Student Government for School of Medicine

Unsung People is an online publication that recognizes kind and selfless people, increases trust between people, and catalyzes acts of kindness through stories of kindness and fun, interactive community events. We aim to help people tune in to the kindness around us and share beautiful, inspiring stories. We focus on positive community journalism and events that encourage others to engage in small acts of kindness.

The Rotaract Club is UVA's subsect of Rotary International's initiative to foster dedication to community service within college-aged individuals. Rotaract partners with local nonprofits and creates their own community-service initiatives to make a meaningful difference in the UVA and Charlottesville Community.

UYoga was founded in the Spring of 2014 to bring mindfulness and movement to the UVA community. We strive not only to provide a means through which yogis can practice but also through which yogis can connect and create a community. As such, we hold officer-guided bi-weekly drop-in, All-Levels practices for free. We have mats and blocks to borrow if you do not have your own. We also coordinate events and service opportunities with other clubs and within the local yoga scene.Our goal is to help support the yoga community at the University of Virginia by providing the space and support it needs to grow. Please drop in, send us a message at hac4mm@virginia.edu, or DM us on Instagram @yogaatuva if you have any questions. We can't wait to meet and flow with you!

The Virginia Alzheimer’s Alliance is a student-led organization that focuses on increasing awareness and education about Alzheimer’s disease within the UVA community. Through training sessions, fundraising activities, and engagements with Alzheimer’s patients, we hope to help increase funding for Alzheimer’s research, as well as to provide friendly faces for local Alzheimer’s patients to spend time with. We want to emphasize the importance of connecting with Alzheimer’s patients on an individual level, so we will be spending as much time as possible interacting with local nursing homes and UVA Health to engage with patients. We hope to create an organization that outlives our time here at UVA, and we hope that through our work, UVA students and the Charlottesville community as a whole will be able to contribute to a worldwide effort to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.

The Virginia Animal Law Society (VALS) provides a forum for education, advocacy, and scholarship aimed at advancing the rights and welfare of animals. We encourage students to explore the arena of animal law through speaker events, panels, lectures by professors throughout the law school, and attending conferences across the country.

Goal and missionOur club aims to teach the art of band formation and management. We are dedicated to providing UVA students interested in music production and band management with a platform to learn and have hands-on experiences. We delve into the rock/punk/pop band music through sessions that not only cover the fundamentals of band management, such as basic instrument setup, amplifier types needed, band promotion strategies, and performance preparation but also emphasize the importance of each instrument's role in music production. Our vision includes nurturing musical bands within the University of Virginia community to enhance the student body's appreciation for ensemble music as a form of collaborative art, by covering band music, and writing original songs. What we offerWe host sessions that dive deep into rock/punk band music. From band management to music production, our sessions intend to be informative and creative. In band management sessions, we cover the basic instrumental setup of bands, the types of amplifiers needed, ways to advertise one’s band, and what to prepare before a performance. We teach the basic skills required to become a professional band manager. In music production sessions, our core members will take turns giving mini-lectures on the instruments they are familiar with. Rather than teaching these instruments from scratch, the mini-lectures focus on the role of each instrument in band music production. Besides, we will go over how instruments work together to achieve various sound effects through the analysis of popular songs.Besides, members interested in performing will perform at community music events as a band throughout the year. Each year, we will produce about 5 original songs as an organization. The performing members will rehearse twice a month to prepare for two performances each semester. We welcome students interested in expanding their prior experience in instruments to music production in a band setting. We also welcome those who desire to learn how popular bands operate on the business side.  Future PlansOur vision for the club's future encompasses several ambitious objectives.Initially, our goal is to nurture the development of musical bands within the University of Virginia, aiming to broaden the student body's appreciation for the collaborative art of ensemble music. We advocate for the perception of a band as not merely a collective of instrumentalists but as a microcosm encapsulating a community, and indeed, a familial spirit. Participating in a band transcends the simple mastery of musical instruments; it involves cultivating profound interpersonal relationships among members, alongside acquiring the skills necessary for effective group management and motivation towards realizing a shared vision. Our interest extends beyond the music itself to encompass the dynamics of human interaction and the essence of band culture.Furthermore, we are committed to enhancing our contribution to the broader community through multifaceted initiatives. We recognize the transformative power of music and its capacity to serve as a force for societal benefit. Our overarching project aims to envision bands as entities capable of transcending musical performance, engaging in advocacy for marginalized societal groups, and leveraging their talents to foster joy and empowerment. We aspire to utilize our musical endeavors to support charitable causes, organize concerts dedicated to those in need, and ultimately, reinvest in our community with a spirit of generosity and compassion.

The Virginia Employment and Labor Law Association (VELLA) seeks to establish the University of Virginia as a school on the vanguard of exploring issues confronting the employment relationship.  VELLA will achieve this task by hosting forums at which professionals will address employment law issues, by building career opportunities in the labor and employment law fields, including facilitating networking with UVA alumni in the field, and by carrying out any other activities that the organization deems worthwhile.

VELF is an organization for UVA law students interested in environmental law, land use, energy, natural resources, sustainability, and environmental justice. Throughout the year, VELF hosts speaking engagements from leading experts in these fields. We also sponsor social events, such as hikes, brewery visits, and farms tours, and philanthropic endeavors like stream cleanups and trail building days.

Our mission, as the Virginia Epilepsy Association, is to create a supportive and informed community at UVA dedicated to raising awareness about epilepsy and generating funds to support research, education, and advocacy for individuals living with epilepsy. Through a collaborative and empathetic approach, we strive to: Promote Epilepsy Awareness: Through public campaigns, social media, and community engagement, we will raise awareness about epilepsy's impact on individuals and their families. Our goal is to reduce stigma and promote empathy and understanding. Educate: We aim to empower individuals with accurate information about epilepsy, dispelling myths and misconceptions. Through seminars, events, and informational campaigns, we will foster a deeper understanding of epilepsy within our community.Raise Funds: We organize various fundraising events and initiatives to support epilepsy research, patient assistance programs, and community outreach efforts, primarily through the National Epilepsy Foundation. Our goal is to contribute to the development of better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for epilepsy. Foster Inclusivity: We create a welcoming and inclusive environment where individuals living with epilepsy can find support, share experiences, and build connections. We believe that no one should face epilepsy alone.