On May 20th, UVA Alumna Sarah Drew will climb the stage in front of the Rotunda to deliver the Valedictory speech to the Class of 2016.
Sarah Drew, an American actress, is well known for her role as Dr. April Kepner on Grey’s Anatomy which she has starred in since 2009. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in drama from the University in 2002 and went on to act on Broadway. Her debut in 2003 was in a play called Vincent in Brixton, but she was swiftly picked up by the television series Everwood in 2004 and continued to make appearances in different shows such as Cold Case, Law and Order: SVU and Mad Men.
Sarah follows other famous actors as valedictory speakers, such as Ed Helms, who spoke at the graduating exercises last year. The ceremony at which she will speak will also feature a prize giving, the presentation of the class gift, and speeches from the class president, trustees, and UVa President Teresa Sullivan.
Drew credits her breakthrough performance and success in the industry to three UVa professors: Richard Warner, Kate Burke, and Betsey Tucker.
Drew was overwhelmed with the news when she found out she had been named valedictory speaker. As she had said to UVA Today, “I kept looking at the words on the page and shaking my head, saying, ‘Surely they’ve made a mistake.’ It is deeply humbling and I’m so incredibly honored to have been asked to speak to UVA’s graduating class this year.”
Her announcement can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSStlj25iYg
