Gaines and Quaid Win Class of 2030 Election

The newly elected University of Virginia leaders plan to address student concerns via advocacy forms.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Financial Aid

Bold vector editorial illustration of an ornate iron mailbox mounted on a red brick wall, representing student advocacy at the University of Virginia. — Sean Gaines and Zoe Quaid have been elected president and vice president of the University of Virginia's Class of 2030, focusing on new student feedback channels. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Sean Gaines and Zoe Quaid won the election for Class of 2030 president and vice president at the University of Virginia on Oct. 12. The pair intends to focus on responsiveness to the student body through newly utilized advocacy channels.

Why it matters

The administration has tasked the council with maximizing its annual budget to improve the student experience for incoming members. Elected officials aim to leverage student feedback to address concerns and manage academic stress.

The First Year Council operates with an annual budget of $28,777, with students receiving 10 free laundry credits valued at $17.50 per semester. Each individual washer or dryer cycle costs $1.75 to operate.

The players

Sean Gaines

He is the newly elected president for the University of Virginia Class of 2030.

Zoe Quaid

She is the newly elected vice president for the University of Virginia Class of 2030.

The details

The First Year Council consists of approximately 60 members who are tasked with addressing student needs through the First-Year Experience Committee. Leaders plan to utilize biweekly advocacy forms to collect and review student feedback for the upcoming academic term.

Early September: First Year Council members are elected.
Oct. 12: Gaines and Quaid elected president and vice president.
Oct. 16: First Year Council held its first meeting with new leaders.

Culture Shift

The election reflects a broader movement toward student-led governance at the University of Virginia First Year Council. This structure follows patterns seen in other student advocacy organizations that seek to bridge the gap between administrative resources and student needs.

Students can expect the new leadership to utilize advocacy forms to gather input on university services like laundry credit usage. These updates directly affect daily student budgets and the ease of accessing campus amenities.

The takeaway

Students should prepare to engage with the new leadership team to ensure their specific campus concerns are reflected in council initiatives. Proactive participation in biweekly advocacy forms is the most effective way for students to influence how the council allocates its $28,777 budget.