Savaria Parrish

No matter the context of her curiosity, she is always open to the story that unfolds, knowing it may shift her perspective and lead to new understandings.

Her ability to act on her curiosity is something she does not take for granted.

“My curiosity is inspired by knowing that my grandparents and their parents didn’t have the opportunities to explore and be curious due to the restrictions of Jim Crow,” she said. “My papa inspires me deeply. He always tells me to gain all the knowledge I can and ask as many questions as possible. He believes in my abilities, and that belief pushes me to stay curious, learn more, and honor the opportunities that weren’t available to them.”

Savaria is an asset to the geoscience community. While getting involved in research is common for a science student, her stellar work includes classifying models for atypical supernovae, understanding sulfuric outgassing rates on Venus, and characterizing brown dwarf atmospheres using spectral data from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Savaria said the biggest highlight of her university career was being selected as the first undergraduate to give a research seminar at the Space@VT Center.

“Presenting my research at such a prestigious center boosted my confidence and solidified my passion for space science,” she said. “It made me realize that my work and voice have value in the academic community, inspiring me to keep pushing forward.”

Savaria is always on the lookout for opportunities to learn, grow, and explore her work through new lenses, such as business management and history.

She is passionate about helping others. Her curiosity has contributed meaningfully to projects in the College of Science, and to her role as a Diversifying Science Peer Mentor.

Her nominator said, “Savaria is like a sponge when it comes to opportunities and resources, and she knows how to share them with other students. Her curiosity is not selfish — it is giving.”

After graduation, Savaria plans to pursue a Ph.D. in planetary science.

“I want to contribute meaningful research to the field while also inspiring others through public outreach, especially students from backgrounds like mine,” she said. “I hope to show them that pursuing a career in science is possible.”

She hopes to one day create a scholarship for students from rural areas to pursue higher education.

For her commitment to curiosity in pursuit of helping others, Student Affairs is proud to present the Aspire! Award for Commit to Unwavering CURIOSITY to Savaria Parrish.