COAR’s Council Leaders are the students who run our weekly volunteer programs. We are very thankful for all they do! See below for more information about our COAR Council Leaders.
— Stafford Junction —
Sarah Hybl is a junior English major in the secondary licensure program. She is a leader for Stafford Junction because she likes working with kids and getting to help them understand what they are learning. In her free time Sarah enjoys reading, hanging out with her cat, and embroidering. Her favorite COAR event is the Head Start Gift Box Drive. Hometown: Spotsylvania, VA
Ashlynn Clayton is a freshman and planning on majoring in international business. She is a leader for Stafford Junction, and enjoys art and playing club field hockey in her free time.
Hometown: Chesapeake, VA
— Hope House —
Maria Werner is a junior majoring in elementary education. She is one of the co-leaders for Hope House because she’s passionate about creating equity in education. Maria’s favorite COAR event is the Head Start Gift Box Drive. In her free time, she likes to read, crochet, and play board games. Hometown: Centereach, NY
Journey Mason is an English and Elementary Education double major with a minor in Spanish. She is co-leader for Hope House and her favorite COAR event is Into the Streets. Outside of COAR, she competes on UMW’s Track and Field team.
Hometown: Richmond, VA
— Environmental Awareness and Action—
Audrey Turner is a junior Environmental Science major and is a co-leader of Environmental Action and Awareness. They enjoy hiking, reading, and traveling to new places. Their favorite COAR event is Into the Streets!
Hometown: Galax, Virginia
Sarah Tyree-Herrmann is a freshman double majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies and Political Science. She is a co-leader for EAA because she loves outdoor activities and likes getting to feel productive on the weekends! When she’s not in the CCE or her dorm, you can find her taking walks or, if it’s especially nice out, sitting outside reading! Sarah’s favorite COAR event is Pay It Forward Day because the weather is beautiful and the amount of outdoor activities.
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Allie Schwartz is a freshman planning on majoring in Political Science with a minor in Linguistics. She’s always been passionate about protecting the environment and is so excited to be a council leader in COAR. Besides volunteer work, she is frequently found listening to Taylor Swift, reading, or talking about her favorite show, New Girl. Allie’s favorite event is the Head Start Gift Wrapping Party!
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
— Downtown Greens —
Loren Osborne is a freshman who is majoring in Psychology and planning to minor in Urban Studies. In the future, she would like to enter the field of macro social work. She is a co-leader for Downtown Greens as she has an interest in helping combat food injustice within the community. Loren loves to bake (mostly to share with others) and enjoys reading classic novels. Her favorite COAR event is “Into The Streets”!
Hometown: Newport News, VA
Evie Benton (they/she), is a freshman set to major in Environmental Science and/or Biology. Their favorite COAR event is Good Neighbor Day because of the direct collaboration between UMW students and the community. They’re a plant parent, pet lover, and avid traveller who’d love to work with you outside!
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
— Food Recovery —
Willow Candage is a senior from King William, VA. They are majoring in Chemistry with a minor in neuroscience. They are the leader for COAR’s Food Recovery to help reduce and redirect potential food waste to be directed to feeding people in the community. Along with being a COAR council leader, Willow is the president of Bee Club and was a Nest Leader over the summer. If they’re not in class, they are at home watching Bobs Burgers, snuggling with their cat, or hanging out with their friends. Their favorite COAR event is Good Neighbor Day or Earth Day (yay trees!).
Hometown: King William, VA
Rachel Richardson is a senior majoring in Historic Preservation with a minor in Urban Studies.
She is also working on the GIS certificate. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, cooking, baking, watching movies, and reading. Rachel is one of the co-leaders for Food Recovery and enjoys helping bring food to those in need. Her favorite event is the Head Start Gift Box Drive.
Hometown: Midlothian, VA
— SPCA —
Emma James is a sophomore majoring in elementary education with an endorsement in special education. She leads the SPCA program with COAR, in which students go to volunteer at the local animal shelter. Emma wanted to lead this program because she volunteered at her local animal shelter and is interested in continuing her passion for animal welfare while pursuing her education. Emma loves to crochet, as well as rewatch her favorite shows and movies. Her favorite COAR event is “Into the Streets”. She is looking forward to volunteering at the SPCA this semester!
Hometown: Gloucester, VA
Eliana Nachman (taurus) is a senior WGST and Sociology double major with a Social Justice minor. She’s been involved with COAR since she was a freshman and is so excited to work with the SPCA this year. In her free time, she is passionate about making bad art and reading contemporary fiction. Eliana’s favorite COAR event is Good Neighbor Day, so make sure to say hi to her in the Spring!
Hometown: Richmond, VA
— Bookmobile —
Corbin Poyer is a class of 2024 senior double majoring in Philosophy: Pre-Law and Political Science with a minor in practical ethics. She chose to work with Fredericksburg Bookmobile after getting to know it’s founders and seeing the impact they have on the community. Apart from COAR, Corbin is part of the Honors College program and is president of both the Student Alumni Ambassadors and UMW CKI. In her free time she enjoys cross stitching and watching movies. Corbin enjoys Good Neighbor Day as it provides an excellent opportunity to give back to both of her communities!
Hometown: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Emily Thomas is a freshman majoring in Historic Preservation. She is a co-leader for Bookmobile because she loves reading and wants everyone to enjoy and have access to books. I’m her free time, Emily loves reading, hanging out with her friends, and going to the beach (when she’s home). Emily’s favorite COAR event is Head Start Gift Wrapping Party! Hometown: Gulf Breeze, FL
Mikyas Telahun a freshman at UMW majoring in Biomedical Science and minor in Social Justice in a premed track. Mikyas is a Co-leader at the Bookmobile because he is interested within the community involvement in having books accessible for the good of inexpensive literacy. During his free time he likes watching Grays Anatomy, participating in swimming, or reading non fiction books with a love to getting to meet new faces. Mikyas’ favorite even is the Head Start Gift Wrapping Party. Hometown: Fairfax, VA
— BIGS in Schools —
Knox McKinley is a sophomore double majoring in Sociology and Women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. He is co-leader for the BIGS program because he loves getting to know the kids and working with them all year. When he’s not in the COAR office or in class he likes reading, listening to music, or hanging out with his friends. His favorite COAR event is Pay it Forward Day.
Hometown: Loudon County, Virginia
Fiona Archer is a senior Communications and Digital Studies major. She enjoys ice-skating, coloring, sleeping, and hanging out with friends! She is a council leader for Big Brothers Big Sisters because she has always loved working with kids. Her favorite COAR annual event is Into the Streets!!
Hometown: Arlington, VA
— Gwen Hale Resource Center —
Laurie Zdenek is a freshman planning on majoring in Historic Preservation with a minor in German. They are a co-leader for the Gwen Hale Resource Center and love helping their campus community. In their free time, they love to devour a good book and hang out with their friends. Laurie’s favorite COAR event is Into The Streets.
Hometown: Dayton, OH
Destiny Farrell is a freshman but with junior standing and her major is in Psychology. She is a co-leader for The Gwen Hale Resource Center and enjoys providing service wherever it is needed. Outside of class and volunteering she can be found spending time with her family or watching a variety of movies and shows. Destiny’s favorite COAR event is Into The Streets.
Hometown: Lancaster, Va