The McIntire School proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of eight third-year students who have been named Joseph Miniotas Communication Scholars for the 2024-2025 academic year. Selected for their exceptional abilities in writing, presenting, and collaborating, these Class of ’26 students set themselves apart within their Integrated Core Experience (ICE) courses. The School celebrates the accomplishments of Carly Appel, Justin Choi, JP Hoffman, Jessica Ianelli, Michael Kish, Malik Thomas, Jaden Wang, and Reena Wang with this annual honor.
Excited to Engage
Active participation and intellectual engagement characterize the students’ experiences at McIntire and defining their communication prowess. Thomas believes that the key to his success was a “willingness to participate,” which involved actively engaging with the content and discussions, both in and out of the classroom. His dedication to answering and asking questions and meeting with professors outside of class propels his learning and helps him make the most of the opportunities presented by the Commerce classes.
For Choi, success was rooted in both Comm faculty guidance and a commitment to actively listen to his peers. By truly valuing the insights of others, he found that he could learn and develop his skills as a communicator. He reflects, “My willingness to listen to other classmates first during discussions. I was truly amazed by the bright ideas and thoughts that my classmates possessed, and I really discovered that there’s so much that I can learn and take away from their ideas and their thoughts.”
Appel highlights her “curiosity and genuine excitement to learn from peers and professors,” which she believes helped her stand out among her classmates. Her approach to communication involved “consistent engagement and thoughtful commentary” about her ideas and fostering an environment where collaborative learning could thrive. Her engagement extended beyond formal learning to leadership in class and team settings, whether or not she held a formal leadership position.
“One of the most valuable skills I’ve developed is collaborating with my teammates and peers,” says Jaden Wang. “Whether it was relying on my team during fall ICE or sharing feedback on our communication speeches with my friends in my block, I have been pushed to grow through the different perspectives of my peers and learned to bring together our respective strengths.”
Transformative Teaching and Learning Experiences
Students were quick to credit the role of professors in shaping their communication skills and critical thinking. Kish fondly recalls Professor Mark White’s ICE Finance class, saying, “I felt like he really pushed me to develop strong analytical skills.” Hoffman also enjoyed learning with White, referencing his Foundations of Sustainable Commerce for changing the way he thought about commerce: “It challenged so many of our preconceived notions about business,” he says. “It bridged the language of finance with broader questions about sustainability, social value, and incentive alignment. It also connected my interests in urban planning, economics, and finance and has inspired me to continue learning about sustainable finance.”
Reena Wang found Professor Ryan Nelson’s Strategy & Systems and Managerial Decision Making classes stimulating, inspiring an open-minded curiosity about how businesses adapt to drive growth: “His classes have challenged me to think critically about the interconnected nature of business decisions, especially in understanding how to use technology to support data-driven, yet human-centered, decision-making.”
Appel appreciated Professor Sherri Moore’s expertise, which made Commercial Law II her favorite course thus far. “I loved the way this second course built on our baseline knowledge of the legal system to apply to the business world,” she says, calling Moore extremely knowledgeable. Ianelli shared Appel’s feelings about Moore’s course. “I didn’t know much about the class when I decided to take it but ended up loving the content and the style of teaching that Professor Moore uses. I really found it so engaging and interesting because of the way she makes the material so applicable to our lives. I ended up becoming a TA for the class, and it’s been one of my favorite experiences at UVA,” she insists.
Choi notes the profound impact of two ICE courses with Professor Robert Patterson, who taught him to reach for the “high-hanging fruit” in both written and corporate communication. “His lessons and teachings helped improve my written communication as well as corporate communication in Crisis Simulation. Though stressful, it was such a meaningful experience to remain on point and professional in a hectic corporate environment,” he says. “I especially appreciate Professor Patterson for creating a space for intellectual and civil discussion and a space where I personally grew so much, not only as a student in his class but as a lifelong learner in communication.”
Ambitions Fueled
The varied career aspirations of the Miniotas Scholars reflect their diverse interests and the comprehensive education the Commerce School is providing them. Appel is eager to embark on her role as an Associate Consultant Intern at Bain & Company, excited to apply all of the skills she has gained at McIntire in a real-world business setting. Choi is interested in litigation and management consulting, where collaboration will figure prominently. “I love the team aspect of it as well as the ability to work with other professionals in a goal-driven setting, while also employing my interests in corporate law.”
Meanwhile, Hoffman will be working in a structured finance role this summer where he hopes to continue “to explore how capital can be used to support more resilient, equitable cities.” Ianelli’s trajectory is defined by a risk consulting internship at PwC, where she is eager to connect classroom knowledge to the industry’s regulatory aspects. Jaden Wang is drawn to product management “to take part in building and shaping the products in our day-to-day lives,” cherishing business as a platform “to explore different industries and approach challenging problems.” Kish looks forward to a career in management and strategy consulting, aspiring to cultivate strong relationships in the process.
Thomas looks forward to starting his career in banking at UBS, which he hopes will supply him with the knowledge that will provide him with multiple career options. Reena Wang plans to pursue opportunities “in roles at the intersection of finance and technology,” growing into a leadership role in which she hopes to make “meaningful differences that not only create impact within organizations, but also positively contribute to society.”
This year’s Miniotas Scholars are already accomplished students with bright futures—made all the brighter by their excellent communications skills recognized by the McIntire Communication faculty.
