Honors College

Computer science major Shruti Sekar was this year's Winter Commencement student speaker. These are the remarks she gave at the ceremony.

From being an orientation leader to working as an environmental field interpreter for school programs, Jason Mercado made the most of his time at Mason by building up the campus community.

Culminating its second of three years in residence at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University, Silkroad Ensemble engaged with George Mason University’s campus, as well as the local Fairfax community, as Mason Artist-in-Residence in conjunction with its November 5 performance of the world-premiere program American Railroad.

Honors College held a poster workshop for HNRS 110 students, featuring games, activities, and a costume party for academic and social engagement.

Honors College Connects hosted its third Nonprofit Hackathon on October 21, fostering teamwork and creativity among students to solve community challenges. The event, in partnership with local nonprofits, promoted a human-centered design approach, with students working in groups to develop solutions. The day also included mentor participation, brainstorming, and networking opportunities, emphasizing collaboration and community engagement.

Tahmina Rahman from George Mason University’s Honors College hosted an information session for students interested in joining. The Honors College offers benefits like waiving certain Mason Core requirements for a more tailored academic experience. Students need to evaluate how many Honors courses they can be exempt from based on their Mason Core courses. The college emphasizes community, support, and offers opportunities for networking, internships, and connecting with alumni. Students receive dual advising from the Honors College and their major, and there’s a dedicated student success team. Admission requires a 3.5 GPA and completion of 24 credits at the university. Scholarships are available for Honors College students. The college provides an opportunity for academic excellence and comprehensive support.

HNRS 360 The Silkroad and the Railroad is the kind of course that could only happen at Mason. With artists-in-residence Silkroad Ensemble as partners, 25 Honors College students from 17 majors are exploring cultures and histories, music and narratives, impacts and legacies of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Returning for their second of three years as a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Silkroad Ensemble and Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens present the world premiere of American Railroad, an initiative that maps American music through the various communities involved in building the late-1800s Transcontinental Railroad and its connecting railways. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Silkroad artists will also work with the community through classes and workshops surrounding the performance, which are detailed within.

The annual Campus Legends and Lore Walking Tour takes the Mason community on a spooky stroll around Fairfax Campus with an educational twist.

On the sixth episode of Our Future, Transformed, Hakeem Oluseyi, astrophysicist and research professor at George Mason University, speaks with Mason President Gregory Washington about how the race to exploit cosmic resources has geopolitical implications and why we had to start from scratch in our attempt to return to the Moon.