If the plant is a favorite I would try to save it. I have posted some pics of a plant in a similar situation that you can see. If you want instructions on rejuvinating a plant email me and I will send them to you.
Fred in NJ

Here is a link that might be useful: Violet Reflections

It's not necessarily that it's a favorite...it's just that she doesn't like dead/dying plants and I wanna bring it back so that I can go 'haha, I'm awesome'...

And it's kind of a test for my growing skills which I'd like to continuously improve.

I thought I could just cut it all back, but then, it needs at least a few leaves for photosynthesis, right? Maybe put it in a smaller pot with fresh soil?

You can definitely impress your mom with your awesome resurrection skills! It looks like you have at least three plants in the pot and they definitely need to be repotted into smaller pots with new potting mix. They have very long "necks" created after lower leaves naturally died as the plant grew without being repotted to eliminate the necks. The website below has illustrated how-to lessons. You could use the one Restoring a Violet for your mom's plants and also check out the Violet Necks one for how to prevent long necks from growing again. If you are squeamish about decapitating them, there are also other ways, such as air-layering or total neck burial, to revive the plants. Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Restoring a Violet

If all else fails you can give it back to her with one of these in the pot...

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant pokes

Bunny, as others have said, there is still hope. Don't expect a beauiful plant overnight, but it can be done! African Violets have amazing powers of recovery!

Dognapper, thanks for the link, too funny