Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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members of the game why we support VAF... William & Mary The Albans Family - Kennett Square, Pa. "I was first introduced to VAF when I received season football tickets as a graduation present from my parents who made a donation to the VAF in my name. Now 20 years later, we have expanded our seats and our whole family enjoys supporting Virginia Athletics. We continue to support the VAF because we really appreciate the student-athletes' dedication and ability to balance a challenging academic and athletic schedule while representing UVA. Our kids are active in sports and it has been great for them to see the many UVA student-athlete role models who display great sportsmanship. We look forward to many more years of exciting UVA sports! Go Hoos!" — Brian Albans Indiana The Griffin Family - Winchester, Va. Phil Griffin, Class of 1960, was a psychology major at UVA. He participated on the boxing team and was president of the Elmo Fraternity house. As football season ticket holders since the early 1980s, Phil and Carolyn, his wife of more than 50 years, and their extended family support the ideals of the Virginia Athletics Foundation and Virginia Athletics because they value the academic and athletics excellence that is instilled in all UVA student-athletes. Family tradition is another reason they continue to sup - port the VAF. Phil's grandson, Paul, is a third-generation Wahoo, making Virginia Athletics and the VAF a very important part of the entire Griffin family. UCONN The Westfall Family - Norfolk, Va. "When the VAF Social Tours come to our town, we hear rousing speeches from coaches and staff members. It is great to see how many awesome coaches we have. My heart goes out to the student-athlete guest speak - ers who articulate the power of their scholarship and the chance to attend Mr. Jefferson's University. These are the stories that keep me mo- tivated and why I will continue to support Virginia Athletics and the VAF." — Tim Westfall Duke The McCormick Family - Poquoson, Va. "I support the VAF because someone did it for me, and it's the right thing to do. I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from the VAF while I attended UVA. The University of Virginia and the wrestling program greatly influenced me to be the person I am today. The lessons learned prepared me for life and the adversities it can bring. My teammates and friends from UVA are still some of the most important people in my life. The relation - ships made and the knowledge I received from the University of Virginia are priceless! At the end of the day, it is a privilege to give back to the Univer- sity that has given so much to me." — Mike McCormick "Double Hoo" Rich Sharff Jr. cavs for life Rich Sharff A "Double Hoo" at the University of Virginia, Rich Sharff Jr. earned his B.A. in 1990 from the College of Arts and Sci- ences and a J.D. in 1993 from the School of Law. Rich arrived on Grounds in 1986 as a Rodman Scholar in the Engineer- ing School, but transitioned to an Echols Scholar and eventually went on to double major in economics and foreign affairs. Rich was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, one of the nation's oldest and most presti- gious undergraduate honors organizations. All of these academic accomplishments were achieved while competing for Coach Womack and the University of Virginia baseball team. Initially recruited as a walk- on, Rich suddenly found himself starting as a second year. Rich highlighted his ap- preciation for Coach Womack, specifically his supportive nature allowing students the opportunity to "strike the right balance" between athletics and academics. Rich stated, "Coach Womack cared about you as a whole person, not just an athlete." Bringing Rich's two worlds together, he was named to the 1990 CoSIDA/GTE Aca- demic All-American Baseball Team. Initially, law was not Rich's passion or his intended career. He found himself look- ing for a way to continue his education and thus stayed around to receive his Juris Doctorate. Currently, the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Surgical Care Affiliates, Rich is responsible for managing a large legal department, seeing lawsuits through to their completion. The lessons Rich learned as a Division I baseball player impact the work he does today. He notes, "Every day I apply teamwork skills and every day I fail, you own that failure and try to get better." Rich and his family continue to support Virginia Athletics because of the people they've encountered and the lessons they've learned. In Rich's words, "I con- tinue to give back because I want to make sure that others get the chance to have the same experience and learn the same les- sons that I did. The lessons that are learned in competitive sports as a manager, player or even coach make for better people, more successful people." OCTOBER 2017 27