Students

OSCAR is marking its 10th anniversary this spring as part of its Spring Celebration of Student Scholarship, a virtual event, May 4-7.

Illegal goods can have deadly consequences. Whether it’s a counterfeit face mask that doesn’t provide a frontline worker adequate protection from COVID-19, or a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl (a synthetic painkiller 50-100 times more potent than morphine), millions of lives can be at risk.

A multidisciplinary team of researchers and students at George Mason University is working to stop such criminal activity. Thanks to a nearly $650,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)—and a $16,000 grant supplement awarded to two undergraduates on the team—they will be investigating how to disrupt illicit supply chains, influence policy, and ultimately save lives.

Last August, George Mason University faculty and students participated in a series of virtual simulations of school shooter incidents as part of an effort to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and MITRE Corp. determine best practices for school safety.

This spring, Mason senior Elizabeth Cheang landed an internship that provided her with a unique opportunity to research COVID-19 cases and use public data sets to discover virus hot spots in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Since he was old enough to drive, Anees Mokhiber would freestyle in his car. The George Mason University double alumnus has since transformed the hobby he describes as therapeutic into a career, with his car being his mobile recording studio.

On April 10, during an Instagram live from his Ford Focus, the up-and-coming rapper sang his latest single “Slip,” and was caught by surprise when Justin Bieber joined the livestream to jam along. The Grammy-winning pop star gave major compliments on Mokhiber’s musical talent in front of audience of more than 60,000 people.

Playing football for University of Notre Dame was something Steve Elmer said he could only dream of when he was younger. His talent combined with a scholarship had him playing on the field with a golden helmet as freshman. He became one of the team’s most experienced offensive linemen, having 30 starts to his name.

Mason cadets fly to Marine Corps Base Quantico to complete a simulated military mission.

George Mason University is offering two COVID-19 vaccination clinics this week for students on Wednesday, April 21 and Friday, April 23.

Nine Mason teams are participating in PitchFest, the TiE DC chapter’s region-wide pitch competition for university students.