Alumni Service Award

What is the Alumni Service Award?

Each year, the UVA Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Council (YAC) honors two outstanding alumni who have gone above and beyond to serve the UVA community through transformative individual or collective efforts with the Alumni Service Award.

Service Award winners have the opportunity to amplify their impact by directing a $1,000 gift, funded by YAC, to the University entity of their choice. This gift pays tribute to award winners’ service.

Service Award winners must be graduates of the University of Virginia and can be nominated by any member(s) of the UVA community: fellow alumni, University faculty and staff, students, clubs and organizations, and staff members of University-affiliated foundations.

What makes an Alumni Service Award winner?

Alumni Service Award winners demonstrate exemplary personal service and commitment to UVA. Their service may be exhibited through a single extraordinary endeavor, or an enduring commitment to bettering the University community over time.

Alumni Service Award winners’ actions and commitment should embody the core values of the Alumni Association: Integrity, Inclusion, Connection, Innovation, and Service.

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Congratulations to the 2025 Alumni Service Award Winners!

Claudia Quintero (Col ’11)

Claudia Quintero has profoundly impacted UVA’s Hispanic and Latinx alumni community through her visionary leadership and inclusive spirit. As Chair of The Bolívar Network for five years, Claudia helped transform it into a vibrant and far-reaching organization. Under her leadership, the Network launched programs like regional alumni meetups, a pandemic-era virtual event series, and the Bolívar Alumni Spotlight. Her tenure also saw the awarding of multiple scholarships and community awards, significantly expanding access and recognition for Latinx students and alumni.

Claudia’s efforts culminated in partnering with the UVA Alumni Association to create Juntos, UVA’s first multi-day reunion celebrating Hispanic and Latinx alumni, which she continues to shape as a member of its leadership team.

Her commitment to service, innovation, and representation has strengthened community bonds and set a new standard for inclusive alumni engagement at the University. Claudia’s work exemplifies the heart of the Alumni Service Award—uplifting others, building legacy, and expanding what belonging at UVA truly means. Claudia has chosen to donate her $1,000 award to the Bolívar Network’s Book Scholarship Fund.

Phil Herget (Col ’85)

Phil Herget has dedicated decades of tireless service to the University of Virginia, playing a pivotal role in shaping alumni engagement, university governance, and philanthropic leadership. A 1985 graduate of the College, Phil has served across a wide range of volunteer and leadership roles, including on the College Foundation Board, the National Committee on University Resources, the Parent’s Committee, and the Alumni Board of Managers, where he currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the Building Committee.

His deep commitment to UVA is reflected not only in his time and expertise, but in his ability to build bridges— connecting fellow alumni, university administrators, and students in ways that inspire collaboration and progress. Phil’s leadership is perhaps best exemplified in his years with the College Foundation, where he served as Board Chair and led transformational initiatives during the Honor the Future campaign. Even after his formal tenure, he remained an essential advisor and advocate, contributing his institutional knowledge and strategic insight.

As a mentor, parent of four UVA alumni, and steadfast supporter, Phil continues to model the Alumni Association’s core values—humility, service, and integrity—making him an exemplary recipient of the 2025 Alumni Service Award. Phil has chosen to donate his $1,000 award to the College Fund.