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George Mason University will welcome new and returning students to the Fairfax Campus during New Student Convocation on Friday, Aug. 20.

This year, two classes will be acknowledged at EagleBank Arena: the incoming Class of 2021 and the returning Class of 2020, whose official on-campus welcome was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more about the newest Patriots

New Student and Family Programs invites your family to join us for Family Weekend 2021 – October 15-17! Online registration is now open and will close on Monday, October 4 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

Family Weekend is an opportunity to come together to connect, have fun, celebrate and make new memories, become familiar with the institution, and spend time with your student, which is why our schedule includes events for people of all ages. Family Weekend features several events that showcase the best of Mason and all it has to offer, including a signature athletic event, faculty spotlights, student performances, area tours, service opportunities, and much more! There will also be opportunities to tune into Family Weekend events from the comfort of your own home if you are unable to come to campus.

PRICING
Family Weekend tickets are $35 for adults (ages 13+); $12 for children (ages 5-12); and FREE for Mason students and children ages 4 and under. Your ticket grants you entry into every on-campus Family Weekend event! View the full schedule of events on our website at MasonFamilyEvents.gmu.edu.

VISITING CAMPUS
If you need hotel accommodations, book now at one of our Marriott partner hotels for a discounted rate. Rooms fill up quickly, so book early if you know you are attending Family Weekend! Visit MasonFamilyEvents.gmu.edu/Where-To-Stay for information on where to stay.

FAMILY OF THE YEAR
Nominate your family for the Dr. Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year Award and be recognized for the crucial role you play in your student’s experience at Mason. There are a few ways to nominate your family!

• Create a presentation or collage (minimum of 5 slides)
• Write a short essay (minimum of 500 words)
• Compose a creative writing (i.e. poetry, speech, play, song, etc.)

The winning family will receive the following:

• A commemorative plaque presented at “Breakfast & Bingo” on Sunday, October 17
• All fees associated with Family Weekend registration will be waived or refunded if already paid in full (up to $250 will be covered)
• $100 gift card to the University Bookstore
• A GMU woven blanket from the University Bookstore
• A featured article on GMU.edu
• A family photoshoot and featured cover photo on the 2022-2023 Family Calendar

We look forward to welcoming and spending time with your Mason Family during Family Weekend! If your family has a question or needs assistance, visit our website at MasonFamilyEvents.gmu.edu, specifically the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) webpage, or reach out to us via email at [email protected], phone at (703) 993-2475, or our live chat at MasonFamily.gmu.edu.

You’re the guests of honor at a party on Friday, August 20, 2021, to celebrate the start of fall semester and mark our return to vibrant, bustling campus life.

Learn more about the Welcome Back Celebration

Dr. Jason Dodge will join the Mason-Nova community as the new Director for ADVANCE on July 26. Dr. Dodge has worked in higher education for over 10 years serving in various leadership capacities that have included building and sustaining curricular and co-curricular programs, leading student services units, overseeing retention initiatives, and cultivating inter-institutional partnerships. Most recently, he served as Director of Student Success on the University of Central Florida (UCF)/Valencia College Downtown Campus. In this role he led a diverse team of student services units whose mission is to serve the needs of all students on a unique integrated campus in downtown Orlando. He also served as Director for Transfer & Transition Services at UCF where he led a department serving approximately 13,000 new transfer students who matriculate to UCF each year. Dr. Dodge graduated with his AA degree from Santa Fe Community College and transferred to the University of Florida where he earned his BA in English, MA in student personnel, and Ph.D. in higher education administration and policy.  

(from Provost’s Newsletter, 07-14-21)

Brenda Leverson, a first-generation college student born in Honduras, is attending George Mason University this fall on a full tuition scholarship through Mason’s Early Identification Program. A graduate of Annandale High School in Northern Virginia, Leverson will enroll in the Honors College and intends to study business administration and accounting.

“I am really happy and proud of myself for working this hard and achieving my goals,” said Leverson, who has worked part-time since she was 15 to help support her family.

Read more about the Early Identification Program

George Mason University on Friday afternoon honored its largest and most diverse graduating class in history with its 54th Spring Commencement.

The virtual event, livestreamed on GMU-TV, featured recorded remarks from First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and was a part of a week of that included well-attended, in-person graduation recognition events for Mason’s schools and colleges.

Read more about Commencement

Isabella Bah, who graduates this month with a degree in accounting and a minor in entrepreneurship, is described as a motivated and determined leader by her mentors at George Mason University.

Bah “is special because she embodies resilience and perseverance,” said Rhina Alvarado, associate director of Mason’s Early Identification Program (EIP), in which Bah, a first-generation student, participated beginning in the eighth grade.

Read more about the Senior of the Year

Aysha Puhl, associate director for George Mason University’s residential student education and engagement, can’t wait to have more students back on campus.

“I miss them so much,” she said.

Puhl, who is May Employee of the Month, works diligently to ensure students have meaningful experiences at Mason. Her coworkers also praise her drive and leadership skills.

Read more about Aysha Puhl