Month: May 2020

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in the Elementary Education program have selected Denisa Linte as their Outstanding Student in Elementary Education. Congratulations, Denisa!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Elementary Education, Denisa Linte:

What academic accomplishment are you most proud of? 

Part of Mason’s Elementary Education program provides students the opportunity to work at FCPS schools with incredible mentor teachers. These experiences are what I am most proud of since they have all helped me grow tremendously as an educator. 

 

What are your plans after graduation?  

Starting this Fall, I will be teaching at an elementary school for Fairfax County Public Schools. I cannot wait to apply all that I have learned and I’m ecstatic to have my own class!  

 

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student? 

Being able to work, collaborate, and learn from my professors and peers. I cannot express my gratitude to these individuals enough as they have made every class memorable and impactful.  

 

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students? 

Take the time to build genuine relationships with peers and professors. These relationships allowed me to feel comfortable stepping out of my comfort zone, giving me the opportunity to grow as a learner. These personal connections made my experience as a graduate student so meaningful.   

 

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself? 

I would really like to thank my professors and peers for giving me an irreplaceable academic experience.  

 

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in the Mathematics Education Leadership program have selected Christie Graf as their Outstanding Student in Mathematics Education Leadership (K-8 Math Specialist Program). Congratulations, Christie!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Mathematics Education Leadership, Christie Graf:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of?  

I am most proud of the professional development sessions I have created and implemented during the program.  

What are your plans after graduation?  

My plans are to continue teaching math and to take on more leadership roles and opportunities within my school.  

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student?  

My favorite part of being a CEHD student is being able to collaborate and work with my classmates. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to work alongside and learn so much from other amazing educators.  

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students (especially those that are not graduating yet)?   

My advice would be to find a support system among your classmates. I would not have been able to do so well and learn so much in this program without my classmates. Be willing to help others and seek help when you need it.  

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?  

I am the math department chair and math teacher at Manassas Park High School.  

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in the Literacy program have selected Caroline Sauer as their Outstanding Student in Literacy. Congratulations, Caroline!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Literacy, Caroline Sauer:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of?  

I have been working in elementary schools since 2013 and I was a classroom teacher in New York City schools for five of those years. After graduation from this program, I will have earned two Master’s Degrees in Education.  

What are your plans after graduation?  

I plan on becoming a Reading Specialist within Fairfax County Public schools. 

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student?  

I loved the variety of experiences that my program required of me. I was able to truly practice adapting literacy instruction to students at the primary and secondary levels. We had to interview and assess students to determine their literacy needs and many of the students we worked with had a variety of backgrounds and cultures. It was a very challenging but ultimately extremely rewarding experience and I feel like a much stronger reading instructor as a result. Additionally, the professors are fantastic and have such a wealth of knowledge! 

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students (especially those that are not graduating yet)? 

 My advice is to stay on top of assignment requirements. Ask your professors lots of questions. The rubric is your friend!  

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?  

During my time in this program, I was pregnant with and had my sweet baby boy Marshall at the beginning of the Fall 2019 semester. It has been a new challenge to balance school work, full time teaching and new motherhood simultaneously!  

 

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in Tourism and events Management have selected Natalie Williams as their Outstanding Student  in  Tourism and Events Management. Congratulations, Natalie!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Tourism and Events Management, Natalie Williams:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of? 

The academic accomplishment I am most proud of is the research paper I wrote for my research methods class. The subject was on how generations differ in their tourism habits and I found the process very interesting and satisfying. 

What organizations/affiliations have you been involved with while at Mason? 

I have been very involved with the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) at Mason. CCM has offered me a home and a family of people who share my faith and values. It has helped me to grow as a person by teaching me leadership skills, the value of true friendship, and how to live out my faith in everyday life. 

What are your plans after graduation? 

My plans after graduation are to continue working at my current job as an Admissions Assistant at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School. 

What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student? 

My favorite part of being a CEHD student is being able to do two internships. Both internships really helped me figure out what kind of career I want to have and taught me a lot about the industry. 

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students (especially those that are not graduating yet)?  

My advice for fellow CEHD students is to talk to your professors. They’re here to help us and they’re very good at their jobs! 

Each year, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner. Students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.

This year, faculty in Health and Physical Education have selected Martin Brown as the recipient of the Tony DeGregorio Memorial Award for Outstanding Student Health and Physical Education. Congratulations, Martin!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Health and Physical Education, Martin Brown:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of?  

I’m most proud of my student teaching experience at the elementary level. Due to the education received throughout my coursework in the Health & PE program at GMU, I was able to create and teach developmentally appropriate lessons that were challenging, yet fun, and successfully aligned with the standards.  

What organizations/affiliations have you been involved with while at Mason?  

Shape America, VAHPERD, GMU Men’s Tennis (2006-2008)  

What are your plans after graduation?  

My plan after graduation is to land a job teaching health & PE in Fauquier County. 

 What is your favorite memory in CEHD or your favorite part of being a CEHD student?  

I have many enjoyable memories during my experience in the CEHD program at GMU. Student teaching and other fieldwork experience are definitely the most rewarding because of the direct interaction with the students. During my coursework, Mr. D was absolutely the most influential and positive mentor I’ve ever had, not just in higher education, but in life. Among many other things, he reinforced the importance of connecting with your students, believing in yourself and them, never giving up, and using fun as the vessel for learning…. “need a demonstration?”  

What advice do you have for fellow CEHD students (especially those that are not graduating yet)? 
My advice to current and future CEHD students is to reflect on the “why” everyday during your studies. Why are you passionate about this field? Why are you creating specific lessons and why are those lessons important to you and your students? Why are you going to be successful in your field? The answers to these questions and your other “whys” are going to be your fuel for motivation. You CAN and WILL do it!  

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?  

I’d like to express my gratitude for my friends, family, loved ones, colleagues, and faculty that have helped me on this journey. Dr. Banville- for pushing me to meet the highest level of expectation.  
Ms. Norden– for creating a safe and encouraging learning environment.  
Risto– for bringing new energy to our program.  
Coach Jones- for demonstrating the power of confidence and resources.  
Mr. & Mrs. D- for believing in your students and revealing the true meaning of being a quality educator.

Much love! -Martin