Student Leadership Team

3rd Year
Major: Statistics
Email: wms9gv@virginia.edu 
Fun Fact: I absolutely despise cereal and milk in the same bowl.

I love being outdoors, whether that be camping, hiking, or just sprawling out in the grass somewhere. I also enjoy playing sports -- especially basketball -- with friends almost as much as I love growing in my faith and having faith-filled conversations while discovering people. The most important part of my job to me is being a loving and welcoming person, and despite the fact that I can be pretty awful with names, my goal is to be able to say hi to you by name by the second time we meet. Feel free to reach out to get lunch, take a walk, or just hang out. I am very excited about this new opportunity to get to know all of my fellow Catholic Hoos!

Favorite Quote: "Every Christian needs a half-hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy. Then he needs an hour."
--St. Francis de Sales

2nd Year
Major: History and Economics
Minor: Foreign Affairs
Email: mss6zrx@virginia.edu
Fun Fact: I got to travel to Fatima, Portugal for the 100th anniversary of Mary's apparition (it's even more beautiful in person)!

Hello! My name is Maggie, and I am a second-year from Oakton, Virginia studying history, economics, and foreign affairs. When I’m not stuck on Zoom, you can find me getting a bit too excited about some half-redacted archival document I found, cooking a meal that’s probably too complicated to make in a dorm room, or figuring out how many books I can get away with ordering at a single point in time. I’m a big fan of building relationships with the saints, and my saint squad (at the present—it is an ever growing list) consists of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Gianna Molla, Pope St. John Paul II, Ven. Fulton Sheen, St. Thomas More, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Edith Stein. Come find and talk to me about JPII’s Letter to Women, making space for rest on Sundays, book recommendations, or Cold War history.

Favorite Quote: "To love at all is to be vulnerable."
--C.S. Lewis

3rd year 
Major: Kinesiology
Minor: Chem 
Email: mec3da@virginia.edu
Fun Fact: I have been trying to make myself like sweet potatoes for the past year (p.s. If you know the secret to Roots’ sweet potatoes, lmk)!

Of the three Transcendentals, I think beauty sticks out to me the most. Whether it’s through painting, poetry, literature, music, the incredibly gorgeous hills and nooks of Virginia, a good conversation, the sound of birds in the morning, the Sacraments, or encounters with others, God constantly blesses me with little moments of beauty. My pastimes include reading, playing the piano, making big ol’ salads, raving about my family, prayer journaling, going on walks with no set destination, taking power naps, sitting on a porch attempting to befriend our neighborhood squirrels, kicking around a soccer ball, and laughing. I am a big fan of country drives and music, as well as lemon gelato. This past year, Christ has reminded me of the importance of littleness, and I desire to grow in being His greatly loved little one, and I firmly believe that the most important part of faith formation is encountering Christ and entering into a personal, intimate relationship with Him. If you want to grab food/coffee/Italian soda, participate in the Sacraments/prayer together, or just want to say hi, I am here! 

Favorite Quote: "It is possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the sun; and every evening, 'Do it again' to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."
--G.K. Chesterton

3rd Year
Major: Economics and Spanish
Email: osf2xu@virginia.edu
Fun Fact: I've been keeping prayer journals since age 7!

Hello there! My name’s Olivia and I’m from San Diego, California. I’m incredibly grateful to have been brought up with the Catholic faith because it has influenced every facet of my life. St. Therese’s subtle and intentional way of loving has particularly inspired me and given me a heart for the little things. One of my most treasured pastimes is befriending random people, like my mailman, the leaf raker on Elliewood Avenue, the ambassadors, or the troubadour that plays guitar on the Lawn on nice evenings. Once you tell me your birthday, I’ll remember it forever. I love novenas, playing cards, baking chocolate chip banana bread, and driving with all 4 windows down and the sunroof open. I am happiest in any context where I get to serve. 

Favorite Quote: "Great holiness consists in carrying out the little duties of each moment."
--St. Josemaria Escriva
 

3rd Year
Majors: Economics and Political Philosophy, Policy & Law
Email: jtp6qzf@virginia.edu
Fun Fact: I dip my Cheez-Its in Chick-fil-A sauce. Don’t judge me; try it instead!
 

I’m from the sunny town of Scottsdale, AZ, and I love orange chicken, positive vibes, and the Rosary. During my free time, you can catch me on the phone with my numerous siblings (too many to count, sorry) or devoutly watching the New York Mets attempt to play baseball. My favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption and my favorite saint is St. Thomas More. Some of my hobbies include reading old books, going to the movies, or walking around Grounds and realizing that there are, in fact, four seasons. But above all, I love my Catholic faith, something that I have only just realized is the most plentiful and beautiful treasure that I should never let go. You can talk to me about anything, but especially living God’s vision for you, the liturgy, “the Wild Wild West,” investing, law, or something you’re reading! 

Favorite Quote: “We do not go to Holy Communion because we are good; we go to become good.”
--St. John Bosco

Sean Piwowar
3rd Year
Major: Government
Email: srp4vr@virginia.edu
Fun Fact: I once watched 121 movies in one year!

Welcome everybody! I’m from Fairfax, VA, but my sports allegiances are to Pittsburgh. Catholic Hoos has meant so much to me in my time at UVA and I’m so blessed to lead our Men’s Ministry initiatives. I have the best job on Team -- making sure the guys of the ministry are growing in friendship and having a good time doing it. In addition to Catholic Hoos, I’m involved with the Cavalier Symphony Orchestra and some politics-related organizations. I’ve played the violin since I was 5 and I’m a huge movie buff. Catch me playing football with the boys on Madbowl or watching old SNL skits on YouTube. I love praying the Rosary and taking time out of my week for Daily Mass.

Favorite Quote: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
--St. Augustine

1st Year
Majors: Music, History
Email: kmh5xd@virginia.edu
Fun Fact: I can do the worm!

I’m from San Diego, California, and am the youngest of 5 kids. Some fun facts about me: I celebrate Christmas in some capacity on the 25th of every month, it’s on my bucket list to visit every US state (so far, I’ve been to 29), I took a gap year after high school and moved to Nashville for a few months, and whenever it snows, I wear my Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati socks as a nod to his love for snow and outdoor adventures. My favorite saint is Saint Anthony, but I also have a fierce love for Blessed Frassati, Saint Anne, and my Confirmation saint: Saint Cecilia. In my free time, you can find me playing piano, writing music (okay, doing anything music related!), obsessing over books, or walking in circles around my suite trying to reach my step goal. I am so excited to serve the ministry as music chair!

Favorite Quote: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
--C.S. Lewis