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From no team to Nationals, meet the students who revived George Mason’s quiz bowl team

Katarina Benson — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:23:11 +0000

From no team to Nationals, meet the students who revived George Mason’s quiz bowl team Katarina Benson Thu, 07/09/2026 - 15:23

Answer: This quiz bowl team went from nonexistent to nationally placed over the span of three years. Question: What is 91��?

This year, George Mason’s intercollegiate quiz bowl team debuted on the national stage. Their A-Team won two major tournaments—the first ever won in the university’s quiz bowl history.

Quiz Bowl A-Team members (left to right) Margaret Withers, James Meek, Jeremy Katen, and Matthew Bucek show off their championship plaque for winning the 2026 Happy Hippopotamus Invitational tournament in April. Photo provided

They won the Upper Mid-Atlantic edition of ACF Fall in October 2025, hosted by Rutgers University, and the 2026 Happy Hippopotamus Invitational (HHI) put on by George Washington University.

Then they went on to nationals, placing highly in Division 2 of the National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) Intercollegiate Championship Tournament (ICT), which will allow them the chance to compete for Division 1 next year.

Although 2026 was the third year of this iteration of the club, George Mason had fielded tournament competition teams from the late 1990s to 2016 before the student organization went into hibernation.

That changed when atmospheric science major Matthew Bucek, co-founder of the current quiz bowl team, arrived for his first year at George Mason. He had competed in all four years of high school and was looking forward to continuing in college.

“When I came here and saw that there was no team, I thought my quiz bowl days were over,” Bucek said. “But I learned that my dorm neighbor had competed in high school and wanted to continue too. Since you only need two people to start a club, we brought the team back to life in 2023.”

Co-founders Bucek and Almir Keating struggled to find consistent membership for the first semester, with only three people showing up at the first meeting. Things started to turn around in the fall semester of that year, when recruitment efforts started to pay off.

In that first season, they won less than half of their games: 21 out of 43.

“Our first year, we weren’t very good,” James Meek, a graduate student in social work and current member of the A-Team, said. “It was very informal at the beginning. But then we decided to take more responsibility.”

The team recruited new members, eventually coming to field three teams this year: the A-, B-, and C-level teams, where the best team is reserved for the players who were improving the most or playing the best. Each team officially competes with four players, and 20 George Mason students competed in 2026.

“We changed the culture in terms of study. Matt and I also just got way better, learning the game and knowledge base better, and gaining the ability to anticipate what they're going to ask,” said Meek.

They shifted their study strategy from having everyone try to learn everything and backstop one another, to specializing in different subjects. This year, out of the 60 games they played, they lost only 10.

The group also hosted a tournament for the first time. “We did an intercollegiate ‘Trash’ tournament, which means they ask only pop culture questions,” said Meek.

The team also created their own question sets—an arduous process—and another school is now using those sets in their own tournaments.

In addition to growing in size and skill, the team is forging friendships and study skills that will last lifetimes.

“My goal is getting promoted to B-Team,” said forensic science major Jun Chen, who has competed on the C-Team as a science specialist for two semesters. “I've gotten to bond with a lot of people. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging. Even when we mess up, we get straight back to it.”

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This neuroscience student found her calling and her community at George Mason

Katarina Benson — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:07:19 +0000

This neuroscience student found her calling and her community at George Mason Katarina Benson Thu, 05/07/2026 - 11:07

When Saniya Darediya stepped onto 91��’s Fairfax Campus for Orientation four years ago, she was fresh off the plane from Gujarat, India, and had never been to the United States. She chose George Mason sight-unseen—and then carved out a place for herself.

“I did a ton of research on universities all over the world before I came here,” she said. “George Mason felt like a university that draws a lot of opportunity outside of class. They had a lot of research programs, and I really wanted that hands-on experience.”

Saniya Darediya is this year's student commencement speaker. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Now graduating with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, Darediya, who calls herself a “professional brain nerd,” is this year’s student commencement speaker. The aspiring neurosurgeon and Honors College student will address her fellow graduates and their family members at Spring Commencement in EagleBank Arena.

Darediya views neurosurgery as an extension of her creative passions, which include painting and dance. She credits her artistic pursuits as giving her the skills required to go far in medicine. When working as a medical assistant at a cosmetic and laser dermatology practice, for example, a doctor complimented her on her steady hands.

“I realized that is because when you’re painting, your hand has to be so steady. One wrong stroke of the brush and your painting is ruined. In surgery, one wrong cut of the knife can cost someone their life,” she said. “And with dance, I learned patience and that everything comes with practice. You can't expect to learn a new dance right away. It's the same with medicine.”

During her time at George Mason, Darediya participated in the Research and Interdisciplinary STEM Experiences (RISE) Scholars Program through the College of Science, which gave her an introduction to the research world. She is the recipient of the college’s Outstanding Neuroscience Senior Award (2025-26) and the inaugural Community Leadership Award, which recognizes her impact on the George Mason community and beyond.

Darediya is also a mentor with the Mason Autism Support Initiative (MASI), where she supports fellow George Mason students with autism in navigating the academic, social, and structural transitions of college life. She was honored as Student Mentor of the Year for the academic year 2024-25 for her dedication to supporting and guiding fellow students.

She also interned with the American Chemical Society.

Darediya has many ways of balancing the hard hours of study and work. She reads novels and paints to rest her brain, and dances to release stress. She also threw herself into George Mason’s social scene, joining the Lambda chapter of the Kappa Phi Gamma sorority.

“Some days, if my exams are over and I just want to have fun, I go out with my friends,” she said. “There is so much going on at Mason. We just look at Mason 360 and there’s a new event every day.”

She noted that, when she came to George Mason, there were nearly 400 student organizations—now there are 500. And she helped create one of them. As a first-year student, Darediya was looking for community support for those interested in neuroscience, and all the groups were focused on graduate students. So she created her own, along with two friends. “We wanted a community of people where we can just talk about our journey and our plans, or if we're tired, just come and vent.”

The Neuroscience Club now has 200 students and welcomes anyone curious about the field. They host gatherings that include intellectual seminars about the brain, learning about journals and research, and sometimes just game nights to blow off steam.

After graduation, Darediya plans to continue her journey in medicine, with a focus on integrating research, clinical care, and advocacy to improve patient outcomes and expand access to care.

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New Activities Building creates opportunity for campus community connections

Katarina Benson — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:52:09 +0000

New Activities Building creates opportunity for campus community connections Katarina Benson Wed, 04/22/2026 - 18:52

The new Activities Building on 91��’s Fairfax Campus officially opened its doors on April 16 with a ribbon cutting and community celebration also attended by alumna Charniele Herring, BA Economics ’93, majority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, and members of the Board of Visitors.

Students playing basketball at the opening event. Photo by Emily Campos/University Life

Students and guests enjoyed food, live music, gaming and esports, and recreational activities that showcased the building’s versatility.

George Mason President Gregory Washington spoke about what the building represents. “Students who are involved—who find ways to connect, who plug into campus life—they’re more likely to stay. They’re more likely to succeed. They’re more likely to feel like they belong here. And that matters,” he said. “Belonging does not come from where you sleep. It comes from where you connect. And this building is meant to be one of those places where that connection can happen every day.”

Activities Building ribbon cutting. Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell noted, “When we step back and look at what this building represents, it really comes down to one thing. At the center of all this is engagement: creating space for students to come together and be part of something that matters. And that is what will ultimately shape how students experience their time at George Mason.”

The 25,000-square-foot building features two large multipurpose spaces with collapsible dividers to allow flexible use. There are small, medium, and large conference rooms, all providing event space for Registered Student Organizations, student engagement activities, the Green Machine pep band, and recreation activities. The additional space will host activities such as the Health and Fitness Expo, Career Fair, and IVth Night.

“This effort reflects an extraordinary level of coordination, collaboration, and commitment from teams across the university," said Pam Patterson, associate vice president for University Life. "While this building was designed to bring people together, our work now is to bring that vision fully to life.”

Senior Amanda Leach, an integrative studies major and Green Machine member, said she sees the extra space for student groups as a huge asset. “Having that space just for student groups will make running the groups so much easier,” she said. “It will foster people’s interest in those groups knowing that they have a dedicated space to think of as their own.”

Other students said they appreciated the expanded recreation offerings that the new building can accommodate, as well as additional communal space. “I think it’s great to see the university prioritizing students’ well-being in terms of encouraging us to spend time together outside of class,” said Chloe Chong, a graduate professional assistant with the Office of International Programs and Services. “I think that really benefits us and improves mental health.”

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From Laos to Rome: Mason Korea students take climate solutions global

Katarina Benson — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:46:15 +0000

From Laos to Rome: Mason Korea students take climate solutions global Katarina Benson Thu, 04/09/2026 - 13:46

Last fall, what began as a hands-on learning experience in Southeast Asia became a journey that took five 91�� students to the heart of global food policy—and left a mark along the way.

The Mason Korea Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Builders—Seongjun Park, Jaehee Yang, Hyunseo Lee, Damin Jeong, and Taeyeong Kim—first traveled to Laos for the First Lao National Youth Forum 2025, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Lao PDR and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with a theme of climate-resilient and sustainable food systems.

The trip was the culmination of three months of preparation, including virtual consultations with FAO technical experts and collaborative planning with Lao and Chinese youth teams. Notably, Mason Korea was the only institution from Korea invited to co-develop content and co-lead sessions.

The Mason Korea Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Builders. Photo provided

The student team led a board game session at the forum, connecting with young changemakers from across the region. They also visited local farms, met young farmers and NAFC College students, and experienced organic agriculture firsthand.

But their journey was only beginning.

The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) board game the team had developed and launched in Laos was selected as a best-practice case, earning the students an invitation to present at the FAO World Food Forum 2025 in Rome, Italy. Supported by Mason Korea's Career Development Center, the SDGs Builders traveled onward to FAO Headquarters, one of the world's most prominent gatherings of policymakers, researchers, youth leaders, and innovators working to transform global agrifood systems.

“We developed the CSA board game to make climate-smart agriculture more accessible by translating global policy ideas into a practical learning tool,” said Jaehee Yang, who is majoring in global affairs and is president of the SDGs Builders group. “It was incredibly meaningful to see a project our team started with Lao youth grow into something we could share with the global community at FAO Headquarters in Rome.”

Project participants presenting the “Farm Smart Laos” Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) educational tool kit at the Lao National Youth Forum. Photo by FAO Lao PDR

The game piloted with Lao youth took center stage at the FAO Food Exhibition, where the team presented their Farm Smart Lao Climate-Smart Agriculture tool to delegates from around the world. They hosted interactive sessions, exchanged ideas with FAO experts and global youth organizations, and joined FAO's official youth podcast to discuss climate-resilient food systems.

From village farms in Laos to the floors of a UN agency in Rome, these five students demonstrated that meaningful contributions to the world's most pressing challenges don't have to wait until after graduation.

This year's FAO program is set to take them to Nepal and then Rome.

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Honors College student brews connections with tea talks

Paul Snodgrass — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:28:04 +0000

Honors College student brews connections with tea talks Paul Snodgrass Tue, 03/31/2026 - 18:28

When Jonathan Fang, an Honors College student and a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at 91��, began his internship at the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation (MHCR), he had no idea that he would be facilitating a multi-cultural student dialogue group.

Jonathan Fang. Photo provided

During his internship with MHCR, Fang and his supervisor, Rowda Olad, a mental health and psychosocial support expert and associate director of the MHCR, came upon the idea of developing a series of student-focused conversations on difficult, but relevant topics to students and inviting different cultural and ethnic student groups to participate.

Fang hoped that through these conversations students would learn to challenge their assumptions, appreciate different points of view, and respectfully agree to disagree on sensitive topics in an open and judgement-free space.

Discussion topics are pulled from complex real-life issues facing college students. Past topics have included mental health and well-being, race and ethnicity, political polarization, and interpersonal relationship reconciliation.

The idea for Tea Talk originated with the tradition of Somali tea gatherings called Casiriya, where the communities would gather resolve disputes, and is based on the work Olad performed in Eastern Africa.

Fang continues the Somali tradition by serving traditional Somali tea and sambusas, a pastry similar to a samosas, at every session.

According to Fang, the first Tea Talk mostly consisted of Carter School Ambassadors, but has since grown to include members of the Christian fellowship student group CRU, the African Student Association, the Muslim Student Association, the College Republicans at Mason, and several other organizations. Currently, the discussion series averages a dozen student attendees per event and is preparing for its fifth monthly session.

Fang is pleased with the success of the dialogue series and hopes it will continue to grow. “It’s great to see students willing to step out of their comfort zone, open up in honest conversation with care and understanding, and listen to different or conflicting perspectives," he said.

When asked about the long-term vision for Tea Talk, Fang replied, “We’re looking to deepen and expand its impact both on campus and globally. This includes strengthening university connections and building sustained engagement among students.”

Currently, Fang is participating in a study-abroad trip to the Philippines, where he hopes to explore how to build similar programs and to facilitate the exchange of peacebuilding practices in cross-cultural settings.

For information about upcoming Tea Talk sessions, please visit the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation for dates and times.

More Carter School News

University Scholar combines art and conflict resolution to build bridges
June 1, 2026
The making of a Carter School conflict coach
May 29, 2026
What’s happening at the Center for Peacemaking Practice?
April 30, 2026
Meet the Two Carter Undergraduates Who Presented at the 2026 Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency Conference
April 27, 2026
Honors College student brews connections with tea talks
March 31, 2026

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Honors College student leads with purpose, passion, and a global vision

Katarina Benson — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:04:36 +0000

Honors College student leads with purpose, passion, and a global vision Katarina Benson Wed, 02/25/2026 - 15:04

Honors College student Marisa Parikh embodies the drive, curiosity, and global mindset that define 91�� students. She serves as president of Be the Change, a student-led organization dedicated to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on campus. Under her leadership, the group focuses on raising awareness and inspiring action around the goals that most directly affect George Mason students.

On March 2, Parikh and Be the Change will take part in in a virtual panel “Embrace Healing and Reconciliation in Countries That Suffer from Broken Systems.” Open to students and the public, this student-led conversation explores how restorative justice can help repair harm, rebuild trust, and transform systems affected by deep structural inequities. It also serves as a prelude to the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution’s spring Peace Week.

Marisa Parikh is president of Be the Change. Photo provided

Parikh arrived at George Mason already ahead of the curve, having earned her associate’s degree at the Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, Virginia, while still in high school. Today, she is pursuing a major in public administration at the Schar School of Government and Policy, paired with a minor in conflict resolution and analysis from the Carter School.

Her commitment to meaningful impact took root during an internship with George Mason professor Solon Simmons at the Carter School’s Narrative Transformation Lab. There, she contributed to Little Minds, Strong Values (LMSV), a Rotary International-supported initiative in Sri Lanka that uses music and dance to teach children values like kindness, honesty, and respect. Parikh conducted ripple mapping research to help measure the project’s reach and influence—an experience she describes as transformative.

“Working on Little Minds, Strong Values helped me find my niche,” she said. “The South Asian community is my community and contributing to a project that uplifts children in that region was incredibly fulfilling. My coursework and the LMSV project together were a pivotal moment for me.”

“Marisa was a core member of our lab team, anchoring a ripple effects mapping evaluation in Sri Lanka, a key research site in our Rotary partnership, and representing the Carter School in a national student dialogue on civic engagement at the University of Delaware,” said Simmons.
“She made a substantive contribution to the school in more than one area and was a delight to work with.”   

After her internship, Parikh’s sense of purpose continued to grow. She became involved with Ashiyanaa, a nonprofit supporting South Asian women and children affected by gender-based and domestic violence. Her work with Ashiyanaa led her to join the Collective Organizations of South Asia (COSA), a George Mason student group dedicated to unity and cultural celebration. Through these connections, she helped facilitate a workshop on interpersonal relationship violence within the South Asian community—an effort that blended advocacy, education, and cultural understanding.

Parikh’s love for her heritage also shines through in her creative life. As a member of the COSA dance team, she performs styles from across South Asia and helps shape the team’s digital presence as co–social media coordinator. Though she enjoys the full range of regional dance traditions, Gujarati Garba, a dance form from Gujarat, India, holds a special place in her heart. “It’s where my family is from. I grew up doing it,” she said.

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HackFax x PatriotHacks 2026 entered the Major League with a 72-hour Valentine’s weekend event

tdonnel — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:29:12 +0000

HackFax x PatriotHacks 2026 entered the Major League with a 72-hour Valentine’s weekend event tdonnel Mon, 02/23/2026 - 12:29

Over Valentine’s Day weekend, two of 91��’s tech communities joined forces to host HackFax x PatriotHacks 2026, a collaborative hackathon and capture-the-flag (CTF) competition. Event organizers leaned into the holiday theme, joking that “we fell in love at first sight and became one!” The result was a joint event that brought together more than 500 students from more than 30 colleges and universities for hacking, learning, and community.

Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

In addition to the CTF competition, the three‑day, 72-hour event featured workshops, panels, and networking opportunities with sponsors such as EY, AWS, Microsoft, Peraton, and Red Bull.

And this was the first gathering since PatriotHacks went Major League. PatriotHacks is now designated as a Major League Hacking (MLH) event. MLH, the official student hackathon league supporting collegiate hackathons in the United States, helps empower students to promote innovation, form communities, and teach technical skills.

For some participants, the appeal of the Valentine’s weekend event was the chance to build and learn freely while having fun.

Anuridhi Gupta, an information sciences and technology (IT) major described the CTF challenge as “kind of like a treasure hunt.” She said she valued the industry exposure and took the opportunity to speak with representatives from Amazon and Microsoft.

Aryan Patel emphasized the creative freedom that hackathons offer, saying, “You can make what you want and learn the skills that you’re interested in.”

Senior IT major Alexa Mayer was motivated to attend the hackathon because of the panel on women working in STEM hosted by Microsoft on Saturday. The panel’s emphasis on soft skills and growth mindset broadened her understanding of what success in cybersecurity requires, she said.

Sophomore management and information systems major in the Costello College of Business Lara Miran said hearing of panelists’ journeys helped her imagine new futures for herself in roles such as product or project management.

Cyber security engineering student Marcos Daleney highlighted the career benefits of participating in a hackathon. “It’s a great resume builder,” he said.

By merging two student‑run hackathon communities into one high‑energy, holiday‑themed event, HackFax x PatriotHacks 2026 delivered more than just code and competition. It fostered meaningful connections between students and sponsors.

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Historic victory for George Mason’s Debate Team

sbrown79 — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:22:50 +0000

Historic victory for George Mason’s Debate Team  sbrown79 Thu, 12/04/2025 - 11:22

91��'s Debate Team won the prestigious West Point Sword at the United States Military Academy’s 60th annual National Debate Tournament in West Point, New York.

“This is one of the most iconic awards in college policy debate, and it was the one title George Mason Debate had never won until now,” said Jackie Poapst, director of the Debate Team. “To see our name finally engraved among the champions in the tournament’s 60th year is nothing short of historic. This moment represents six decades of legacy, and the future of excellence at George Mason.”

The victory in October was one of many for the George Mason varsity team this season.

George Mason's Debate Team. Photo provided.

George Mason students competed against teams from Harvard, Cornell, James Madison University, Liberty University, Binghamton University, New York University, the University of Rochester, and Suffolk University.

This year’s tournament topic was labor rights, and the George Mason team had several wins on the tournament leaderboard:

Austin Davis (Communication, sophomore) and Del Gorman (Government and International Politics, sophomore) — 1st Overall Seed, undefeated, Tournament Champions
Ashley Wright (Government and International Politics, junior) and Ben Witkov (Economics, freshman) — 2nd Overall Seed, Tournament Co-Champions
Reet Taxali (Criminology, junior) and Dean Richter (Government and International Politics, senior) — 4th Overall Seed, Elite Eight
Brenda Reyes (Conflict Analysis and Resolution, senior) and Amira Shananier (Computational and Data Science, senior) — 7th Overall Seed, Elite Eight

George Mason debaters also triumphed as individual speakers, winning four of the top five speaker awards, with Davis taking first place.

Students from George Mason's Debate team accepting the West Point Sword. Photo provided.

“I told my coaches last year after losing in the finals that it was ‘Sword or bust’ this season. To win it with Del and to do it for George Mason Debate, it’s a dream realized,” said Davis, who is also a teaching assistant for the writing-intensive course COMM 300 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism.

Other students placing individually were Witkov at 3rd, Gorman at 4th, and Wright at 5th.

Reyes also serves as the team’s social events coordinator.

“We've been going to this tournament every single year, and our director has always been our biggest supporter. I’m so proud of my team's hard work and dedication. It’s an honor to be part of this legacy,” said Reyes, who is in George Mason’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program.

“My partner Amira and I centered our debate on marginalized populations often neglected in labor rights,” said Reyes, who also serves as vice president of George Mason’s Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law and Government Fraternity. “We argued that migrants and undocumented workers are not classified as workers by the [National Labor Relations Act] therefore, do not get access to all labor rights under most generic cases. This makes teams start to question what they can do for migrant laborers who are undocumented, who we believe are the backbone of America.”

One of Reyes’ takeaways from this experience is that as a senior, her time on the team is winding down.

“The moments of working together to achieve our team's goal of earning the West Point Sword will always be a special core debate memory,” said Reyes. “These memories from supporting our George Mason team, no matter the results, are what matter the most.” “We argued that migrants and undocumented workers are not classified as workers by the [National Labor Relations Act]; therefore, they do not get access to all labor rights under most generic cases."

George Mason’s performance was described by tournament officials as “one of the most comprehensive team showings in recent memory.”

“This win means everything to our students,” Poapst said. “They have proven that teamwork, resilience, and belief in each other can quite literally make history.”

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Senior of the Year works to create opportunities for all

Katarina Benson — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:30:10 +0000

Senior of the Year works to create opportunities for all Katarina Benson Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:30

There are few 91�� students as busy as senior Rakibul Alam. A senior majoring in business and concentrating on management and marketing, Alam has become one of the most visible student leaders in the Costello College of Business, where he works as a marketing and communications intern. Recently he was named 2026 Senior of the Year by the university's Alumni Association.

But when you hear Alam talk about his campus experiences, it is surprising to learn that his first week of college was rocky. As a first-generation student commuting to campus from Centreville, Virginia, Alam said wasn’t he sure how he would fit in.

“I remember thinking, I need to get involved if I want to have the best George Mason experience,” Alam said, and that he did.

Within weeks, Alam joined Student Government and soon co-founded the student organization Collective Organization of South Asia. A semester later, he joined another student organization, Mason Consulting Group. As vice president of the Mason Consulting Group, he has worked to ensure that other students have access to experiential learning opportunities.

Alam spoke at the Fuse’s grand celebration in September. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“George Mason has such unique individuals with so much talent,” said Alam, who is also a member of the Honors College. “We need to go out into the community and show what we can do. My goal has been to create those opportunities for others.”

Mason Consulting Group is open to George Mason students of all majors. Alam said about 210 students are registered, but there is a core group of about 70+ who are the most active members.

Under his leadership—he is now president of the group, the Mason Consulting Group has grown into more than just a student organization. Over the past few semesters, the organization has brought in representatives from Northern Virginia companies, such as KPMG, one of the area’s top four accounting firms, to talk to students about careers.

And those connections are paying off. He said seven of the group’s members secured high-profile internships in consulting this past summer, including Alam himself who served as a human resources and change management advisory intern at KPMG.

“That says a lot about the kind of pipeline we’re building,” Alam said. “George Mason students are competing head-to-head with students from Stanford, Cornell, and Harvard—and we’re ending up in the same places.”

That pipeline is expanding beyond the corporate world. Through a formal partnership with the Mason Consulting Group, Fairfax City Economic Development supports experiential learning opportunities for George Mason students who consult with local businesses. Program funding is provided to George Mason, which administers the initiative, ensuring students benefit from real-world experience while businesses gain strategic insights.

“These are the ripple effects,” Alam said. “We’re being recognized not just as students, but as professionals making an impact.”

Rakibul Alam presenting at the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition. Photo by Office of University Branding

Alam himself has a résumé that reflects both ambition and a deep commitment to service. Last year, his summer internship with the U.S. Navy reinforced his interest in government consulting.

“After my Navy internship, I realized how much I wanted to serve the public sector,” he explained. “Administrations change, but the government will always be here. Consulting allows me to use my skills to support the American people.”

That sense of purpose also extends globally. Alam was the recipient of the prestigious Gilman Scholarship, which allowed him to study international development in Morocco in January 2025. He also represented George Mason at a United Nations Cooperatives Youth conference in India, where he worked alongside students from across disciplines, including public health and business.

“It was incredible to see George Mason represented on the world stage,” he says. “These experiences showed me how interconnected business, policy, and global development really are.”

Alam’s drive has earned him recognition closer to home as well. Early in his George Mason career, he won Costello’s Patriot Pitch competition with a social entrepreneurship project. He has since served as a mentor to other entrepreneurs in the annual competition, paying forward the guidance he received from faculty mentors.

“Every opportunity I’ve had, I had to pitch myself for it,” Alam said. “But when I get to the top, I want to throw the rope back down for others. Because there’s always room at the top.”

That mindset—paired with his relentless schedule—has required discipline. Between taking 18 credits, leading a student organization, and juggling multiple internships, Alam relies on strict time management.

“I learned early on that I needed structure,” he said. “I use calendars, I set boundaries, and I make sure to take mental breaks. And I also have mentors—some older, some younger—who keep me grounded.”

In turn, he also mentors undergraduate business students.

Despite his packed calendar, Alam said he finds balance through pickleball, which he plays religiously, and painting, which fills his home with his own watercolor and mixed-media creations. “Sports and arts keep me well-rounded,” he said with a smile.

In Spring 2026, Alam was named the 2026 Senior of the Year, presented by the Alumni Association recognition of the outstanding achievements and contributions to the university and community by a George Mason senior.

"Being named Senior of the Year honors not only my work, but the mentors who believed in me, the peers who built alongside me, and the communities that trusted me to help amplify their voices. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder that one student's commitment can shape the experiences of many," he said. "To me, Senior of the Year means representing the spirit of George Mason: a university defined by possibility, inclusion, and students who refuse to accept limits on what they can create for themselves and for others."

Looking ahead, Alam will remain in Northern Virginia after graduation, contributing to the same business and government ecosystems that shaped his education through a full-time position with KPGM as a consultant.

“Businesses in Northern Virginia should know they don’t need to look far for talent,” he said. “We’re right here, and we’re ready to make an impact.”

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Student group ‘Accessible’ connects global tech with local advocacy

Katarina Benson — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 19:10:40 +0000

Student group ‘Accessible’ connects global tech with local advocacy Katarina Benson Tue, 07/15/2025 - 15:10

This spring, Accessible, a registered student organization (RSO) at 91�� Korea, expanded its mission of promoting inclusive environments across continents.

Yim visits NaviLens in Spain.

Founded in fall 2024 by Eunchong Yim, a junior global affairs major who now serves as its president, Accessible began as a group of six students raising awareness about accessibility and disability advocacy in South Korea. It has since grown into a platform for real-world impact.

In April, Yim traveled to Murcia, Spain, to visit NaviLens—a global leader in assistive technology—and to produce the first Korean-language introduction to the company’s work. NaviLens’ QR code system enables blind and partially sighted individuals to access location-based information, such as potential physical obstacles or physical descriptions of the environment, with their smartphones. Accessible hopes to help introduce this technology into South Korea’s public spaces.

Accessible is uniquely positioned to link global innovation with local needs. This semester, the group began discussions with the Songdo-based National Museum of World Writing Systems—South Korea’s second most visited museum—about a potential collaborative exhibition to enhance accessibility. The connection emerged from course field trips, such as INTS 245 Visual Culture and Society, and was made possible by the enthusiasm of museum staff.

A simulation of using NaviLens.

In a timely coincidence, George Mason also began testing NaviLens codes on the Fairfax Campus, Mason Square in Arlington, and the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas. As a result, Yim was connected with a member of the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community. By sharing updates on events related not only to NaviLens but also to virtual reality games and accessible environments more broadly, Mason Korea and the Virginia-based campuses are exploring opportunities for future collaboration.

Yim will complete a remote internship with the NaviLens team this summer, continuing to bridge student advocacy with practical accessibility solutions.

“I’m excited to learn about the team’s ongoing projects with blind and partially sighted students in America and to gain communication and project management skills,” she said. “Every moment at Mason Korea has become one of my greatest strengths—helping me adapt to new environments and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds.”

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