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On December 1st in Dewberry Hall, an impressive selection of Honors College students presented the research they have been working on throughout the semester at the annual Winter Exhibition. Spanning a variety of disciplines, students proudly highlighted the results of their analysis to fellow students, Honors College faculty and staff, and supportive community members.
The Winter Exhibition aims to highlight the diverse array of disciplines and topics that Honors College students explore, from the humanities to the sciences. The exhibition is a testament to George Mason’s commitment to nurturing the intellectual curiosity and scholarly pursuits of its students.
Walking through Dewberry Hall, students and faculty are surrounded by colorful posters and energetic students who are eager to display their findings. Rylee Nguyen, who presented research on the rise of K-pop group New Jeans, said that “because K-pop is still growing, I had to really focus on the industry itself, how companies present their idols, and how Korean media has been popularized in the West.”
Shareen Rais, who discussed amending mental health issues caused by law enforcement and how it could decrease incarceration noted that “promoting a community event to have individuals find out about the resources that are available to them could really help to decrease the incarceration and death rates within the criminal justice system.”
Beyond the presentations and posters, the Winter Exhibition serves as a forum for students to connect with like-minded peers and faculty mentors. The event encourages networking, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, creating a vibrant community of scholars within the Honors College. Students noted that the availability and help from professors and peer mentors contributed vastly to their research success.
Out of the many insightful presentations, two stood out to the judges. Presented with the Community Choice Award, Nivia Timlick and Deema Osman displayed a comprehensive analysis of their topic and passionately discussed the implications of their research.
Timlick, who presented her research on creativity with artificial intelligence and art authorship said, “I want to do further research on how artificial intelligence economically impacts people who are professional artists, as in their salaries and livelihood, and their inclination to create more art knowing that AI has a competitive edge against them.”
Osman, who researched vaccine hesitancy amongst African Americans, noted that, “by winning this award I’d like to move forward with my research and continue it over my next three years at Mason and to hopefully find a solution to increase vaccination rates within the African American community.”
The Alumni Choice Award was also presented to a distinguished group of students. Jannah Elyazgi, Epsilonian Tungul, Jaye Conn, Trinity Key, and Rahma Tarfa were awarded for their collaborative research with Honors College Consults in partnership with the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Dot Tieszen was also awarded and presented research regarding designing the future of higher education. Ajwa Abbasi, Aron Asgedom, Eyosyas Damte, Reva Hirave, and Julianne Kamagate were awarded for their in-depth research for Honors College Connects in collaboration with the Creative and Performing Arts Center (CAPAC).
The Honors College expresses gratitude to Dr. Woolsey, Dr. Makhlouf, Dr. West and the Lead and Peer Mentors for making the Winter Exhibition possible.
The Honors College Winter Exhibition is a celebration of academic inquiry, collaboration, and the pursuit of knowledge. It provides a platform for students to highlight their research, connect with alumni, external partners, and donors, and contribute to a vibrant intellectual community.