Student Success Blog

Pre-Service Teacher Summer 2023 Institute

George Mason University’s ACE-STEM Project Team is excited to host Summer Institute 2023 in June! ACE-STEM stands for “Advancing Content-Integrated Education for English Learners with a STEM Focus,” and is a multi-year grant project funded by the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) in U. S. Department of Education. Starting Fall 2022, our Cohort 1 Teachers from Prince William County Schools began their 5-course studies to earn the Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) as a part of this project and are comprised of content and ESOL teachers from PK-12th Grades.

For ACE-STEM Summer Institute 2023, we are expanding the learning opportunities to pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and educational leaders from our region. Through various presentations and interactive workshops, participants will learn about cutting-edge topics such as content-language integrated STEM education, Translanguaging, ChatGPT, Universal Design for Learning, Media Literacy, Family & Community Engagement, and more! A stipend of $100 per day will be offered.

If you are a Mason student and a PRE-SERVICE teacher, and would like to attend the 2-day event from (6/21-6/22), show your interest by completing the short survey using this link. Please email us at acestem@gmu.edu with any questions you might have.

Feel free to check out our program at our website: ace-stem.cehd.gmu.edu/

Outstanding Student Awards 2023 – School of Education

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.  

Read below to view the complete list of 2023 Outstanding Student Award recipients in the School of Education.


Doctor of Philosophy in Education Award 

Outstanding Dissertation Award 

Headshot of Lauren Biscardi

Lauren Biscardi


Masters and Bachelors Awards


Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning 

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Kirsten Ellen Youngquist

Literacy

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Ashleigh Tanis

Physical Education

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Darlene J. Mojado-Ligan

STEM


Counseling

Headshot of Mariam Ahmed Abdelwahab

Mariam Ahmed Abdelwahab

Clinical Mental Health Counseling 

Teresa Elizabeth Mercedes Padgett

Teresa Elizabeth Mercedes Padgett

School Counseling


Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners

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Heather Lynn Patterson

Undergraduate 

Headshot of Gabriela Briseno-Delbosque

Gabriela Briseno-Delbosque

Graduate

Headshot of Ausra Kauffman

Ausra Kauffman

Graduate


Early Childhood Special Education

Headshot of Neryl Meg Tagle Marquez-Ascher 

Neryl Meg Tagle Marquez-Ascher 


Education Leadership 

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Kate Adams


 Educational Psychology 

Headshot of Haley McKeen

Haley McKeen

Assessment, Evaluation, and Testing

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Carrie E. May

Learning, Cognition, and Motivation

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Hope Elizabeth Bennett

Learning, Cognition, and Motivation

Headshot of Sarah Marie Conley

Sarah Marie Conley

Learning and Decision-Making in Leadership


Elementary Education 

Headshot of Sara Alyssa Switzer

Sara Alyssa Switzer

Undergraduate

Headshot of Anna Rose Welch

Anna Rose Welch

Graduate


John R. Linn Memorial Award for Outstanding Student Athlete 

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Jack Bolz


Learning Technologies 

Headshot of Benjamn James Hardin

Benjamn James Hardin

Learning Design and Technology

Headshot of Heather Shank-Givens

Heather Shank-Givens

Learning Design and Technology


Literacy 

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Megan Cejka Pavelich 


Mathematics Education Leadership 

Headshot of Amanda Lee Guzman

Amanda Lee Guzman

K–8 Math Specialist Program


Secondary Education 

Headshot of Yong-joon Park

Yong-joon Park

Computer Science

Headshot of Michaela Leann Fox

Michaela Leann Fox

English

Headshot of Yoosun Han

Yoosun Han

Mathematics

Headshot of ErinGrace Drake

ErinGrace Drake

Science

Headshot of Kyle I. Nathanson

Kyle I. Nathanson

Social Studies


Special Education 

Headshot of Erika Lynn Hanback

Erika Lynn Hanback

Undergraduate—Adapted Curriculum, K–12

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Emily J. Bankson

Graduate—Adapted  Curriculum Licensure, K–12

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Arielle Damasco Morton

Applied Behavior Analysis

Headshot of Sidney Elcan Birchfield

Sidney Elcan Birchfield

Assistive Technology

Headshot of Alicia Brown

Alicia Brown

Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate

Headshot of Hannah Tori Geller

Hannah Tori Geller

Graduate Blindness and Visual Impairments Licensure, K-12

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Madison Thomas

Undergraduate —General Curriculum, K–12

Headshot of Bryce Andrew Benson

Bryce Andrew Benson

Graduate—General Curriculum Licensure, K–12

Headshot of Brooke Lee Johansen

Brooke Lee Johansen

Graduate

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Diana Carolina Romero Guerrero

Undergraduate


Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Exceptional Learners 

Nicole Catherine Anderson (English as a Second Language) 

Minhei Kang (Foreign Language) 

Krystle Elise Perez (International Elementary) 

Nicole Catherine Anderson

English as a Second Language

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Minhei Kang

Foreign Language

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Krystle Elise Perez

International Elementary


Tony DeGregorio Memorial Award for the Outstanding Student in Health and Physical Education   

Headshot of Dana Jeanjaquet Briosos

Dana Jeanjaquet Briosos


Transformative Teaching 

The Program Award is given in honor of the Transformative Teaching (TT) graduating class of 2023, a learning community made up of critically reflective practitioners whose extensive knowledge, diverse experiences, multiple perspectives and enduring commitments to teaching and learning provide fertile ground for the personal and professional growth of all members of the community. The TT Class of 2023 has weathered unprecedented storms and managed to successfully complete the master’s degree program, in many cases with exceptional effort.

CEHD Students Chosen to Attend the TOP Institute

The 2023 Teachers of Promise (TOP) Institute was held this past weekend, and five CEHD students were nominated to attend this prestigious event. 

The Teachers of Promise (TOP) Institute was established in 2004 to identify and recognize the best prospective teachers from college and university schools of education across Virginia. The Institute is funded by The Teachers of Promise Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Roanoke, Virginia, and is organized by a team of practicing educators. To date, the Institute has honored more than 3,650 Teachers of Promise from more than three dozen institutions of higher education.

CEHD Students in Attendance:

Colleen CookEnglish to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Education (PK–12 Licensure)

Vaishnavi DholakiaSpecial Education 

Dianne McshaneHealth and Physical Education

Yong-joon ParkSecondary Education

Isabel PigottElementary Education

We are so proud of our incredible students, and look forward to seeing the influential work they contribute to the field of education!

Dr. Lillian M. Lowery Scholarship Available Now

The Dr. Lillian M. Lowery Scholarship is an annually awarded national scholarship that was established to support a student pursuing a master’s degree in education who embodies a spirit of commitment to furthering opportunities for all students. The inaugural scholarship is named in honor of the late Dr. Lillian M. Lowery, a passionate teacher and education leader who championed education reform throughout the United States before joining ETS, where she served as Vice President of Student and Teacher Assessments.

Scholarship Award: $15,000

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Any master’s student who:

  • is enrolled in an accredited U.S. graduate program in education during the 2022-2023 academic school year

  • demonstrates leadership abilities and commitment to community service

  • demonstrates financial need

  • is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a valid permanent resident card or passport stamped 1-551

How To Apply:

To apply for the scholarship, you must provide:

  • a one-page statement outlining your financial need

  • the official transcript for your most recently completed academic term; this should include your Fall 2022 grades and cumulative GPA

  • two recommendation letters (one should be from a school advisor)

  • two original essays answering the following questions (maximum of 500 words per question): What is the most pressing issue facing education today, and what should future teachers and education leaders know to address this challenge? Tell us a bit about yourself, your background, why you should be awarded the Dr. Lillian M. Lowery Scholarship and how this scholarship will help you support underserved communities.

Timeline
  • Application Deadline: April 3, 2023
  • Winner Notified: May 15, 2023

For more information, contact ETSScholarships@ets.org

Spring 2023 Career Fairs

Are you interested in learning what career opportunities await you after graduation? Looking to make connections with potential employers in your field? Take a moment to scroll through the several Career Fairs taking place at Mason this Spring, some specifically for CEHD students! 


Spring 2023 Career Fair

Mason’s Spring Career Fair is Wednesday, February 22 & Thursday, February 23, and this is your opportunity to meet with employers, connect with alumni, find opportunities, and plan for the future! More than 200 employers will be taking over the entire lower level of the Johnson Center for two days in search of Mason talent to fill full-time positions, part-time jobs, and internships. To help you get ready, University Career Services is hosting two days of Resume Clinic and a Prepare for the Fair Workshop before the big event. Get all the details here!


2023 Education Recruitment Day

Education Recruitment Day will be in Dewberry Hall at the Johnson Center on Wednesday, March 8. There are already 72 employers planning to be on-campus for the day to connect with CEHD students. If you are interested in teaching, counseling, social work, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, or related fields, do not miss this hiring event from 9:00 – 11:30 am. Mark your calendar and put in your leave request from work that day. Employers will be conducting interviews in the afternoon with jobseekers identified at the fair in the morning, so it is possible to have a job offer by the end of the day!


2023 Career Jam
Career Jam Flyer

Are you a Sports, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM), Kinesiology or Communication student looking for potential career or internship opportunities? Stop by the 2023 Career Jam on Tuesday, March 7 from 3 to 6 pm in Dewberry Hall! This is the perfect occasion to find potential internship and job opportunities with top employers in our industries. This event is designed to help you network, explore opportunities within the field, and get a chance to meet with employers who are looking to hire you. You don’t want to miss it! 

Please use this link to RSVP by February 28 at 5 pm. We hope to see you there! 

This event is in collaboration with the School of Sports, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM), the School of Kinesiology (SOK), the Department of Communication, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts.