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Memorial benches initiative

August 26, 2022

FM staff support a UVA-student led project to install new memorial benches on Grounds

FM workers installing a stone bench with a forklift
Superintendent of Specialty Trades and Special Events Warren Wood operates a forklift to carefully install a 1,100-pound memorial bench at McLeod Hall with the help of General Services Supervisor Ben Lane and Plumber Kit Turner

New memorial benches were recently installed by Facilities Management staff in support of a student-led project to make the built environment on Grounds more inclusive of all students.

The UVA Memorial Benches Initiative was started by fourth-year student Sanjeev Kumar to highlight underrepresented women and people of color that have made an impactful contribution to either the University of Virginia or the world.

Kumar and his team partnered with seven of the University's colleges to build consensus for select alumni and alumni groups to be honored by each school.

Facilities Management's Construction & Renovation Services team and Office of the Architect Senior Architect Helen Wilson worked with Kumar and his team to identify the proper placement of the benches and coordinated and performed the installations of the 1,100-pound engraved, concrete benches.

Benches in honor of the following individuals and groups were installed this summer:

Three FM workers stand behind a newly-installed bench
Construction & Renovations Services staff, from left, Ben Lane, Zouzek Abdalhusain and Kit Turner, installed new memorial benches around Grounds this summer, including this bench honoring the graduates of the Jackson P. Burley Practical Nursing Program in front of McLeod Hall.
  • Karenne Wood, College of Arts and Sciences, New Cabell Hall
  • Charlotte Scott, McIntire School of Commerce, Rouss-Robertson Hall
  • Edward Wayne Barnett and Audrey Spencer-Horsley, School of Architecture, Campbell Hall
  • Louise Hunter, School of Education and Human Development, Ridley-Bavarro Hall
  • Wesley Harris, School of Engineering, Thornton Hall
  • Graduates of the Jackson P. Burley Practical Nursing Program, School of Nursing, McLeod Hall

In May 2022, Kumar received the John T. Casteen III Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Leadership Award for his efforts on this project.

About the author

Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu