The Jefferson Trust

High school students are exploring architecture beyond the classroom through the Youth Design Discovery Program. Participants learn architectural concepts and vocabulary, tour active constructions sites, and engage in hands-on design projects.

The Trust was an early supporter of the program and is happy to see its continued impact on the next generation.

Of buildings and spoons: It’s all about design in this UVA summer program Translating ideas to reality is part of the Design Discovery Youth Summer Program at the School of Architecture.

Grant Project at Work🔬Microplastics & PFAS Substances in Human Valvular Tissue 🫀
Dr. Paul Gallo uses a specialized glass syringe to draw a blood serum sample in the study’s first enrolled patient. The sample is frozen and shipped (on dry ice) to a lab for microplastics analysis.

The research team has worked extensively to secure Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, develop protocols that minimize plastic contamination, and acquire the specialized supplies needed for this novel research. More to come from this exciting project!

Grant Project at Work💡STREAM Wise is expanding access to STREAM & STEM education across Southwest Virginia through coding camps, robotics competitions, and hands-on programming curriculum resources for students of all ages.

Learn more about the impact of this program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh_JzHPiTP0

Big idea or small spark, we want to hear it! 💡Our grant opportunities support innovative projects that enhance UVA and the student experience, from ambitious long-term initiatives to fast-moving student ideas.

🔹 Major Grants support projects over $10,000. Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) are accepted on a rolling basis, with invited full proposals due by July 31, 2026.
🔸 Flash Grants ($10,000 or less) will transition to year-round opportunities beginning July 1, creating more flexibility for student-driven projects.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to explore an idea, now is the time!

Grant Seekers - The Jefferson Trust The Jefferson Trust funds new projects and programs that enhance the University of Virginia and enrich the student experience. All UVA students, faculty, staff, and University Associated Organizations are eligible to apply. We like bold, original ideas that: Create a tangible impact on the student e...

Student innovators in Cavalimbs are designing and building a prosthetic arm with accessibility and affordability at the forefront of their work.
Learn more about this new flash grant.

Call to arms: Students build a plastic prosthetic A University of Virginia student group takes its first steps toward building an affordable artificial arm.

Congratulations to the Mechatronics & Robotics Society at UVA (MARS) on winning the 2026 NASA Lunabotics Championship!
We’re thrilled to see these students’ hard work, innovation, and teamwork recognized on a national stage. Learn more about this year’s competition: https://bit.ly/4eYrzXL

The Architecture School Student Council is designing and building two respite pods for the School of Architecture, creating spaces that support mental health, strengthen studio culture, and activate underused areas in Campbell Hall.
Learn more about this new flash grant.

With support from the Jefferson Trust, the A-School Student Council designs and builds relaxation spaces to improve student wellbeing | University of Virginia School of Architecture With support from the Jefferson Trust, the A-School Student Council designs and builds relaxation spaces to improve student wellbeing

The AI Research Initiative at UVA is expanding access to AI tools, skills, and infrastructure for faculty across every school at UVA. Through AI Agentic Labs, faculty can explore emerging capabilities while students help develop practical research tools with real-world impact.

Discover more and get involved.

AI Research — AI @ UVA The AI Research Initiative @ UVA aspires to cultivate the next generation of AI researchers and practitioners, establishing a dynamic ecosystem that transforms AI advances into solutions for critical problems in the Commonwealth and beyond.

Thank you to The Cavalier Daily for highlighting the work of our newest Flash Grant recipients! These 17 newly awarded grants support student-driven ideas and projects making an impact across UVA. Take a closer look at the full list of recipients.

Jefferson Trust awards 17 student-led projects Flash Grants According to Andrea Seese, associate director of promotions and events, Flash Grants are capped at $10,000 per recipient and awarded throughout the semester.