Cavalier Corner

April 2012

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behind the scenes ACCESSUVA ity University of Virginia education to students regardless of financial circumstances, the Virginia Board of Visitors adopted a resolution to create AccessUVa in 2004. The program offers loan-free packages for low-income students, caps on need- based loans for all other students and a commit- ment to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need for every student. Following previous bowl game trips, the Vir- In order to provide the opportunity of a qual- ginia athletics department has frequently do- nated a portion of proceeds to academic endeav- ors at UVa. This season was no different. In December, it was announced that the de- less of economic circumstance. The cost of the program is more than $92 million, $38.3 million of which is funded from central university resources. It is guided by four main prin- partment donated $50,000 from its share of the Chick-fil-A Bowl game proceeds to the financial aid program. The department also announced head football coach Mike London personally matched the gift, bringing the total donation to AccessUVa to $100,000. Virginia President Teresa Sullivan welcomed the ciples: The program will meet 100 percent of all demonstrated financial need, provide qualify- ing undergraduate students with family income at or below 150 percent of the federal pov- erty level with grants instead of need-based loans, do the same for "for undergraduate students at all income levels, beyond a cumulative loan cap" and would establish a new comprehensive educational program for stu- dents and parents regarding is- sues related to financial aid. AccessUVa's mission meshes commitments. "Coach London has demonstrated tremendous leadership in guiding our football team through a successful season this year, and now he is show- ing leadership in creating opportunities for stu- dents who might not otherwise be able to come to UVa for their college education." AccessUVa is designed to keep higher educa- tion affordable for all admitted students, regard- wahoo nation RON KREISA well with London's team motto of "Faith, Family and Football. mitment to provide an outstanding undergradu- ate education regardless of a student's financial situation," London stated. "The football program is here to foster the university's educational mis- sion. I often talk about the importance of 'stu- dent' first in 'student-athlete, "I appreciate the University of Virginia's com- " a lot to assist a large number of our undergradu- ate students. I am proud to be able to assist such ' and AccessUVa does an important program." UVa's athletics department has Football coach Mike Lon- don matched the athlet- ics department's $50,000 donation from its share of the Chick-fil-A Bowl game proceeds, bringing the to- tal donation to AccessUVa to $100,000. PHOTO BY JIM DAVES/COURTESY UVA donated more than a million dol- lars toward academic projects through proceeds generated from participation in postseason bowl games over the years. Past bowl revenues have supported the Cavalier marching band, computer purchases, a music festival, a graduate student fel- lowship to support excellence in teaching and research, the university's Eminent Scholars en- dowment, a newspaper database for the University Library and en- dowment of the Cavaliers Distin- guished Teaching Professorship. Athletics director Craig Littlep- tion in this year's Chick-fil-A Bowl allows the ath- letics department to show our appreciation to the university community, which has been very good to us, age said bowl proceeds allow the athletics department to give back to the university. "The football team's participa- gift will be used to support students' financial needs while attending the University of Virginia. Coach London's matching gift to the university demonstrates his leadership, his love and con- cern for students, and his community spirit. " Littlepage said. "We're pleased this — Greg Waters " Ron Kreisa ('67) has worked for the Virginia State Geologic Survey in Charlottesville, taught geology at Ohio University and worked 20 years for an oil company. Before he entered graduate Over the course of his career, sports. "I retired in 2000 and lived on a sailboat in the tropics for five years," he said. "We had a dish on it [so he could watch UVa games]. "We've won numerous ACC and NCAA championships." Here are other examples of how immersed Kreisa is in UVa When I was working, we had old-fashioned dishes and moved them around. "Starting in 1981, I've recorded every [UVa] basketball and foot- ball game." school at Virginia Tech (he ob- tained his master's degree and Ph.D. from that school), he also served in the military in Vietnam. But, arguably, no experience he's had can match the one that exists in the small southwestern Virginia town of Paint Bank where he resides with his wife, Sue. "People who live within the area are predominantly Tech fans, Kreisa — seen here with his wife, Sue, at the Great Wall of China — has maintained his love for UVa no matter where he has been, including when he did post-graduate work at archrival Virginia Tech. PHOTO COURTESY RON KREISA 2005, we moved to Hokie country. In terms of the rivalry, all of my friends are Hokies except when there's a game. "I go to our volunteer fire department meetings and they give me grief. But " Kreisa said. "In I always ask them: 'How many national championships have you guys won?' Virginia Tech never has won an NCAA championship in anything. There's more. "The principal difference between the two schools is at Virginia Tech they're all about football," Kreisa said. "The Virginia program has been up and down in football and basketball, but it's broad-based. " 10 ◆ CAVALIER CORNER One moment in particular stands out for Kreisa. "It's when the football team in 1995 beat Florida State, which was their first loss in the ACC," he said. "It was a traumatic season ent" for his wife in 1981. "My favorite team was the 1981 team that reached the Final Four, for Virginia because we had lost two games on the last play of the game, against Michigan and Texas. "The Florida State game came down to the final play. It had to be the most euphoric moment for any Virginia sports fan of our age." Kreisa also devised a "unique" way of obtaining a birthday "pres- "My wife's birthday is on March 25. Starting in 1981, I took a clipping of one of our favorites on the team and that year I got a picture of Lee Raker. I sent it to him and asked him to autograph it and wish my wife a 'Happy Birthday. In a more serious vein, Kreisa espouses the virtues of UVa. "With the education you get from UVa, you're always competing with other students," he said. "It's really an uplifting and enlightening experience — not '" only in the classroom but also in terms of what you get from other people. "You can't overlook the quality of the individual who goes there. — Mike Scandura " " he said.

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