George Mason University Alumni Association

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a brave and bold New Year!
Stay warm, stay safe and savor the moments with your loved ones! ❤️

We love hearing how our students are being impacted by GMUAA scholarships!
If you're a student, apply today if you meet the requirements. Applications close on January 1st. 💚💛📚

https://bit.ly/3gwwt2k

Celebrate your alma mater during Homecoming from February 10 - 18, 2023! Register now at https://alumni.gmu.edu/homecoming23 to show your school spirit as we invite you to reminisce and share the experience with your friends and family. 💚💛🏀

Happy “Grinchuation” 🤣
Class dismissed! 💚💛🎉🎓

Graduating is nearly impossible without a strong support system! We’re loving these photos of our new and their families. 😍

Congratulations, Patriots! 💚💛🎉🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓

1. Bryan Sibold, Bachelor of Arts in Communication, ‘22

2. Ashleigh Bhagirat, Master's in Health Administration, '22

3. Ashley Portch, BA in Integrative Studies with a concentration in Social Justice and Human Rights, '22

4. Zamilan Munkhjargal, BS in Information Technology, '22

5. Ryan Robin, BS Information Systems and Operations Management with a Minor in Computer Science, '22 (Student); Frances Robin, Government and Politics, '95 (Parent)

6. Alvaro Linares, Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Psychology Minor, '22

This holiday season, help Mason students with a gift to the Student Food and Housing Insecurity Fund.
Visit https://ssac.gmu.edu/patriot-pantry/donations/ to see how you can support Mason students!

This year's Winter Commencement speaker will be Mason alumnus and UMGC President, Gregory Fowler (MA '95).

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus and will be livestreamed on Mason’s YouTube channel. Tickets are required for guests.

Fowler, who earned a master’s degree in English from Mason in 1995, has served as president of two of the largest universities in the country, Southern New Hampshire University Global Campus and UMGC, formerly known as University of Maryland University College.

Read more about him here: https://www.gmu.edu/news/2022-11/umgc-president-gregory-fowler-address-winter-2022-graduates

The Peter C. Forame Student Leader Scholarship was established by the friends and classmates of First Lieutenant Peter C. Forame after he died in action during the Vietnam War. Mr. Forame was a past president of student government at George Mason University who possessed outstanding academic and leadership skills. His involvement exemplified that of a well-rounded student who balanced the demands of academic life with those of extracurricular activities. The George Mason University Alumni Association endowed the scholarship in 1995 so it could be awarded to deserving student leaders who demonstrate the ability to excel academically and still participate actively in university life.

Applications are still open for the 2023-2024 academic year. Apply today! 💚💛📚

https://bit.ly/3gwwt2k

Call for nominations for the 2023 Celebration of Distinction GMUAA Award recipients! For more than 30 years, the Alumni Association has recognized outstanding alumni, student, and faculty accomplishments with these five unique annual awards. Submit your nomination by Friday, March 10, 2023! 💚💛

https://bit.ly/3hZMnCF

Volunteers are needed for both commencement (Thursday, Dec. 15) and the Patriot Procession (Dec. 13 – 15). For commencement, volunteer duties include helping graduates find their seating areas in the arena, direct faculty and doctoral students to meeting area, assist with lineups. Volunteers for the Patriot Procession will greet and direct graduates and their families as they enter EagleBank Arena, assist as the graduates cross the stage and as they are photographed. Please register to be added to the volunteer list. 💚💛🎓

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e44a5ab2faaf9c61-winter

: Ansari in Space, 2006 💚💛🚀

In 2006, George Mason University alum Anousheh Ansari, BS Computer and Electrical Engineering ’88, captured headlines around the world when she embarked upon an 11-day space expedition to the International Space Station, accomplishing her childhood dream of flying to space. As a result of her mission, she became the first female private space explorer, first astronaut of Iranian descent, first Muslim woman in space, and fourth private explorer to visit space.

She shared her experiences on campus during National Engineers Week 2007 and was Mason’s Winter Graduation speaker in 2012, where she was awarded an honorary doctorate.

She published a memoir, “My Dream of Stars,” to share her life story as inspiration for young women around the world.

Read the full article at https://50th.gmu.edu/news/2022-09/retro-mason-ansari-space-2006

Photo courtesy of Ansari

Today, we want to thank all of our alumni, students, faculty, staff, donors and community members who have given their time, talent and treasure to George Mason University. You are truly appreciated! 💚💛🍂

Graduate student Zakeyah Frazier aims to bridge the gap between educational and mental health needs of college-age students in the university setting. Receiving the John C. and Louise P. Wood Endowed Graduate Scholarship better positions her to reach that goal. 💚💛📚

Scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are open until January 1st. Share this post and/or apply here!

https://bit.ly/3gwwt2k

Mason students! Don't delay submitting your GMUAA scholarship application! We have 7 scholarships this year, including the GMUAA Service Scholarship.
Henok Asgedom was this past year's recipient and receiving it allowed him to better prepare for the MCAT.

Scholarship applications close on January 1, 2023.
Apply here and share this post!
https://alumni.gmu.edu/s/1564/GID2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1564&gid=2&pgid=501

💚💛
Jessica Smith (BA Philosophy and Communication ’14) was recently selected as a Baltimore Community Fellow at Open Society Institute- Baltimore, where she will be the first Lois Blum Feinblatt Mental Health Fellow.

Jessica is a mental health advocate and founder of The Mental Health Emergency Fund, in which she raises funds to give stipends to marginalized community members who need financial access to mental health resources.

She is also a proud Mason Patriot and has been serving the university community since graduating in 2014. Jessica was in the inaugural class of Forty under 40 honorees in 2019, named by the Black Alumni Chapter.

Her 18-month fellowship will help her carry out her project “Mindful Ministries Collective,” in which she will bring mental health resources to faith-based community organizations that serve the youth. Read more here: https://www.osibaltimore.org/fellow/jessica-smith/

Happy Veterans Day to all of the veterans who have served our country. Thank you for your service! 💚💛🇺🇸

The Veterans and the Arts Initiative is hosting two free concerts this week for veterans and service members in honor of Veterans Day!

Tonight the United States Army Band will be performing at 7:30 p.m. at the Hylton Center. On Saturday at 8 p.m., the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra will do a salute to the military, also at the Hylton Center.

Spread the word!

💚💛 Congratulations to alumna Catherine S. Read (BA Government and International Politics ‘84) for being the next Mayor-Elect of the City of Fairfax! 🎉

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Mahfuz Ahmed (BS '93) is the CEO of DISYS, a thriving global IT company, and recently committed to a $250,000 gift to the university to create the College of Engineering and Computing's Dean's Technology Innovation Fund.

The commitment is part of the CEC’s upcoming Day of Giving Campaign on December 8, in which alumni donations to the Dean’s Technology Innovation Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $250,000 by Ahmed so as to double the impact that gift makes to the education of CEC students.

We are so grateful!

Read the full article at https://bit.ly/3G146Uo

In today’s hybrid work environment, which seems to be here to stay, if you work from home (WFH) two or more days a week, you risk being—out of sight, and out of mind for your superiors, coworkers, customers, and other stakeholders.

According to research, a lack of workplace visibility can be career-limiting. The irony is that many WFH employees (and the research) say they are more productive. This would seem to lead to promotions; however, it isn’t necessarily the case. Join Mason MBA alum Annette Y. Harris ('97) for a lively discussion about ways to make certain you are seen and heard in a hybrid work environment.

Register here https://bit.ly/3U6u4JT

Snap it up! No matter how good you look, selfies don't seem to cut it in the professional world. Join us for a Headshot Happy Hour, a fun event focused on strengthening your online professional profile.

Sign up to get your headshots here: https://bit.ly/3U6u4JT 💚💛📸

With TimelyCare, Mason students will have access to a multitude of virtual health and well-being resources that are free and available 24/7, including:

-TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand emotional support to talk about anything, including anxiety, relationships, depression, and school-related stressors.

- Scheduled Counseling: Choose the day, time, and mental health provider that best works for you.

-Health Coaching: Develop healthy lifestyle behaviors, including nutrition, sleep habits, time management, and mindfulness.

- Psychiatry: Appointments are available through referrals.

-Self-Care Content: Visit the “Explore” page within TimelyCare for guided self-care content, including yoga and meditation sessions, as well as group conversations with our providers on a variety of health and well-being topics.

Find out more about the resources available online at https://timelycare.com/gmu 💚💛🧠

Career and Professional Development Week is Nov 7th-11th 💚💛💼

Swipe to see a preview of some of our amazing virtual sessions!

Also, on Friday, November 11, we'll have a photographer available to take your headshot if you come to campus. Don't miss out!

Register for as many events as your schedule permits by visiting https://bit.ly/3U6u4JT

THIS SATURDAY is the 3rd annual Mason Nation Thriving Together 5k! Don’t miss your chance to lace up your sneakers and bring your family and friends (and pets!) to the Fairfax Campus to run/walk in support of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Fund. Registration is $35 ($15 for students) and includes a t-shirt. Sign up and learn more at https://mason5k.gmu.edu/.

We had a fantastic time celebrating our Distinguished Alumni, Faculty and Students at last week’s Celebration of Distinction. We couldn’t be more proud of the turnout! 💚💛🏆

Head over to our Instagram account at https://instagram.com/masonalumni to watch the full event! 🎥

Want to know 7 reasons why you should give to Mason Korea? View this thread to see why!

We're in the final hours of our Season of Giving Day. Let's finish strong and support our students. We can make a difference because Together, we are Mason.

https://bit.ly/3MImq5Q

For over 30 years, the Alumni Association has celebrated the achievements of Mason alumni at the annual Celebration of Distinction awards program. Supporting this event enables our alumni to be seen, recognized and celebrated for their important work in their respective fields. Register for tomorrow’s event or make a gift today!

https://bit.ly/3MImq5Q

Dunni Oni created an organization catered to Black pre-law students and plans on using her knowledge, skills and expertise at Mason to contribute to the legal field. Your giving supports students like her! Give today!
https://bit.ly/3MImq5Q

The gifts made as part of Career and Professional Development Week benefit the Career Readiness Fund, which supports the Scholarship for Unpaid Internships. Make a gift today!

https://bit.ly/3MImq5Q

Have you heard about Patriot Alumni Liaisons (PALs)? This newly launched program fosters networking relationships between students, alumni and donors and educates students on the importance of philanthropy. Becoming an alumni sponsor means you can support a student’s membership today!

https://bit.ly/3MImq5Q

Former student-athlete Marika Korpinen needed hope after having to retire from basketball early due to an injury. Winning the scholarship helped her stay on track with her goals. Your giving provides hope in ways you'd never know! Give today.

https://bit.ly/3MImq5Q

Today is the Alumni Association's Season of Giving Day! Throughout the day we'll feature testimonials of previous scholarship recipients, and we will highlight some of our great alumni events and programming. Your gift makes a tremendous impact on our students.

Visit https://bit.ly/3MImq5Q to make your gift now.

Registration is NOW OPEN for the 3rd annual Mason Nation Thriving Together 5k! Lace up your sneakers and bring your family and friends (and pets!) to the Fairfax Campus to run/walk in support of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Fund. Registration is $35 and includes a t-shirt. Sign up and learn more at https://mason5k.gmu.edu/.