Scholarships: Making a Difference

By Denise St. Ours and Ashley Carroll

Alumni support has enabled Mason to offer deserving students a wide variety of scholarships, helping to advance academic excellence and enrich lives. Scholarship support is at the core of the university’s mission and the prime focus of The Campaign for Mason Students, a targeted initiative launched last year that is building on the success of The Campaign for George Mason University.

Among the hundreds of scholarships that have received private funding over the years are three endowed scholarships presented annually by the Alumni Association at its Celebration of Distinction dinner (see page 10). They are the Peter C. Forame Student Leader Scholarship, the John C. Wood Scholarship, and the John C. and Louise P. Wood Graduate Scholarship.

How have these scholarships prepared students to succeed in both the workplace and their lives? The following are excerpts from recent conversations with past recipients.

Dream Come True . . . 

“Wherever I end up, I will never forget the years I spent at Mason and the honor of receiving this scholarship award that made my college years so memorable. It was such an important contribution to my education.”

 —Jeanine Talley, BA Integrative Studies ’04
Peter C. Forame Scholarship recipient

The Forame Scholarship was established in memory of Peter C. Forame, BA Chemistry ’69, who died in action during the Vietnam War. While at Mason, Forame served as president of the student body and excelled academically, earning the respect and friendship of his classmates.

Talley was awarded the Forame Scholarship because she, too, excelled in the classroom and in life as a student leader. She used her leadership skills as chair of the Dialogue Committee for the University Dispute Resolution Project to provide a voice for the concerns and questions of one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation. Today, her passion   for social justice is taking her halfway around the world to Sierra Leone to work as an intern for social activist Zainab Bangura on issues relating to human rights and government accountability.

“When I was invited to Sierra Leone, I was ecstatic,” says Talley. “The opportunity to work with such a well-known international activist is a dream come true. Because scholarship support allowed me to graduate from Mason with very little school debt, I could afford to find a job that was more personally fulfilling.”

Talley hopes the connections she makes in Sierra Leone will allow her to continue working in social activism and, eventually, pursue a professional degree in international law or conflict analysis and resolution.

Overcome Obstacles . . . 

“In addition to providing much-needed financial assistance, I think receiving this scholarship showed the community that people can overcome obstacles in their lives. And for that I will always be grateful.”

—Juan Pacheco, nursing major
John C. Wood Scholarship recipient

The Wood Scholarship was named for John C. Wood, who overcame the challenge of being blind to be elected mayor of the City of Fairfax in 1952 and become the first rector of Mason’s Board of Visitors in 1972. Wood, who died in 1994, was a major force in the development of the university and involved in the push to acquire the land for both the Fairfax and Arlington Campuses.

Pacheco, an immigrant from El Salvador, knows all about life’s challenges. Once a member of a gang, he rejected its lure after the murder of a good friend and chose to better his life through education. As a recipient of the Wood Scholarship, he demonstrated the ability to overcome obstacles in pursuit of academic achievement despite financial barriers. Now, Pacheco works to prevent disadvantaged children from falling into the trap of gang life, drug abuse, and violence. Through his full-time job with Barrios Unidos, he helps children build the skills necessary for success in education and their personal lives.

Pacheco has ambitious plans beyond graduating in nursing. “I have so many goals. I want to continue my work with Barrios Unidos, but I would also like to become a doctor and eventually get my master’s in public health. I also plan to travel around the world to advocate for people who do not have all the beautiful things we have in America.”

Always Move Forward . . .

“After pursuing higher education on a part-time basis for almost 11 years, receiving this scholarship gave me a sense of validation. I was so honored and so grateful that others thought what I was working toward was important.”

—Cin Bickel, BA Communication ’99 and MA Communication ’03
John C. and Louise P. Wood Graduate Scholarship recipient

The John C. and Louise P. Wood Graduate Scholarship was established in memory of Wood and his wife in recognition of their contributions to the university and the community. The scholarship is awarded to a graduate student who has demonstrated unusual motivation and ability in pursuit of an education. After listening to Bickel talk about her desire to spend her lifetime “always learning,” it is easy to understand why she received this award.

Bickel, who dropped out of high school in the 10th grade, earned a high school equivalency diploma after almost 25 years in the workforce. She went on to receive an associate’s degree from Northern Virginia Community College prior to enrolling in Mason in 1995. When selected for this scholarship, Bickel says she appreciated the financial assistance to pursue a graduate degree, but the encouragement it provided was equally important.

While at Mason, Bickel discovered a love for teaching and sharing her knowledge and experiences with others. After graduating, she returned to Northern Virginia Community College—but this time as a part-time communications instructor. She is currently taking more courses at Mason to advance her career in academia. What does she plan to do in the future? “Always move forward.”