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The University of Virginia’s celebration of its Class of 2025 got underway Friday afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena, where Valedictory Exercises launched three days of pomp and circumstance.

, said he originally intended to attend �鶹�ƽ�� School of Law, but his career took an unexpected detour after an undergraduate acting class unleashed a new passion in him.

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for,” he told the Class of 2025. “Virginia has been your home for the last four years or so. You feel safe here. But the University hasn’t been preparing you to be safe.”

Taking risks is part of life, he said. For him, the risk was choosing not to follow his original plan, but pursuing instead his newfound motivation. That choice, with hard work and luck, landed him a prominent role on the Shonda Rhimes award-winning show, “Grey’s Anatomy.”

George said a degree from UVA is like none other.

“When you graduate from the University of Virginia, when you have lived by the honor code, people trust that your degrees, expertise and skills are real and quantifiable. They believe this not because of your GPA, not because you signed a pledge on a piece of paper, not simply because nobody caught you cheating. No, they believe this because a UVA graduate, especially one of the Class of 2025, has put in the work to understand what honor truly is.”

“I,” he said, “see the honor in each and every one of you. And I look forward to seeing what wonderful things you do when your ship sets sail.”

Class Awards

Student leaders ran the afternoon’s ceremonies. Akanksha Munshi and Joshua Maggiano, co-chairs of the Class of 2025’s giving campaign, presented the class gift to President Jim Ryan.

Akanksha Munshi and Joshua Maggiano, co-chairs of the Class of 2025’s giving campaign, present the class gift to President Jim Ryan. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

“On behalf of the Class of 2025, we are honored to present this check for $52,465,” Maggiano said. The 2,000-plus fourth-year students who donated to the gift amounted to nearly 54% of the class. The class members made contributions to more than 500 different places that had meaning to them, including the University Library, the Cavalier Marching Band and the Virginia Athletics Foundation.

Ella Bathurst, the women’s swimming team’s captain, poses with Meghana Annamaneni, a Class of 2025 trustee. Bathurst received the Louis A. Onesty Award, given each year to a scholar-athlete who goes above and beyond the call of duty. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

Student leaders also announced several awards. Among the winners was Ella Bathurst, the women’s swimming team’s captain, who received the Louis A. Onesty Award, given each year to a scholar-athlete who goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Fourth Year Trustee Dana-Jo Albin, second from left, Valediction keynote speaker Jason George, Albin's mother Sonnia and cousin Carito Torres, far left, pose before the ceremony. Dana-Jo and her mother are huge fans of “Grey’s Anatomy.” They are holding off watching the season finale until they can do it together.

Patricia M. Lampkin, �鶹�ƽ�� former vice president and chief student affairs officer, presented former Board of Visitors member Barbara J. Fried with the Society of the Purple Shadows’ Gordon F. Rainey Jr. Award for Vigilance to the Student Experience.

Former Board of Visitors member Barbara J. Fried, left, wins the Society of the Purple Shadows’ Gordon F. Rainey Jr. Award for Vigilance to the Student Experience, presented by Patricia M. Lampkin, �鶹�ƽ�� former vice president and chief student affairs officer. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

“Your landmark gift to the Center for Teaching Excellence endowed its directorship, empowering faculty to innovate and excel in their teaching,” she said. “For your leadership, generosity and the countless ways you have enriched the University, the society is honored to celebrate your legacy.”

Seven Other Awards Were Given at the Ceremony

• Cville Tulips, James Earle Sargeant Award

• Fady E. Attia, Community Service Award

• Guadalupe M. Monroy-Flores, Cultural Fluency Award

• Allison B. Martens, Heartbeat of Community Award

• James Edwards, Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

• Annalisa Cintron, Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

• Eric Williams, Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

Final Exercises continue this weekend. On Saturday, graduates of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences will walk the Lawn with students in the School of Education and Human Development and the Frank Batten School of Leadership. On Sunday, graduating students in �鶹�ƽ�� remaining schools will process.