Riley Richardson (she/her) is a fourth-year Media Studies major in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia. She is an international student from Canada, a member of the UVA Women’s Rowing Team, and part of the Citizen Leaders Fellowship. Her project, “Hoos Got Grit,” aims to connect UVA student-athletes with learning disabilities to local Charlottesville elementary school students who share similar experiences. By partnering with UVA SDAC and UVA Athletics, she hopes to empower young learners to see their differences as strengths — not setbacks.