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Performing floor exercises with the UVA Gymnastics Club? Got that T-shirt. She recently competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Club nationals in Alabama.

Spreading her love of sport by coaching local kids? You bet. She’s a coach at Gryphon Gymnastics in Charlottesville.

Working on the Festival of the Moving Creature, catching football games, hanging with friends and earning good grades? Here’s three finger clicks and a fist bump.

Maier works on a Habitat for Humanity construction site. A volunteer team leader for the nonprofit, Maier says her favorite tool is a nail gun. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

“I think the UVA sentiment of ‘work hard, play hard’ is very, very true,” said Maier, who grew up in nearby Goochland County. “You do your best and work hard and chase all the opportunities you can, but you also find your people and enjoy your time here.

“I think high school was more about finding success from everyone else’s point of view. Now I’m finding success more from my perspective,” she said. “I found that a lot of the things I’ve enjoyed the most are things I never intended on doing, or even planned for.”

Maier was busy even in high school. Not only was she involved in a variety of social and volunteer activities, she also earned her diploma and an associate’s degree through dual enrollment at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

Her full schedule at UVA, however, feels different.

“High school was more about college applications and building my resume, although I did things I was interested in, like the art club and math club, and I was involved in theater,” she said. “But when I went to college, I just sought out the things that I enjoy doing, and UVA offers plenty of them.”

That list includes her studies.

“I wanted to do architecture because I knew I would enjoy the education process and design education,” Maier said. “I’ve really enjoyed studio classes. It takes up a big chunk of time, but I’ve really enjoyed working on that.”

Maier cuts a dowel during an in-class crafting session for Scenic Design, a drama course that draws students from the School of Architecture looking to explore storytelling through physical space. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

Maier fell for architecture in middle school. She enjoyed both math and art classes and attended a kids’ camp that introduced architecture and interior design. That stayed with her as high school’s end grew nigh and she sought the next challenge.

“My dad went here, and I grew up coming to Charlottesville, but I was never like some whose parents go to UVA, and they feel it’s the school for them,” she said. “I ended up applying to a bunch of different architecture programs. UVA and Virginia Tech – because they’re pretty much the only ones in the state – and Georgia Tech, Columbia and Cornell.”

Near the end of her senior year, she was accepted at UVA and waitlisted at Cornell University. She kept hoping for Cornell, but when she attended a Days on the Lawn event, something changed.

“I found myself wanting to be rejected from Cornell because I felt that UVA was the place that I wanted to be,” she laughed. “You know it’s rough when you’re hoping to be rejected. So, I was like, ‘Yeah, I should probably just go where I want to go.’ I’m glad I did.”

It’s worked out well, Maier said. The people she’s met and the friends she’s made are the best things about her last four years.

Maier says her work in the community and in the Architecture School has led to strong friendships. She plans to continue coaching gymnastics and volunteering near Grounds as she weighs her future options. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

“I’ve built really strong friendships here. The Architecture School is a small cohort, and you get to know everyone in that community. I also found a lot of really close friends in club gymnastics,” she said. “I’m a perfectionist, but I recognize that it’s worth a few points less on a grade to do something with my friends that I may never have the opportunity to do again.”

Maier’s immediate plans involve being around town for a while, coaching gymnastics and deciding her next step. Her love of architectural design has her thinking about a future building theater and film sets.

“I’m not sure after that, because I want to see if set design and production design are something that I want to do,” she said, adding that pursuing a master’s degree in architecture is also a possibility.

“A lot of people say, ‘Do grad school right away so you don’t lose your stamina,’ but I think a gap year can be very beneficial,” she said. “I’m sure that if I take a gap year, I’ll find something to do.”