The Top 10 U.Va. stories of 2007
(in chronological order)
1. Unraveling Alzheimer’s disease
Professors George Bloom and Michelle King make a significant discovery in how Alzheimer’s develops, creating the potential for new treatments in the fight against this disease.
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2. Hovey Dabney dies at 83
Former rector Hovey Dabney (Law ’49) dies Feb. 9, 2007. He helped lead a $1.4 billion capital campaign in the 1990s that fundamentally changed U.Va.’s financial structure and was the founder of the Health Services Foundation.
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 3. Responding to tragedy at Virginia Tech
After a Virginia Tech student shoots and kills 32 fellow students and faculty on April 16, the U.Va. community rallies in support, including the delivery by student council of 30,000 candles for a Blacksburg vigil.
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4. New school created to nurture leaders
A $100 million gift—the largest in University history—from Frank Batten Sr. (Col ’50) creates the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, the first new school established at U.Va. in more than 50 years.
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 5. Star-studded graduation
Speeches by musician Boyd Tinsley (Col ’86) and author John Grisham provide highlights of Finals Weekend, during which 5,900 degrees were conferred.
Read transcripts and watch videos of the speeches
6. Changing direction
College of Arts & Sciences dean Ed Ayers leaves to become the president of University of Richmond, while provost Gene Block accepts a position as chancellor of UCLA.
Read more about Block and Ayers
Read about who’s stepped into new leadership roles
 7. Tina Fey keeps them laughing
Creator and star of NBC’s 30 Rock series, Tina Fey (Col ’92) wins an Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series. She’s also listed on Time magazine’s "Time 100," a list of individuals who are shaping the world.
Read more
Watch 30 Rock
8. The new face of U.Va.
Of the 3,248 first-year students entering the University, more than 33 percent identify themselves as either minorities or international students—making the Class of 2011 the most diverse in U.Va. history.
Read more
Watch move-in day video
9. Generating body parts
Cato Laurencin, professor and chair of orthopaedic surgery, starts work on a project involving five University departments that will search for ways to grow new limbs through regenerated musculoskeletal tissue. Laurencin was named to the 2007 Scientific American 50 "SciAm 50" for his groundbreaking technology for regeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament using a bioengineered matrix.
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10. Randy Pausch speaks, inspires
After Randy Pausch, a former U.Va. professor, was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, he delivers a "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon about realizing childhood dreams. A Webcast of that lecture is downloaded more than a million times. In late November, Pausch returns to the University to talk about time management.
Read more, watch the lecture
Top Five Sports Stories
 1. Hot start in the new arena
In the first season of hoops in John Paul Jones Arena, Dave Leitao is named ACC Coach of the Year after leading Virginia to a share of the regular-season title and back to the NCAA Tournament after a six-year hiatus. Sean Singletary announces that he will be back for his fourth year at point guard.
Read more
Watch Sean Singletary highlights
Watch Dave Leitao video
2. Rowers return to glory
After failing to qualify for the NCAA Championships, the women’s crew team returns with a vengeance in 2007. The team placed second overall and won the women’s varsity four championship.
Read more
Women’s Crew video
 3. King of the Court
Third-year Somdev Devvarman becomes the first men’s tennis player in ACC history to win an NCAA Singles Championship, earning Men’s National Player of the Year honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
Read more
Watch tennis videos
4. Epic comeback leads to close call
In the NCAA semifinals, the women’s lacrosse team pulls off the largest comeback in NCAA Championships history, scoring the final 10 goals of the game to defeat Duke 14-13. The Cavaliers ultimately lose to Northwestern 15-13 in the championship game, but tie a school record with 19 victories.
Read more
Watch Duke game video
5. Cardiac Cavs thrill fans
On the way to a 9-4 record and a trip to the Gator Bowl, the Cavaliers set an NCAA record for winning close games (five victories were by two or fewer points). Individually, Al Groh was voted the ACC Coach of the Year and fourth-year defensive end Chris Long became the third unanimous All-American in Virginia history.
Watch the season’s top plays
Watch Chris Long video
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