Anne Reynolds

Jimmy Hazel, steadfast George Mason alum and friend, looks to the future with a foundational gift

Colleen Rich — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:05:24 +0000

Jimmy Hazel, steadfast George Mason alum and friend, looks to the future with a foundational gift Colleen Rich Mon, 10/07/2024 - 11:05

James W. “Jimmy” Hazel, JD ’84, has led a life of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia—and to ��AV. In July 2024, as his term on the university’s Board of Visitors concluded, Hazel added to his considerable legacy with a gift of $1 million for the Smithsonian–Mason School of Conservation (SMSC).

James Hazel speaking at the university's 50th anniversary event. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The gift, reflecting Hazel’s wishes to advance the important work of the school, creates two funds. The first will provide support for graduate or undergraduate students enrolled at SMSC, and the second will support the operations of the school’s programs.

“This gift represents my personal passion for conservation and my hope is that it will allow George Mason to draw in a diverse group of new PhD students to the program,” Hazel said.

Hazel is a cochair on the Advisory Board for SMSC, a research and academic facility in Front Royal, Virginia, that operates under a partnership between the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and George Mason. The facility covers more than 3,000 acres of forest, grassland, and pasture, and houses a range of endangered mammals, birds, and amphibians.

SMSC conducts research and offers proactive methodologies of conservation biology education and training, providing hands-on interdisciplinary programs to undergraduates, graduate students, professionals, and high school students. It draws from the educational innovation of George Mason faculty and the established work of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to create a transdisciplinary approach to conservation leadership that is research-based, forward-looking, and ethical.

Students conducting field work at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Cody Edwards, SMSC executive director and interim dean, College of Science, understands the immediate impact of Hazel’s generosity.

“With this gift, he opens doors for students passionate about conservation and sustainability,” Edwards said. “Jimmy’s continued support helps ensure SMSC can continue to bring together internationally renowned experts who can offer those students an educational experience that will enhance their futures and ultimately, help preserve the world’s biodiversity.”

SMSC’s graduate programs include practical training in the tools necessary to conduct and report research, and allow students to work directly with experts and practitioners from all over the world. Students become part of a community of conservation scientists and leaders, developing relationships with these mentors and with each other, forming networks to help them launch into a wide variety of careers.

“My family has, and will always have, deep ties to George Mason and the Fairfax Campus,” Hazel said, “but I think one of the best university programs sits in Front Royal at the Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation. With the groundbreaking research being conducted at the facility, we have the potential to put this initiative on the map in a big way. I would like to think that this gift will help increase that momentum.”

“Jimmy’s impact on SMSC and its students goes well beyond this single thoughtful gift,” added Edwards. “His continued support has helped transform this program and placed it on a trajectory not envisioned when it was originally conceived.”

Hazel has been a dedicated, engaged member of the George Mason community. He served twice on the Board of Visitors: from 1994 to 2002, and his most recent appointment, from 2016 to 2024, included chairmanship of the Development Committee, a term as vice rector, and service as rector from 2020-22. He is a past president of the ��AV Alumni Association and the Law Alumni Association, and he served for 18 years on the ��AV Foundation Board of Trustees.

Hazel chaired George Mason’s successful Faster Farther Campaign, which closed at nearly $700 million—$200 million more than its original goal. He cochaired the presidential search committee that brought George Mason’s president Gregory Washington to campus in 2020. In recognition of his more than three decades of service to the university, Hazel was awarded the George Mason Medal in 2017.

Hazel, a lifelong outdoorsman who has served on the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (chairing the agency for three years), and on the boards of the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia and George Mason’s Potomac Science Center, is determined to make a lasting difference through SMSC.

Power the Possible

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philanthropy

Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

Golf classic has been supporting student success for almost 30 years

Colleen Rich — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 17:44:28 +0000

Golf classic has been supporting student success for almost 30 years Colleen Rich Tue, 06/25/2024 - 13:44

On June 10, 2024, more than 110 golfers came together at Westfields Golf Club to support first-generation students through ��AV’s Diversity Scholarship Golf Classic.

From left, Richard McGruder, Ron Bagga, Chris DiLiberto and Sandy Spring Bank's Marcus Perry at the Diversity Golf Classic. Photo by Warren Spears

A summer highlight for nearly 30 years, the annual tournament, which is presented by George Mason’s University Life division, has raised more than $850,000 in scholarship funds for students in the Early Identification Program (EIP) and the Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP).

“It’s a longstanding tradition,” said Lewis E. Forrest II, BA ’96, MA ’05, associate dean of University Life. “A lot of good folks put their arms around it, helping out in a lot of different ways to get people out here for EIP and STEP.”

EIP welcomes rising eighth-grade students from seven school districts in Northern Virginia, who participate throughout high school in year-round, multi-year mentoring, tutoring, STEM enrichment, and other support designed to aid in their academic and personal success, preparation for college, and career readiness. Students who graduate from EIP following 12th grade receive automatic acceptance to George Mason (provided they meet the requirements for enrollment); in the 2024 EIP class, 97% of the students enrolled in higher education. George Mason currently has 170 EIP graduates among its students.

George Mason alum Enrique Carrero shared his experiences with EIP at the event. Photo by Warren Spears

STEP, a multi-year bridge program within George Mason’s First-Gen+ Center, was created to enhance the recruitment, engagement, and retention of first-generation college students accepted to George Mason. Incoming university students spend six weeks on campus prior to their first fall semester, where they earn three college credits and build a network of peers, faculty, and staff. As they move into the academic year, students receive continuous support to help them transition to college: academic preparation, leadership, access to resources, mentoring, time management, and community service.

The golfers enjoying the classic included many returning participants. Jim Green, a co-chair of the golf classic and one of the creators of the event, was on hand to compete, along with his wife, Gigi Green, BIS ’00, MA ’09. Green said he appreciates the longevity of this summer tradition.

"A number of people have been coming since the beginning,” said Jim Green, “which speaks to the legacy and also speaks to what the program’s about: We’re concerned about kids and helping them get their education.”

Green’s sentiment was echoed by the enthusiastic philanthropic supporters of the classic.

Annie Bolger is the corporate and client service manager of Sandy Spring Bank and a member of the University Life Advisory Board. “Sandy Spring is very involved in the community in many different ways, and we are very involved with George Mason,” Bolger said.

Sandy Spring Bank has served as the title sponsor of the classic for 14 years—and is a longtime friend to George Mason. This year, it led a group of 56 sponsors, donors, and contributors who helped make the event a success.

“It’s at the heart of who we are as an organization,” said Marcus Perry, Sandy Spring Bank’s senior vice president and regional group sales manager for Virginia and Washington, D.C. “Our mission since the beginning has been to not only serve the financial needs of our communities but also the general needs of our community that we’re in. Our involvement with George Mason is just a natural.”

Jim Green said he looked forward to a beautiful day of golf as well as to next year’s event, the 30th annual outing. “It’s already in our minds,” he said. “We’re recruiting people, talking to folks. Here’s hoping that, by our 30th, we will raise over a million dollars!”

Learn more about the Early Identification Program (EIP)

Learn more

Learn more about STEP

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philanthropy

Scholarships

Early Identification Program (EIP)

Student Transition Empowerment Program STEP

Mason Now campaign

Annual Scholarship Dinner recognizes donors and students in an evening of gratitude

Colleen Rich — Thu, 16 May 2024 12:55:10 +0000

Annual Scholarship Dinner recognizes donors and students in an evening of gratitude Colleen Rich Thu, 05/16/2024 - 08:55

“If I was able to meet the people who had given me the scholarship I received? For starters, I would give them a big hug!”

The enthusiasm of ��AV student Dean Johnson, integrative studies major and recipient of the Howard Book Fund Scholarship, brought smiles to faces throughout the dining room of the International Country Club in Fairfax. Johnson’s and two other George Mason scholarship recipients’ experiences were featured as a video finale for an evening where many scholarship recipients were able offer thanks—in person—to the individuals who had made their scholarships possible.

George Mason’s Scholarship Dinner brings together the generous individuals who have given to student scholarships with some of the amazing students who have received scholarship support.

“You can tell an event is important based on who shows up,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “I’ve counted seven deans here!”

Students, donors, and Mason staff enjoyed an evening of gratitude, with 200 guests in attendance to hear students’ stories of impact.

More than 1,100 scholarships have been awarded in FY 24, totaling more than $3.5 million.

Business Rakibul Alam spoke about his George Mason experience at the event. Photo by Sean Kelley Photography

"This evening represents the power of philanthropy coming to life,” said Trishana E. Bowden, ��AV Foundation president and George Mason’s vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “Your generosity gives students a chance—a chance to learn, a chance to challenge themselves academically, a chance to lead, and an opportunity to immerse themselves in the multitude of perspectives that they see in their peers. Through scholarship support, you bring promising students to the arena, allowing them to grow and advance beyond their own perceived limits.”

Several students spoke to the group about the impact that scholarships had had in their lives. “Receiving scholarship support has not only eased the financial burden of pursuing my degree, but has inspired me to strive for academic excellence and allowed me to actively contribute to student life,” said Rakibul Alam, a business major who is a recipient of the Shrivastava Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship. Alam is an Honors College professional development fellow, part of George Mason’s Student Government, and is a Costello College of Business student ambassador. “I take on these extracurricular opportunities because I believe that I have a responsibility to give back to a place that has already given me so much.”

Several students spoke to the group about the impact that the scholarships had had in their lives. Photo by Sean Kelly Photography

Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ‘94, hosted the evening’s events. Shrivastava is a leader in the government IT industry and a committed alum, board member, donor, and volunteer for the Costello College of Business and ��AV. His family’s generosity to Mason has made it possible for many students to realize their academic goals.

Shrivastava related the circumstances of his father’s engineering education, which began in India and continued with his master’s degree at the University of North Carolina—a step that was catalyzed through a scholarship. “That scholarship didn’t just fund his education,” said Shrivastava, “it forged connections that would shape the course of his life. Through his studies, he met mentors who believed in his potential, peers who shared his ambitions, and a network of support that pushed him forward.”

Describing his own philanthropy as “an opportunity to be the bridge for someone else’s journey,” Shrivastava encouraged the attendees to forge connections and be the architects of change.

Bowden, too, confirmed the impact of the scholarship she had received during college. “The message behind this act was truly compelling: to realize that someone I had never met believed in what I could achieve. It gave me confidence in my own abilities and potential. You could even say that it inspired my life’s work: bringing such opportunities to other students.”

And she shared a special message with the George Mason students gathered. “Please know how proud we are of you,” she said. “We know how hard you are working and are delighted to be part of your story.”

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Mason Vision Day: More than a million!

Colleen Rich — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:57:34 +0000

Mason Vision Day: More than a million! Colleen Rich Wed, 04/10/2024 - 12:57

Mason Vision Day nets a record wave of support for the university.

Once a year, ��AV invites its community—alumni, faculty, staff, students, and their families–to unite in philanthropy on Mason Vision Day. This year, on April 4, they did so enthusiastically, raising $1,309,345 for the university’s students, research, and programs.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“Mason Vision Day broke the record!” said Trishana Bowden, president of the ��AV Foundation and Mason’s vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “Mason Nation came together, and the impact of the generosity of alumni and donors is truly inspirational.”

For 2024, Mason’s Office of Annual Giving announced that Mason Vision Day would be structured to encourage donors to support the causes that mattered most to them at Mason. This empowered the community to connect with the causes that resonated with their own priorities, from academic disciplines to student scholarship, from athletics to the arts.

On the day of the event, Mason’s University Life division was thrilled to announce an exceptional gift. A longtime friend of the university gave $500,000 to support Mason’s Early Identification Program, or EIP, which supports access to higher education for first-generation students.

“This gift is a game-changer,” said Rose Pascarell, MA ’92, vice president for University Life. “One of the university’s goals is to double the number of students served by EIP, and this incredible gift truly sets us on our way.

“EIP has been serving students in the seven school districts surrounding Mason since 1987, and this gift is a recognition of the work we are doing. It’s a real vote of confidence that this donor believes in our students and our efforts to support their success,” Pascarell added.

Participation in Mason Vision Day was particularly strong among Mason alumni, who accounted for 34% of the gifts. Jenn Robinson, JM ’02, associate vice president for alumni relations, was pleased with the way alumni engaged with the event.

“Our alumni are a very special group,” she said. “They show their Patriot Pride from coast to coast, and around the world, and this enthusiastic support is what we see everywhere we have traveled this year with our Mason Nation Tour.”

“It's the engagement that is absolutely vital,” said Bowden. “It’s that coming together that allows us to make a huge difference. Every individual who joined in to give on Mason Vision Day played a role in creating a wave of support that will be felt now and into the future. We are so very grateful.”

2024 Statistics

1678 total donors
509 new donors
188 students and parents
46 states represented
40% alumni donors
30% community partner donors
16% faculty and staff donors
$1.3 million total raised
$115,000 in challenge gifts
228 funds supported
No. 1 Area Supported: Community/Engagement Programs*

_{*Includes the ��AV Alumni Association and alumni chapters, ADVANCE, and EIP programs}

Show your support

CACI Scholars get a head start on success

Colleen Rich — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:25:42 +0000

CACI Scholars get a head start on success Colleen Rich Fri, 04/05/2024 - 15:25

CACI International Inc is once again supporting Mason students through a $200,000 gift to establish the CACI Scholars Program. The program helps selected scholars secure science, technology, engineering, or mathematics-related positions upon graduation.

Mason students participate in a career prep lab with CACI employees. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The company has previously been a generous sponsor of Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) and welcomes many Mason students as interns each year. CACI also employs hundreds of Mason graduates.

The CACI Scholars Program, which kicked off in fall 2023, supports 10 Mason students who are alumni of Mason’s Early Identification Program (EIP) and pursuing degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering. These scholars are identified by EIP in their senior year of high school and are welcomed into a cohort designed to support their long-term academic and career success.

Each CACI Scholar receives an annual scholarship to reduce the cost of tuition and related fees if the full need is not met through the student’s financial aid package or through a Mason Virginia Promise Grant. Scholars also receive a stipend to assist with the cost of at least one career readiness practice, such as attending a conference or completing a certification.

Scholars also work with dedicated success coaches and peer mentors at Mason, who provide tailored support for first-generation student success. Each scholar is also connected with a CACI mentor who can provide firsthand knowledge of the industry and company. The scholars are also eligible for a paid internship experience at CACI.

CACI’s Chief Technology Officer Glenn Kurowski understands the importance of widening the pipeline for skilled technology workers. “Experiential learning is the key to developing passion and engagement around your area of study—and that leads to a highly successful career,” says Kurowski. “I love working with students on their technical learning path and love getting others in our company engaged with the next generation of talent.”

Mason students in particular are well suited to fill that need for talent. “A partnership like this truly complements the students’ educational experience,” says EIP director Khaseem Davis, PhD Education ’23. “Our EIP students have worked hard to get to this point, to enrolling at Mason. This opportunity to work with CACI helps them to imagine what’s possible on the other side of their university experience.”

Jeana Plews, CACI’s vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion, agrees. “We realize that many of these students face obstacles in their pursuit of a college education, and we want to help remove some of these barriers.”

Since 1987, EIP has provided academic enrichment, personal and social development, civic engagement, and leadership training opportunities to middle and high school students who will be the first in their families to attend college. In one of the most successful demonstrations of Mason’s commitment to access, the university partners with seven public school districts in Virginia and works with more than 750 students in grades 8 to 12 and their families, taking a holistic approach to successfully navigate the path to postsecondary education.

Study at the College of Engineering and Computing

Join the Mason Nation

On Mason Vision Day, donors decide

Colleen Rich — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 16:17:21 +0000

On Mason Vision Day, donors decide Colleen Rich Fri, 03/29/2024 - 12:17

��AV is following a philanthropic tradition, designating the first Thursday of April for donors to come together to support the university. On April 4, 2024, Mason Vision Day celebrates the power of making a difference through philanthropy.

This year, each school, college, and unit is urging its community to lean into the programs that reflect Mason’s strategic plan and the interests of donors.

“This is an opportunity for our community members to support what matters most to them at Mason,” said Zavin Smith, BA Integrative Studies ’00, CERB Leadership Studies ’02, MA Telecommunications ’03, director of development, annual giving strategic initiatives. “We want to combine the energy of all of our units and programs on campus and present to our donors a catalog where they can choose the causes that resonate with their own priorities, from athletics to the arts, from science and the humanities to health and law.”

While Mason Vision Day is largely carried out through digital communication and direct mail, Smith said this year’s event is “a hybrid model.” On the Fairfax Campus and at Mason Korea, pop-up kiosks and drop-by experiences offer gratitude stations, giveaways, and social media engagement areas as a visual display of giving throughout the day, and the event includes digital interaction driven by the schools and units.

“Vision Day features challenges and matches throughout the day,” said Smith. “It’s going to be an exciting opportunity for our friends to see their gifts go even farther toward supporting the causes they love.”

Donors may consider making a gift to the fund on Mason Vision Day, April 4, 2024, when friends of ��AV are invited to support the cause at Mason that speaks to them.

Support the Mason Nation

See What Your Support Benefits

George Mason Partners with Local School Systems for Two Lab Schools
December 11, 2024
Stanley and Rosemary Hayes Jones invest $1.4M in George Mason for STEM education and research
December 4, 2024
James Metcalf marks 50+ years of teaching
November 19, 2024
2024 Celebration of Distinction honors alumni leaders
October 15, 2024
Jimmy Hazel, steadfast George Mason alum and friend, looks to the future with a foundational gift
October 7, 2024

This content appears in the Spring 2024 print edition of the Mason Spirit Magazine.

Alumni Association launches book scholarship in honor of esteemed colleague and alumna

Colleen Rich — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:55:38 +0000

Alumni Association launches book scholarship in honor of esteemed colleague and alumna Colleen Rich Fri, 03/29/2024 - 10:55

In summer 2023, the Mason Nation mourned the loss of one of its most steadfast friends. Amy Takayama-Perez, BA Sociology ’96, MEd ’02, worked for many years to welcome students to ��AV—first as a director of recruitment and later as a leader in Mason’s Admissions Office, culminating in her role as dean of admissions, a position she held for nearly eight years.

Amy Takayama-Perez and Rick Perez. Photo provided

In July, she passed away following a two-year battle with triple-negative breast cancer.

"She just loved Mason,” said Rick Perez, Amy's husband. “And she loved the students she was working with.”

Speaking about the early days of Amy’s Mason career, when she arrived as a transfer student from the University of Connecticut, Rick related that her relationship with Mason’s Admissions Office formed quickly. “Talk about getting thrown into the fire!” he recalled. “She knew nobody here, and started working in the office, taking phone calls, as a student worker.”

That position led to Amy’s first job following graduation. “She applied for and was offered a job as what they called a roadrunner.... She would go and recruit on the road, in the fall, up in the Northeast. And so, she really kind of built out the New England space for George Mason,” said Rick. “She was like: I grew up in New Hampshire, I went to the University of Connecticut, I know that area, I can make this work.

“She did such a great job, building that out, she was offered a counselor role and she just sort of kept going,” said Rick.

Mason’s mission of inclusion was one that drove Amy, as well. “Her motto was, ‘Let’s build a bigger table,’” said Rick. “Let’s find a place for first-generation students, for kids who just need to be given an opportunity.” During meetings with family members of students in Mason’s Early Identification Program, Amy would bring Rick, fluent in Spanish, to translate when necessary.

“Amy was a bright light for students and for her colleagues; she never wavered from a commitment to either group’s well-being,” said David Burge, Mason’s vice president for enrollment management. “She was legitimately inspirational in the way she approached her work and made everyone around her better for having known her.”

Amy was also an enthusiastic Mason alum. When their son chose to attend Mason himself, he told Rick: “That’s where our family goes to school. I’ve been going to this place since I was a kid, a literal baby watching basketball games.”

Beyond enjoying Mason basketball, Amy’s dedication to her alma mater took the form of her service as a faithful member of the board of the ��AV Alumni Association (GMUAA). It is in her honor that the GMUAA board has established the Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Student Book Award.

“This is a tribute befitting a double alum who was passionate about all things Mason, a former board member who meant so much to the university,” said Jenn Robinson, JM ‘02, associate vice president of alumni relations and GMUAA executive director.

A book scholarship helps to defray the expenses involved in students’ purchases of books and supplies, which can present a considerable burden each semester. “The goal of the award is to help as many students as possible, just as Amy worked to do in her time at Mason,” added Robinson.

“Amy was an incredible leader and friend,” said Elena Johnson, director of outreach and partnerships in Mason’s Office of Admissions. “She worked diligently to ensure higher education was accessible and available for everyone, and I am so glad that students will benefit from a scholarship in her memory.”

Donations to the Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Student Book Award may be made here. Donors may consider making a gift to the fund on Mason Vision Day, April 4, 2024, when friends of ��AV are invited to support the cause at Mason that speaks to them most compellingly.

Support the Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Student Book Fund

Discover more Alumni Association scholarships

Celebrating 20 years of Mason’s Black Alumni Chapter

Colleen Rich — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 18:15:32 +0000

Celebrating 20 years of Mason’s Black Alumni Chapter Colleen Rich Wed, 02/28/2024 - 13:15

In December, ��AV’s Black Alumni Chapter saluted its history while looking to the future at “A Toast to 20,” a gala celebration of the chapter’s 20th anniversary.

Mason's Black Alumni Chapter members gathered in December 2023 to celebrate 20 years. Photo by Tracey Waters-Taylor

The gathering included seven of the founding members: David C. Atkins, BS ’90; Ailsa Burnett, BS ’93, MA ’96, MPA ’08; Conaway Haskins III, BA ’99; Cynthia Porter Johnson, BA ’93, MS ’02; Jerod Parker, BS ’97; Tennille Smith Parker, BA ’97; and Uche Onwudiwe, BS ’95, MA ‘97, who traveled from Africa to celebrate the event.

“Acknowledging the dedication of past leadership is crucial,” said Chapter President Deion Maith, BA ’20. “Giving them their flowers while we can serves as a powerful motivator to elevate the chapter's growth and impact.”

The evening also included 10 past chapter presidents: in addition to Atkins, Johnson ,and Smith Parker, past presidents Deidra Bailey, BA ’09, MEd ’11; Chantée Christian, BA ’05; Timothy Cotman, BA ’06, MEd ’99; Janae Johnson, BS ’11, MAIS ’15; Melissa Bradby Lewis, BA ’04, MA ’09; Ryan Lowry, BS ’06; and Issac W. K. Thweatt, BM ’05, were also in attendance.

“Having been an extremely involved student at Mason, I was surprised how disconnected I felt from the university as a result of my primary collegiate community being almost invisible as it related to their involvement at Mason,” said Atkins. “So, it became important to me to help bring this community back together to begin creating pride and tradition that would strengthen the connection of Black alumni to the university, but also to each other.”

President Washington, Deion Maith, and David Atkins at the Toast to 20 event, which raised almost $40,000 to support the chapter's endowment. Photo by Tracey Waters-Taylor

Mason President Gregory Washington was on hand to recognize the success of the chapter and commend the gathering.

“Consider this, from 2010 to 2019, enrollment of Black undergraduates declined by 20% nationally. Declined by 20%. In comparison, Mason’s Black first-time undergraduate enrollment increased 73% during that period, placing Mason fourth nationally,” Washington said. “This group, for the support it provides and the supportive environment it helps foster, shares in that success.”

Founded in 2003, the chapter has established the Commitment to Diversity Book Award, championed the first Black Graduation Ceremony, and launched the Forty Under 40 celebration, held every three years to highlight the achievements and contributions of its members. In 2011, they became the first Mason alumni chapter to establish their own chapter-driven endowment.

Through the generosity of sponsors, donors, and pledge gifts, the chapter’s Toast to 20 raised nearly $40,000, making it the most successful fundraising event in chapter history.

Top sponsors and donors included Martin A. Taylor, Thweatt, Lowry, and Sodexo U.S., the company that handles dining and catering on Mason’s Fairfax Campus.

Maith credited Atkins’ leadership for the success of the event. “David has played a major role in the development of the chapter—as a founding member, the longest serving president of the chapter, champion of the chapter’s endowment, and 2017 Black Distinguished Alumni,” said Maith. “I approached David early in my presidency to ask him how we should celebrate the 20th anniversary of the chapter. He immediately saw the vision before we could even put pen to paper.”

“The 20th anniversary celebration allowed for this community to pause and reflect on the impact it has made since its founding and express public gratitude to those who have led this chapter over the years and often worked behind the scenes to ensure our Black alumni find reasons to stay involved with Mason,” Atkins said. “ It was personally rewarding to experience the joy and pride that exuded from alumni at this celebration.”

The loyalty and drive of the entire board contributed to the night’s strong success, Maith added. Because they believe in the vision of the Black Alumni chapter, they have set a firm foundation for the future.

The musical talents of DJ K.E.V. (aka Kevin Holmes, BA ’02, MA ’07) rounded out the evening, as the attendees danced into the chapter’s next 20 years. “I look forward to continuing the very first mission statement of the chapter,” said Maith. “We're everywhere you want to be—connecting, communicating, and educating!’”

The chapter’s next big event is the Black Alumni Weekend, coming on June 7–9, 2024, featuring a happy hour and cookout and offering members a time to reunite, reflect, and celebrate the community post-graduation.

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Patriot Pantry partners with Capital Area Food Bank for food delivery

Colleen Rich — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:28:06 +0000

Patriot Pantry partners with Capital Area Food Bank for food delivery Colleen Rich Thu, 11/30/2023 - 14:28

��AV’s Patriot Pantry, in cooperation with the Capital Area Food Bank, is delivering groceries to food-insecure Mason students and their families.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“We started from a place of understanding that students have a lot of demands being put on their time and on their resources and began with the simple premise that addressing food needs would increase their success rates,” said Sabrina Tadele, director of strategic initiatives at the food bank, a hunger relief organization that works with community partners throughout the Washington, D.C., region.

The food bank delivers shelf-stable groceries and fresh produce to Mason, which, in cooperation with DoorDash, are then delivered to students’ homes within a 15-mile radius of the Fairfax Campus.

“[DoorDash] has been very, very generous with nonprofits, including the whole national network of food banks,” said Tadele.

The Patriot Pantry was the focus of Mason Vision Day 2023, a day of focused philanthropy for the Mason community. Funds raised on Mason Vision Day helped to secure student meal vouchers for on-campus dining, provide gift cards for local grocery stores, and to supply the Patriot Pantry, which is operated by the Student Support and Advocacy Center within University Life.

As part of Mason Vision Day, the food bank matched $30,000 of the funds raised in the form of credits in its online ordering portal, expanding access to a greater variety of foods.

“Food insecurity is often an experience compounded by other forms of basic need insecurity, such as financial instability and unstable transportation,” said Dwayne Hamilton Jr., assistant director for basic needs at Mason’s Student Support and Advocacy Center. “The Home Delivery Program promotes consistent and healthy food intake while addressing financial and transportation barriers that impact access. Confronting these obstacles enables students to devote their full attention to their academics.”

Mason staff fill orders and arrange for food delivery to students. CAFB conducts surveys with students at the beginning and end of each semester to measure the degree of a student’s food insecurity, as well as students’ subjective measures of well-being: physical health, mental health, and ability to focus in class.

Mason will provide academic data with anonymized identifiers, including information on students’ enrollment intensity, time to graduation, and attrition and retention.

“We spent a lot of time with our evaluation specialist designing the surveys the students will receive,” said Tadele. “We have to be able to understand whether [the program] works or not.”

“One of our broader goals with these partnerships is that we want to give students the support they need to finish their programs and then earn living-wage jobs and be able to contribute to our local economy. It’s a cyclical effect,” said Grace Brown, CAFB strategic initiatives manager.

This article originally appeared in University Life's Succeed magazine in a slightly different form.

Make a contribution to the Patriot Pantry

Building a Legacy to Share

Colleen Rich — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 17:22:00 +0000

Building a Legacy to Share Colleen Rich Thu, 06/15/2023 - 13:22

At ��AV, we believe that while talent and passion are distributed equally, opportunity is not. So we look for the talent other institutions miss, and proudly welcome those who are prepared to take on the rigor of pursuing a degree at Virginia’s largest public research university.

We take our role as an institution serving a student body that represents diversity of all kinds seriously, and expanding opportunities for students in financial need is a fundamental part of this mission. Many of our students are the first in their families to pursue a college degree, and they need our support in many ways to be successful.

In fiscal year 2022, the ��AV Foundation was able to offer 1,300 scholarships to students, all made possible by gifts from alumni and friends of Mason.

Scholarship recipient Betzy Balladares Oviedo, an Honors College student majoring in social work, says she’s grateful “not just for financial assistance, but inspiration for excellence…I will do everything in my power to make [the scholarship] count.”

Mason is in the business of guiding students like Balladares Oviedo toward success. However, the university relies on the generosity of donors such as the Kimmy Duong Foundation, which funded Balladares Oviedo’s scholarship, to ensure students have the necessary resources.

As the university moves into its ambitious fundraising campaign, the support of our donors continues to be crucial.

For Trishana E. Bowden, president of the ��AV Foundation and Mason’s vice president for advancement and alumni affairs, that inspiration for excellence that Balladares Oviedo speaks of is a powerful catalyst that can propel a student to make the most of their opportunities.

“The proof of your impact is right here in front of you,” she says. “Any time you have a chance to meet ��AV students in person, to get to know them a little bit and hear their stories, you realize just how great an investment you are making when you donate to scholarships. And it is a wonderful feeling to know that your generosity is truly making a difference in their lives.”

In this feature, we’d like to introduce you to some of those Mason students and graduates.

Bianca Akins. Photo by Ben Powell

Bianca Akins

Computer Science, Kelsie R. Troutman Endowed Scholarship Recipient

College didn’t always look like a possibility for computer science major Bianca Akins. Akins’s mother passed away when she was 11, and family financial hardships made pursuing a college degree challenging. But she persevered.

“With the federal loans and grants, I was able to support my first semester,” Akins says, “but then I got my second semester bill and I started to panic.”

Then she received the Kelsie R. Troutman Endowed Scholarship, one of a number of scholarships supporting students in Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing.

“It was just a huge relief,” she says. “I felt safe knowing that I could go into my next semester of college and not have to worry about my financial situation.”

Growing up, school was always a safe place for Akins. “I always felt comfort in it, and I really loved learning and growing.”

The scholarship offered Akins immediate help with her college expenses, but it also created a more lasting effect: It was a vote of confidence for her, especially as a woman pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“For somebody to see that potential in me and to be able to recognize me and grant me a scholarship, I feel like that's telling me that I can do it,” she says. “It gives me the determination to continue on into the future. I would love to one day be able to help people in the way that I've been helped.”

Jordan Hassani. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Jordan Hassani

Psychology, Dean’s Challenge Scholarship, and 2022 Alumni Chapter Scholar Award Recipient

Honors College student Jordan Hassani, BS Psychology ’23, has been involved in Mason research since arriving on campus his freshman year from his hometown of San Diego, California.

After taking a class on executive function with Mason psychology professor Sabine Doebel, he asked to work in her lab. Since then, he has been a research assistant in the Developing Minds Lab, where the work focuses on executive function and working memory in preschoolers. He recently completed his honors thesis with Doebel as his advisor and received the Outstanding Honors Thesis Award. His peers also voted him Best Honors Researcher.

During his time at Mason, he received a Dean's Challenge Scholarship from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), an award that was established in 2007 to acknowledge exceptional undergraduates who have excelled while making academically challenging choices. More recently, he received the 2022 Alumni Chapter Scholar Award. He says he has also received travel grants from Mason that have enabled him to present his research at conferences.

“College is incredibly expensive, so every bit helps,” says Hassani, who aspires to one day earn a PhD. “And it is nice to be recognized.”

Hassani, who graduated in May, said the travel grants he received from the Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research (OSCAR) were critical in his development as a researcher. It’s a skill he used throughout the spring as he applied to full-time research positions around the country to get some more experience before applying to PhD programs in the extremely competitive field of clinical psychology.

“These awards have enabled me to travel around the United States presenting at four different national conferences,” he says. “I am grateful for what that financial assistance has enabled me to do.”

Stacy Maravi. Photo by Ben Powell

Stacy Maravi

Neuroscience, Pre-Med, University Scholar, and Merten-Womble Scholarship Recipient

One of the first hurdles Honors College student Stacy Maravi had to overcome in her pursuit of a college education was at home. Maravi admits that, in the beginning, her parents were skeptical and didn’t see college as a path.

This is where the Early Identification Program (EIP), Mason’s college preparatory program for first-generation students in partnership with area public school systems, helped this former Fairfax High School student follow her dream of medical school and becoming a neurologist.

“I knew I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to make an impact on the world,” says Maravi. “EIP helped me strive for higher education. [They] gave me a support system and helped me get that push and have that confidence in pursuing college.”

Not only was Maravi able to secure a spot as a University Scholar, a program that provides tuition and fees for high-achieving students, she also received a Merten-Womble Scholarship, which is an endowed award that supplements a University Scholar award by covering room and board.

“Without EIP, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am,” says Maravi. “I hope to pay it forward one day to help a student who is in the same situation to achieve their dreams.”

Colleen Kearney Rich, MFA ’95, contributed to this story.

This story will appear in the Summer 2023 of the Mason Spirit.

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