to emulate. By unabashedly pursuing his own passions, he inspires others to follow suit – stewarding the University community toward its full potential as well.
For his unwavering dedication to learning and community servitude, Baddeliyanage was selected from an over 70 candidates nominated by students and faculty this spring. On April 14, Kishore Scholarship Trustees interviewed finalists and then celebrated at the Third Annual K-Fest, a gathering of Kris Kishore’s family and friends to continue the fellowship and community he so lovingly and effortlessly created during his life.
The Kishore Scholarship aims to enable a rising fourth-year student to continue leading a life of public service that inspires others and brings lasting, beneficial change to the community. As the scholarship’s third recipient, Baddeliyanage will receive a $25,000 award toward his continued studies.
2017
Rising fourth-year University of Virginia student Shaun Khurana has been awarded the 2017 Kishore Scholarship.
Khurana is a Cognitive Science and Philosophy major from Winchester, Virginia. He is deeply engaged in the University community through a number of student groups and activities on Grounds, including the Women’s Center, the Multicultural Leadership Conference (of which he has served as Co-Chair), the LGBTQ Center, and Nu Omega Iota, among others. Shaun also works as a bus driver for the University Transit Service. Khurana’s active involvement in the University is the manifestation of his deep, personal commitment to service, learning, and care for his fellow students. One nominator described Khurana as “a tireless advocate for marginalized communities at the University of Virginia,” and others praised his dedicated but humble leadership and commitment to the larger cause over personal recognition. In these and many other respects, Khurana perfectly embodies the ideals that the Kishore Scholarship seeks to honor. Khurana was selected from among scores of nominees submitted by students and faculty this spring. Kishore Scholarship Trustees interviewed finalists on April 22, and then celebrated at the second annual K-Fest, a gathering of Kris Kishore’s friends and family designed to continue the fellowship and community he so lovingly and effortlessly created during his life.
The Kishore Scholarship aims to enable a rising fourth-year student to continue leading a life of public service that inspires others and brings lasting, beneficial change to the community. Khurana is the scholarship’s second recipient; he will receive a $20,000 award toward his continued studies.
2016
Third-year University of Virginia student Margaret “Maggie” Gratz has been awarded the 2016 Kishore Scholarship.
Gratz is a third-year Global Development Studies major from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. On Grounds, she co-founded Students Helping Honduras and is involved in Class Council, the University Guide Service, OneLess, the Women’s Club Basketball team, and Alpha Chi Omega sorority. As one nomination states, “Maggie Gratz is, without question, the most compassionate, kind and motivated individual I have had the pleasure of meeting at UVA. Maggie is an exceptional leader, because the sincerity of her heart emanates through … her every interaction.” Another nominator noted that she “is always willing to drop everything for a friend in need.” Gratz was selected from approximately 100 candidates nominated by students and faculty this spring. Kishore Scholarship Trustees interviewed finalists on April 16 and then celebrated at the first K-Fest, a gathering of Kishore’s friends and family designed to continue the fellowship and community he so lovingly and effortlessly created during his life.
The Kishore Scholarship aims to enable a rising fourth-year student to continue leading a life of public service that inspires others and brings lasting, beneficial change to the community. As the scholarship’s first recipient, Gratz will receive a $10,000 award toward her continued studies.