Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1437261
DECEMBER 2021 17 MYLA GRACE BARNETT Fourth-Year • Lacrosse The summer of 2020 brought many challenges, but fourth-year women's lacrosse student-athlete Myla Grace Barnett and her sister Hailey decided to make positive change and give student-athletes a platform to speak out about what was going on in the world. They created an Instagram account, Athletes4BLM, that allowed colle- giate, professional and retired athletes to voice their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Barnett has served as a draw control specialist for the Virginia women's lacrosse team in her four years on Grounds. She brings a spark of energy and toughness when the Cavaliers need a change on the field, much like she has done off the field. A two-time ACC Honor Roll member, Barnett is a sociology major and entrepreneurship minor with a 3.50 GPA. She has led a charge for the women's lacrosse team to push the conversation with a tradition called "Movement Monday" with keynote speakers coming to talk to the team, including Virginia director of athletics Carla Wil- liams. She has used her platform as a student-athlete to truly make a difference in the world. "Many athletes, of all races, were clearly looking for ways to speak out about the long history of brutality in addition to sharing their inspiring stories," Barnett said. "Hailey and I wanted to use our brand as twins to spark the movement, and we aimed to be where collegiate, professional and former athletes support Black Lives Matter by celebrating the excellence of Black athletes and their ad- vancements." With one season left to play lacrosse at UVA, Barnett is starting to look toward her future goals. She plans to graduate and have a career she can "enjoy and thrive in while growing both personally and professionally." She will look to do that when she joins Goldman Sachs in New York as a global markets analyst. — Kristin Thurman • Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA Athletics EXCEPTIONAL UVA STUDENT-ATHLETES