Meet Matthew Fernando, a third-year student-athlete at the Comm School who came to Grounds from his native Atlanta, GA. A mid-distance runner teammate on UVA’s Track & Field and Cross Country teams, he shows an impressive resiliency and a tenacity to overcome challenges, both the academic and athletic varieties.
Out of high school, Fernando chose to attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania but transferred to UVA after a difficult freshman year.
“It was a decision that was very tough for me at the time—and it was hard to leave my team and friends at Penn—but I think I made the correct choice for myself, and I haven’t looked back since,” he says. The move underscores Fernando’s determination to find the right environment to thrive academically, personally, and in sporting competition.
Fueled by an interest in investing, his passion for business began early. His father opened a Vanguard account for him when he was just 10 years old, and the early contribution sparked a lifelong interest in finance. “Ever since then, all of my savings have gone into that account, and it’s grown considerably in the last 10 years or so,” he says. That exposure to investing would provide a solid foundation for his scholarly pursuits.
Concentrating in Finance and Management, Fernando spent the summer interning in private equity at Rand & Co Holdings and at Deloitte, experiences he believes will be invaluable as he prepares for his professional life. “I am looking to go into consulting next summer, and have been preparing for case interviews for several months now,” he says. On Grounds, he’s been involved in social impact consulting group SEED and the Virginia Case Club (VCC), both of which have been particularly impactful, offering him practical experience and leadership opportunities. “In SEED, I had the privilege of working with iXperience and helped them decide what new internship course they should offer on their platform,” Fernando explains. His role in VCC, where he is poised to serve on its executive board, highlights his commitment to mentoring and developing the skill set of its newest members.
While Fernando’s academic achievements are setting him up for career success, his athletic story has proven equally remarkable. He started competing in cross country and track in his early teens, driven by his exceptional speed and endurance that he developed on the soccer field. “I ran my first state championship in eighth grade and got 10th place. I wasn’t satisfied and vowed that I would do better in the coming years,” he recalls. His dedication paid off, as that same year, he won state and set a state record in the 800m with a time of 2:05.
Now competing for UVA, he finds himself balancing the challenging demands of being a student-athlete. Fernando’s daily routine is rigorous, starting with a 6:50 a.m. wake-up call for practice, followed by mornings and afternoons stacked with classes. But before he can unwind, it’s often back to the gym to finish off the evening with a weightlifting session.
“Balancing my social, academic, and track responsibilities has been something that has taken a lot of time to hone in correctly on and is still something that I’m currently working on,” he admits. Yet, he finds fulfillment in testing his physical and mental limits through sports. “Running is hard, and I get enjoyment from pushing my body and seeing how good I can be,” Fernando says about his relationship with his athletic drive.
But those limits have faced some major hurdles. Injuries have been a significant issue for Fernando, with stress fractures and stress reactions disrupting his training over the past two years. “College athletics has been a big adjustment for me, and it took a lot of work to manage training, stress, workload, and my social life,” he says. Despite these setbacks, his resolve remains unshaken. Fernando is now healthy and ready to train and compete again.
The support from his teammates has been crucial in his journey. Roommates Andrew Jones (Education ’25) and Isaac Thiessen (A&S ’26) have been particularly supportive in helping him traverse his injuries and overcome setbacks, and provide a sense of camaraderie. “They have been great friends I find very easy to talk to and helped me navigate several injuries I had this past year,” Fernando says, reflecting on the importance of his support system.
Fernando says that the most difficult aspect of track & field and cross country remains staying healthy. “At times, it’s been hard to stay focused and on track,” he says, unintentionally making a pun about his sport of choice. “I’m in a better place now physically and mentally, and I’m excited to see what the future seasons hold for me.”
