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OCTOBER 2022 9 cavalier sports VAF Executive Director Dirk Katstra opened the evening's remarks with enter- taining facts on Virginia Athletics while also sharing updates on fundraising. Athletics Director Carla Williams then took the stage to reflect on the accomplishments of Vir- ginia Athletics through the years, followed by Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Julie Myers giving a heartfelt appreciation to the donors on behalf of all coaches before sharing how their generosity helped to create opportuni- ties on her successful path from a student- athlete to head coach. Each milestone group then had a group photo taken with their class, and 40-year donors were gifted a glass clock with the 40-year anniversary mark etched to rep- resent their longtime contributions. At the event, Katstra announced that the first ever 50-year donors were inducted into the VAF's new Sabre Society to celebrate their un- paralleled support and were given a unique gift — a medieval champagne sabre with the 50-year mark embossed on a keepsake wooden box. Using a champagne sabre is a growing trend for kicking off celebrations, known as Sabrage, and stems back to the Cavaliers from the 1700s. After winning a battle, the Cavaliers would celebrate with champagne and use their sabres to pop the cork and toast victory. As Katstra provided the history behind this keepsake, Ty Grove, the vendor who helped the VAF secure the gift, joined him on stage to open two bottles of cham- pagne with the sabre. Cheers erupted from the audience as everyone marked a special beginning of celebrating and toasting VAF Sabre Society members. During the UVA vs. Richmond game, the 40-year and 50-year donors who reached their milestone anniversaries in 2021 were listed in the game-day program and rec- ognized on Hoo Vision during halftime. (In 2021, the 2019 and 2020 anniversary do- nors were recognized in the program and on the video board during a home game.) The VAF is honored to celebrate the re- markable contributions of these generous donors and looks forward to continuing the milestone event traditions in the future. Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Julie Myers expresses gratitude to donors on behalf of all of the coaches. The Class of 2019 40-year donors were recognized before being gifted with a glass clock with the 40-year mark etched on it. 40-year milestone donors from the classes of 2020 and 2021 were also recognized before receiving a glass clock to represent their longtime contributions to the VAF. The second group of 50-year milestone donors, the Class of 2021, was also inducted into the Sabre Society during the evening.