Connect

This is the latest installment in our Connect article series “Hope at Work” — showcasing inspiring stories about how our team members contribute to UVA Health’s 10-year strategic plan: “One Future Together Health and Hope for All.” No matter where you work, you have an opportunity to inspire hope in others. These stories show how:

UVA Health Auxiliary welcomed students and their families to a ceremony at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center to celebrate $50,000 in scholarships to help 16 student volunteers pursue higher education and healthcare careers.

Individual scholarships range from $2,000 to $5,000 each. The two highest awards are named in honor of exceptional UVA Health Auxiliary volunteers whose dedication and service helped shape the organization:

• The Nancy Lawson Scholarship honors a charter member of the auxiliary who joined in 1961 and is affectionately remembered as one of the organization’s “Founding Mothers.” Her many years of service helped establish a tradition of volunteerism and community support that continues today. This scholarship is awarded to Henry Pavu, who will be attending UVA.
• The Paulette O’Connor Scholarship recognizes the volunteer manager of the UVA Health Auxiliary Thrift Shop in Old Town Manassas, Virginia, who's volunteered for more than 22,000 hours over 34 years. Her extraordinary commitment to the auxiliary and the community makes her a fitting namesake for one of the program’s premier scholarships. Kadriey Haznedar accepted this scholarship and will be attending Northern Virginia Community College. 

'Powerful Reflection'

“This scholarship program is a powerful reflection of our auxiliary’s mission to support quality healthcare and inspire future professionals,” says April Beckner, Manager, Guest and Volunteer Services, UVA Health Culpeper, Haymarket, and Prince William Medical Centers. “We're proud to invest in students who've already shown compassion, leadership, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve. We're dedicated to innovation and continuous growth and development of ourselves and those around us.”

Two of the volunteers also are recognized as Extraordinary Teen Award honorees by Prince William Living Magazine in 2025-26 for their academic excellence, volunteerism, and leadership within the community. 

Where Are They Heading?

The 12 scholarship recipients represent the future of healthcare and demonstrate the impact of volunteer service — not only on patients and the community — but also on the lives and aspirations of the volunteers themselves. 

Scholarship winners will attend the following respected institutions: 

• George Mason University  
• Howard University 
• Northern Virginia Community College 
• The Ohio State University College of Medicine 
• University of Maryland, College Park 
• University of Virginia  
• Virginia Commonwealth University 
• Virginia Tech 
• Wake Forest University 
• Xavier University 

Through programs such as the Auxiliary Scholarship Program, UVA Health Auxiliary continues its longstanding mission of giving back to the community while helping students turn their dedication to service into careers in healthcare.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an auxiliary scholarship, applicants must be members in good standing, have contributed at least 100 hours of volunteer service, be a high school or college student, maintain a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher, and be accepted into or attending an accredited school offering courses in their chosen healthcare field. A scholarship selection committee, comprised of auxiliary members and UVA Health team members, carefully reviews all applications. 

Learn more about volunteering for UVA Health Auxiliary, or about its scholarship program.