Student-Athlete
Stories

Fourth year Jenny Schilling did not begin her career at UVA as a student-athlete. In fact, the Leesburg, VA native did not begin her career at UVA as much of a runner at all. Schilling was on the cross country team in high school but stopped running competitively when COVID hit during her junior year. With the cancellation of her senior season, she “lost her love” for the sport.

As a second year looking to become more involved on Grounds, Schilling found club running at UVA. An organization with over 300 active members, the club boasts its openness to runners of all skill levels. Practices are held daily throughout the semester and usually draw about 50 members, per the website. But as Schilling would later demonstrate, club running's inclusivity does not dilute the performance of its top members.

The spring of her second year, Schilling made the last-minute decision to sign up for the Charlottesville 10-Miler. The race begins on Whitehead Road, next to the engineering school, where Schilling is enrolled as a computer science student. Runners make their way through Charlottesville, passing the first-year dorms and the Rotunda before hitting the Downtown Mall and trekking uphill on the Corner. Schilling outpaced even her loftiest goals, finishing as the first woman in the field.

Her remarkable performance left every runner, spectator, and race volunteer with one question; “Why are you not on the team?” Through friends on club running with connections to the Virginia program, as well as the owners of Ragged Mountain Running & Walking Shop, Schilling got in touch with Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Vin Lananna. She started attending practices that spring and then, as she puts it, “decided to go all in.”

The transition from club running to the UVA team was much easier than Schilling expected, something she attributes to the many resources available to Virginia student-athletes. Coaches, trainers, and other staff offered support that was never accessible to her during her first two years. “There are so many people that help us be the best person that we can be,” Schilling said of the athletic staff. She also has access to top-of-the-line gear through the program, removing yet another obstacle previously standing in her way.

Schilling has a special appreciation for those resources because of the four semesters she spent without them. Even in her second season, that gratitude has not worn off. She lauded the work of academic coordinators, athletic trainers, and lift coaches. She's surprised every time she's offered a new pair of shoes. “I've seen what the other side is like,” she said, “not having the support of these resources… I'm just so grateful.”

Schilling is the recipient of the Fred and Nancy Stubblefield Endowed Scholarship, awarded to a second-, third- or fourth-year student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science who is participating in intercollegiate athletics. “It means the world,” said Schilling. She settled on the University of Virginia, in part, because the school was in-state, thus making more sense financially. But the price tag still carried with it a sizeable burden. That burden was lightened by her endowed scholarship, and Schilling could not be more grateful; “I would not be able to have the success that I've had, or maybe even be sitting here, if it weren't for donor support,” she said.

Virginia has opened doors beyond just college athletics for Schilling. She spent the summer of 2024 working for Nike, an internship she found through the UVA athletic department. Like many college students seeking summer opportunities, Schilling applied thinking that she was a long shot. After submitting her application, she was emailed an interview request, followed by another email and a second interview. “Then I remember getting the phone call saying that I got the job," she said, “and it was just pure joy.” She described the summer as “a dream,” praising the city of Portland as well as her employer. Schilling had always looked for ways to combine her study of computer science with a passion for sports but struggled to find the proper intersection. Through this summer internship, she found exactly what she had been seeking.

As Schilling explores opportunities for the ensuing years, she credits the athletic department for its emphasis on preparation for life after school. She said of the staff, “they're so amazing about helping us creating resumes and cover letters.” Schilling also emphasized the skills that athletics instills within its participants—traits like resilience, leadership, and even time-management—and their respective impacts within the working world.

Her future aspirations don't take away from her success on the course this semester. Thus far, Schilling has placed fourth at the Virginia Invitational and led all UVA runners with a 20th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational. Most impressively, Schilling took home first place at the Panorama Farms Invitational, finishing a full 18 seconds ahead of the next competitor. In the ACC Cross Country Championships, Schilling finished 14th en route to a fourth overall placing from the Cavaliers. As the indoor and outdoor track seasons get underway, watch for Schilling to make an impact on talented Virginia teams.