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APRIL 2022 19 W ith a vision and a mission, former Virginia track and field thrower Lau- ren Lacey (Col '95, Law '98) knows the im- portance of making a meaningful impact on others. Some people are focused on a specific path to achieve their goals, and others take the scenic route to their final destina- tion. Lacey has built a framework to give her the freedom to change and be agile on her journey. "I never had a path that was so narrow that I couldn't maneuver within it," Lacey said. Student-athletes, no doubt, are innately driven to achieve their goals despite any obstacles in their way. This mindset, paired with Lac- ey's relentless pursuit of success, ultimately landed her a dream career as deputy general counsel at The Hershey Company. Lacey, who was born in Vietnam, was adopted with her sister by her parents in Hawaii. Her father was in the Navy, so the family moved to San Diego before settling on the East Coast in Fairfax, Va., where her parents still reside today. Lacey grew up playing soccer until her family moved in ninth grade, and the school soccer team was already estab- lished and no longer recruiting players for its roster. With her willingness to pivot and recon- sider what she could do with her spare time, she joined the school's track and field team. In high school, she competed in several events: hurdles, shot put, discus, the 100 meters and relays. When it came time for college, looking at in-state schools was a natural step. The University of Virginia was ranked as one of the top 10 public institutions in the coun- try, and Lacey knew she ultimately wanted to attend the best law school, so college was more about finding a place that met her requirements. "I wanted a school where the culture was integral to the school experience, and that's definitely UVA," she shared. Although she was not recruited by UVA, she walked onto the track and field team and had great success in her career as a student-athlete. With hard work, dedication and the support of her first-ever throwing coach, she earned a partial scholarship by the end of her first year. Soon after, though, she learned that her coach had decided to leave the university for a new position. Lacey decided to step away from the team for the next two years to experience UVA as a full-time student. Yearning for her past competitive and athletic lifestyle, Lacey returned to the track and field team ahead of her fourth year. After earning degrees in psychol- ogy and sociology, she enrolled in UVA's School of Law while still competing for a fifth year. She finished her track and field career ranked eighth in the weight throw and seventh in the hammer throw on UVA's all-time performance list. Balancing athletics and academics, Lacey also took on an internship with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. After law school, she clerked at the Baltimore City Circuit Court and then spent five and a half years at Goodell DeVries before an opportunity like none other opened. As Lacey called it, she embarked on her "first tour of service" at The Hershey Company. "You may have a path, but if some op- portunity that would be so cool comes across your plate, I feel that it's your re- sponsibility to yourself to consider things," she said. After a decade at Hershey, she decided to relocate to Chicago as the associate general counsel at U.S. Foods. But four short years later, she returned to The Her- shey Company for her "second tour of ser- vice" as its deputy general counsel. Lacey expressed that her track and field experience has undeniably helped her throughout her professional career. "Companies are all about leadership, teamwork and relationships," she said. In addition to her role as deputy general counsel, she is also a co-leader of Her- shey's Black Heritage Business Resource Group, which focuses on the development and inclusion of others. The legacy of investing in others is the reason she is giving back to the student- athletes of the Virginia track and field pro- gram through the Master Plan. "Track gave me so much, and I go back to it a lot as to who I am and who I was," Lacey said while looking back on her time at UVA. "I always tried to give back, because your degree has to continue to mean something. For me, it's not only giv- ing back, but keeping up the investment you've already put in as a student-athlete." — Skylar Sload CONTINUED SUCCESS: TRACK & FIELD THROWER LAUREN CONNOLLY LACEY Lacey finished her track and field career ranked eighth in the weight throw and seventh in the hammer throw on UVA's all-time performance list. Lacey is currently in her second stint serving as the Deputy General Counsel at The Hershey Company. (Photos courtesy Lauren Lacey)