A focus on serving others helps sophomore grow into the person she wants to be

Dana Gurland isn’t someone who goes along to get along.

Her nominator wrote, “Many first-year students struggle to truly be themselves. It is a time of meeting new people, making new impressions, and, for many of us, finding a place where we fit as quickly as possible. Dana Gurland never bent under this pressure. She knows who she is, she knows what she values, and she knows the kind of person she wants to grow into on this campus. She never settles or compromises in order to please others.”

Dana looks for ways to serve and make a positive difference—and she inspires others to do the same. She seeks out organizations that align with her values and fully embraces the university’s motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) as a way of life.

One of the organizations she participates in and is passionate about is Relay for Life at Virginia Tech. She is on their fundraising and webmaster committees to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. Dana says her passion stems from the challenges cancer forced her to face from a young age as she watched family and friends struggle to fight it.

As a rookie on the Relay for Life team, Dana worked countless weekends, lunch breaks, and late nights.

“Actions like these don’t even warrant a second thought in her head,” her nominator wrote. “When it comes to the Virginia Tech community, Dana doesn’t take shortcuts. She is grateful for the opportunities she has received here and she does not take them for granted.”

When asked what she is most proud of, Dana responded that it is what she accomplished as part of a team. She wrote, “Relay for Life surpassed our goal last year and raised more than $472,000. I am really proud that our committee helped make that possible.”

Dana is also a mentor through the CEED Peer Mentoring Program in the College of Engineering and part of the Virginia Tech Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club, where she oversees fundraising for the team.

Although Dana leads and serves in highly visible ways, her daily interactions with others also demonstrate her integrity.

Her nominator wrote, “Dana will spend hours helping a friend with homework. She will even brush up on the material herself so she can provide better assistance. Even in the aspects of her life where she does not hold a title, she is a leader. She shows her peers what it means to be dedicated to goals, to be respectful to yourself and others, and to work hard.”

A sophomore computer science major, Dana describes herself as someone who enjoys learning, loves to laugh, and is a loyal and helpful friend. She strives to see the positive in any person or situation and encourages others to step out of their comfort zones and be open to new experiences.