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The OLLI Scholarship will help Francesca Keesee support students’ academic success in higher education. 

Congratulations to Master of Social Work student Francesca Keesee for receiving the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Scholarship for the Department of Social Work. The merit scholarship recognizes Mason students who have shown significant academic achievement and community involvement while completing their program.

“I have always loved learning—whether through formal schooling, out-of-school activities, or furious Googling,” said Keesee. “My love of learning motivated me to become an educator when I was 19 years old, and I have been involved with informal education for youth and adults ever since.”

“Part of my love for education and learning stems from the community it creates. Classrooms, camps, clubs, and other learning groups come to life with the spirit of engaged students,” Keesee said. “OLLI is a clear example of a positive community that brings people together in the spirit of continued growth.”

The OLLI Scholarship will help Keesee have a “multidimensional career” as an educator in higher education and to create a dynamic atmosphere where students can connect with their professors while exploring their educational interests.

“I would like to facilitate a space where students feel supported and excited to engage with the material,” said Keesee. “The social work program has exposed me to the most diverse educators I have ever had, and it motivates me to be another example of a successful woman of color educating future practitioners.”

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