The Student Success Blog – Student Success Blog

Fall 2024 Scholarship Recipients

Each semester, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Office of Student and Academic Affairs awards scholarships funded through the Development Office by alumni and philanthropists dedicated to student success.

These scholarships help students to offset their expenses at George Mason while also highlighting the remarkable achievements of our applicants and their future potential.

We are proud to recognize our undergraduate and graduate scholarship recipients for fall 2024. Congratulations to all recipients, and thank you to our generous donors for making these awards possible!

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First day of classes 2021. Photo by: Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications/George Mason University

2024 CEHD Student Research Symposium Recap

Over 35 students shared their research at the 2024 College of Education and Human Development Student Research Symposium held on April 25 at Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center. The symposium included three Oral Presentations and 35 Poster Presentations reflecting scholarship at all levels, from undergraduate through doctoral study, and disciplines within the School of Education, the School of Kinesiology, and the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management.

The entirety of the Student Research Symposium (SRS) was intended to introduce students to the process of conducting, submitting, and presenting their research at a professional conference. On behalf on the college, we thank each member of our community who spent their evening learning about and supporting our students’ research!

Faculty support for the 2024 SRS played a pivotal role in its success. By mentoring students through the process, and with some faculty even integrating the submission process into their courses, students reaped the benefits of their professors’ experience as research professionals. Select faculty also volunteered to judge the poster presentations to aid in the professional development of our researchers, and to select award winners.

Thank you to the following faculty who volunteered their time to serve as our 2024 CEHD Student Research Symposium Faculty Judges:

Continue reading for more information on our poster presentation award winners, and to view photos from the evening and the event program featuring a comprehensive list of student participants.

Award Winners

Outstanding Poster Presentations have been awarded in three categories: Outstanding Doctoral Poster Presentation, Outstanding Master’s Poster Presentation, and Outstanding Bachelor’s Poster Presentation. The award winners were chosen based on scores they received by faculty judges, who examined all poster presentations using the following criteria:

- Adherence to presentation format requirements
- Command of information or depth of knowledge on the topic
- Strength and quality of research elements (e.g. problem, methods, conclusion, impact, etc.)
- Presentation organization and flow
- Professional delivery of presentation (e.g. verbal articulation, pace, inflection, etc.)
- Aesthetics of presentation
- Overall presentation

View the 2024 award winners below!

Outstanding Doctoral Poster Presentation

Kelley Wiese

PhD Education, Kinesiology Concentration

Out of 25 doctoral poster presenters, our faculty judges selected Kelley Wiese as the recipient of the Outstanding Doctoral Poster Presentation. Wiese’s presentation, “Objective and Subjective Sleep in Collegiate Dancers,” was founded in research supported by Jatin Ambegaonkar, Shane Caswell, Jena Hansen-Honeycutt, and Joel Martin.

Outstanding Master’s Poster Presentation

Joseph Hahn

MS Kinesiology

Out of 13 master’s degree poster presenters, our faculty judges selected Joseph Hahn as the recipient of the Outstanding Master’s Poster Presentation. Hahn’s presentation, “Association Between Smart Ring Measured Sleep Variables and In-Game Basketball Performance,” was founded in research supported by Margaret Jones.

Outstanding Bachelor’s Poster Presentation

Kayleigh Newman

BS Kinesiology

Our faculty judges selected Kayleigh Newman as the recipient of the Outstanding Bachelor’s Poster Presentation. Newman’s presentation, “Maximal Exercise and Postural Stability: A Comparative Analysis of Fatigue Across Different Modes of Exercise,” was founded in research supported by Joel Martin.

Learn More About #CEHDSRS2024

View the 2024 CEHD Student Research Symposium Program for the full list of student oral and poster presenters, research titles, and faculty collaborators!

View Photos From #CEHDSRS2024

Do you have photos from the event? Use the hashtag #CEHDSRS2024 for your chance to be featured on our official social media channels!

Would you like to be involved in the next Student Research Symposium? The CEHD Office of Student and Academic Affairs sends out a call for submissions in the fall and early spring of each academic year through the CEHD student newsletter. Interested students may submit an abstract and choose a format for their presentations, which will then be reviewed by a committee to determine eligibility. We look forward to seeing you at #CEHDSRS2025!

Meet Our Spring 2024 CEHD Degree Celebration Speakers!

As we eagerly anticipate the Spring 2024 College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Degree Celebration, we are thrilled to introduce the exceptional individuals who have been selected to share their wisdom, passion, and inspiring journeys with this year’s graduating class. Learn more about our Degree Celebration speakers, Gabe Segal and Emma Fleming, below!

Gabe Segal

A Champion of Compassion and Education

Our featured speaker, Gabe Segal, is an alum of the CEHD Education Leadership program who embodies the spirit of service and advocacy in the field of education. His story is one of resilience, empathy, and unwavering dedication to making a difference in the lives of others. In Spring 2020, amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Segal utilized his stimulus check funds to pay off school meal debt at Sleepy Hollow Elementary in Falls Church, VA, where he taught. Motivated by the struggles faced by his students’ families, Segal vowed to alleviate school meal debt wherever his career took him.

In 2023, Segal accepted a position at Herndon Middle School, his childhood community, only to discover staggering amounts of meal debt. Undeterred, he embarked on a mission to raise awareness and support from the community. His tireless efforts garnered local and national attention, including appearances on Live with Kelly & Mark and features in the Washington Post. Through his advocacy and the community’s generosity, Segal raised over $50,000 and counting, transforming the lives of countless students and families.

Today, Segal serves as an educator at Herndon High School, teaching Special Education and Algebra while continuing his advocacy work to address school meal debt on local, state, and federal levels. His commitment to compassion, equity, and student welfare exemplifies the values we uphold in CEHD.

Emma Fleming

Embracing Passion, Igniting Change

Our student speaker, Emma Fleming, epitomizes the transformative power of resilience and self-discovery in the pursuit of one’s calling. Fleming started her undergraduate journey at Mason in a different major, only to realize that her true passion lay within the classroom.

Embracing the vibrant community and unparalleled support of the CEHD Elementary Education program, Fleming flourished, finding her niche and igniting her passion for teaching. Reflecting on her journey, Fleming acknowledges the profound impact of her professors, peers, and mentors, whose unwavering support shaped her into the educator she is today.

As she prepares to graduate, Fleming looks forward to channeling her passion and expertise into her role as a fourth grade teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools. With a vision of creating a classroom where students thrive, feel connected, and become critical thinkers and compassionate community members, Fleming embodies the spirit of excellence and dedication that defines our CEHD graduates.

Join Us in Celebration!

We invite you to join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements and inspiring journeys of Gabe Segal, Emma Fleming, and our Spring 2024 graduating class at the CEHD Degree Celebration on Saturday, May 11, at 10:00 am in the EagleBank Arena.