Andrew Pregnall, a microbiology and history major, was named the 2019 Undergraduate Student of the Year.

His study of these two disciplines has prepared him to understand the biological and social contexts of medicine with the goal of improving health care for the LGBTQ community, which he has pursued through various activities at Virginia Tech. A Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship provided him with the opportunity to investigate policies at Schiffert Health Center and make recommendations to improve the health care experience of LGBTQ patients. Pregnall continued his work to advocate for health care for LGBTQ patients through internships at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., and the Vanderbilt Program for LGBTQ Health. While completing a semester abroad in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland, this semester, he worked on his thesis in history, using his training as a microbiologist to examine scientific literature from the early 1980s about AIDS. Pregnall served as a senior resident advisor in the Honors Residential Commons and contributed to the creation of the Queer and Transgender Living-Learning Community.

His postgraduate plans include medical school and continued engagement as a policy advocate in the medical field.