Hailing from Erie, Pennsylvania, third-year student Gavin Restifo never shies away from a challenge. In addition to majoring in chemical engineering, the ambitious scholar is pursuing a minor in physics.

Passionate about helping others, Restifo leads his own small group as part of the University’s Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship organization. Throughout his time on Grounds, he’s also served as a teaching assistant in UVA’s computer science department.

While the possibilities for his future are endless, Restifo is currently unsure of which career path he’ll follow. After graduating, he plans to spend a year in the mission field and may ultimately attend graduate school prior to entering the workforce. “I feel I need to take a year off to see where I’m being led,” he said.

Finances have been a challenge for Restifo and his family for some time. He initially became interested in UVA through QuestBridge, an organization that connects the nation’s brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education.

Restifo is honored to be the 2017-18 recipient of the Gordon C. Burris Scholarship. “Life for my family has been challenging,” he said. “This scholarship is an incredible blessing that’s helping to lessen our financial burden. When I broke the news to my mom, she broke down crying. Our entire family thanks the UVA Parents Fund for its generosity.”