亚洲AV

Quill Camps help incoming freshmen set down roots at Mason

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Participants in the second annual Quill Camp take a tour of Washington, D.C., landmarks. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

亚洲AV is a large and diverse school with more than 39,000 students. For incoming freshmen, that can be overwhelming.

is an extended Orientation program that helps them navigate their transition to their new home at Mason.

鈥淐oming into Mason, I did Quill Camp, and that鈥檚 where I found my major,鈥 said Angele Cipriotti, a Quill Camp student leader. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where I found some of my best friends today.鈥

For new students, just being able to see a friendly face around campus can make a big difference, said Samantha Greenberg, associate director of at Mason.

Maliah Peters, an incoming major, said that through Quill Camp, she has 鈥減robably made lifelong friends in the span of three days.鈥

Incoming first years in Quill Camp: Republic met virtually with Ellie Quinlan, manager of public visitor programs at the United States Institute of Peace. Photo by Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications

It is an immersive experience, Greenberg said.

Students can tour the university in person. They can build connections with other students, Mason faculty and staff, and community members and gain confidence before coming to campus for the start of the academic year.

Trysten Jackson, an incoming major, said she and her roommate came to Quill Camp as a bonding experience.聽

For Jensen Huey, an incoming major, the camp was 鈥渟omething I wanted to look at not only as an educational experience, but also to get to know the kids that are interested in the same things as me.鈥

There are six different Quill Camp programs, each offering its own unique focus, that are open to all majors.聽

Quill Camp: Republic, centered around government and politics, hosted 14 students. Quill Camp: True Crime, focused on criminal justice, hosted 20 students.

The Quill Camp program is especially useful for students not familiar with the Fairfax and greater Washington, D.C., area. More than half the students at this year鈥檚 Quill Camp: Republic and Quill Camp: True Crime were from out of state.

Quill Camp attendees also participated in some icebreaker and team-building activities. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Those in Quill Camp: Republic met virtually with Ellie Quinlan, manager of public visitor programs at the United States Institute of Peace. Quill Camp: True Crime attendees had an in-person panel with probation officers and other members of the Fairfax County Courts.

These educational presentations, the students said, offered valuable information about internships and how to get jump-started in their fields of interest.

Fun activities, such as Quill Camp: Republic鈥檚 monument tour around Washington, D.C., and Quill Camp: True Crime鈥檚 Escape Room experience, fostered camaraderie that prepared the students for more serious workshops around strengths, career readiness and identity.

The identity workshop, Greenberg said, is 鈥渁n opportunity to learn a little more about themselves but also the community that they鈥檙e joining and the rich diversity that Mason has.鈥

鈥淸Quill Camp] drops resources in their laps that they would otherwise have to seek out,鈥 including , said Rebecca Boyd, a Quill Camp student leader.

For Peters, attending the earlier leadership-focused Quill Camp: Vision allowed her to 鈥渟ee the different activities I could do to become a leader here at Mason,鈥 she said.