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Raven Society Welcomes Two New Members from the School of Data Science
The University of Virginia’s prestigious Raven Society, a secretive honor society founded in 1839, has announced the induction of two new members from the School of Data Science: Jonathan Swap and Finn Mokrzycki, both students in the M.S. in Data Science (MSDS) residential program.
The Raven Society recognizes students who have made significant contributions to the University community through scholarship, leadership, and service. Members are selected through a rigorous nomination and election process.
Jonathan Swap, an MSDS Student Ambassador and President of the Graduate Data Science Council, has been a leader in the School of Data Science. During his undergraduate time at the University of Virginia (UVA), he was an Echols Scholar and Ambassador, Lawn resident, Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership Fellow, and UVA Honor Committee representative.
Swap expressed his gratitude for the honor, stating, "Getting nominated and accepted into the Raven Society is such an incredible honor. I’m extraordinarily grateful to be considered and to have my work be recognized by the society. As an undergrad from UVA, I understand the immense honor and prestige rooted in the Raven Society, and it’s truly a privilege to be part of the group."
Finn Mokrzycki is the Vice President of the Graduate Data Science Council, and has made significant contributions to the University community. As an undergraduate, he was an Echols Scholar, and served in Housing and Residence Life and the Student Council.
Mokrzycki expressed his gratitude for the honor, saying, "To be inducted into the Raven Society is an honor for me. I spent a lot of my time during my undergraduate and graduate contemplating whether I made a difference in my school's community; this invitation was confirmation that I did. I look forward to discovering more ways of serving the UVA community through data science and this honor."
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Navya Annapareddy, a 2023 Raven Society inductee and current society secretary, commented on the significance of the honor, highlighting the new members' unique contributions to the University: "Jonathan and Finn were selected to the Raven Society by their peers based on their commitment to the larger University community and their academic scholarship. Not only were they nominated by current students and faculty, but their active participation in University life within and beyond the academic sphere resonated deeply with the values of the society."
As a student in the Ph.D. program at the School of Data Science, Annapareddy is excited by the broader implication that the School is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of student leadership and integrity across the University. She believes their selection "is not just a personal achievement but a clear indication that the School of Data Science is and will continue to be a formidable contributor to UVA’s pioneering tradition of student self-governance."
Annapareddy says the Raven Society will continue to recognize student leaders who are not only skilled in data science but are invested in serving society as citizen scientists, and that the addition of Swap and Mokrzycki to the Raven Society highlights the growing impact of data science at the University of Virginia.
Swap expressed his gratitude and excitement, saying, "I’d like to thank Navya and the rest of the Ravens from the School of Data Science for believing in me. I can’t wait to contribute to our new and fiercely passionate group of SDS Ravens!"
