Category: Post

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 School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management have selected Ryan Mingachos for two honors. He is the recipient of both the John R. Linn Memorial Award for Oustanding Student Athlete and the Charley Casserly Award for Outstanding Student in Sport Management. Congratulations, Ryan!

Q & A with Outstanding Student in Sport Management and Outstanding Student Athlete, Ryan Mingachos:

What academic accomplishment are most proud of?  

I am most proud of receiving the Provost Athletic Scholar Award on two separate occasions.  

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

I was a part of the George Mason Men’s Soccer team and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).  

What are your plans after graduation?  

My plan after graduation is to play soccer professionally then continue as a soccer coach at the collegiate or professional level.  

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

My favorite part of being a CEHD student was working and getting to know all the amazing professors that work in the college.  

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

One piece of advice that I would give for fellow CEHD students is to try and grow a relationship with each of your professors because they will help you and answer any questions you have. I have never had a professor in the College of Education and Human Development program that I didn’t like or refused to give me guidance or help. 

 

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!