Admissions

Meet the alum who probably made your George �鶹��Ƶ shirt

Katarina Benson — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:50:38 +0000

Meet the alum who probably made your George �鶹��Ƶ shirt Katarina Benson Fri, 07/18/2025 - 14:50

If you were given �鶹��Ƶ branded gear of any sort since 2006—from hoodies and tees to Hawaiian shirts and bucket hats—chances are good that Mike Ickowitz, BA Communication ’03, had something to do with creating it.

The 2003 alum was destined to market his alma mater. That destiny began early, when he was a freshman and recruited to work in the Admissions Office as a tour guide.

His fate as a Patriot salesman was cemented when, challenged to show his ability to generate school spirit during sports events, he donned a fuzzy green costume to become the lovable mascot known as Gunston (later replaced by the familiar Patriot).

Now Ickowitz is a custom merchandise merchant with a 3,000-square-foot manufacturing complex in his native Knoxville, Tennessee, and a client list with universities, businesses, and governments around the world. He is founder, with his wife, Tanya, of Patdome Promotions.

Mike and Tanya Ickowitz with Patdome George �鶹��Ƶ gear. Photo provided

The couple met in the Admissions Office while working to introduce prospective students to George �鶹��Ƶ. Ickowitz’s Patriot roots run deep. Even the name of the company is a nod to George �鶹��Ƶ: It’s a comic abbreviation of the former name of EagleBank Arena—the Patriot Center, where Ickowitz worked as a student.

“I worked in the parking lot,” he said. “It’s the greatest position from a student’s perspective. I worked before and after events, and in between I saw just about every show.”

Patdome Promotions began as a side hustle for the couple. In 2006, when George �鶹��Ƶ was making a run at the [NCAA men’s basketball] Final Four, the only place in the world to get a [NCAA] shirt was the bookstore, he said. “And they were sold out because of the demand.”

In fact, after knocking off No. 1 seed UConn in overtime in the Elite Eight game, the line to the bookstore was a mile long, he said. “It snaked out the back of the Johnson Center, around the pond, and around Patriot Circle for a shirt that was sold out.”

So Ickowitz created GMUGear, a dot com that became the university’s first e-commerce site. “If you didn’t live in Northern Virginia and wanted a shirt, GMUGear was just about the only place to get one,” he said.

While the Ickowitzes were reasonably profit motivated, he priced the merchandise “so that the average fan could get George �鶹��Ƶ memorabilia at an accessible price,” he said, adding that he always intended to spread the George �鶹��Ƶ brand focused on the fan while building a business. It’s a philosophy, he said, that still drives the business nearly 20 years later.

Ickowitz finds deeper meaning in his work than selling giveaway swag.

“I want our product to be on your shelf,” he said. “I want people to ask you about it. I want you to love it so much that you have it 20 years later. It’s the tangible part of the �鶹��Ƶ spirit.”

He’s particularly proud of the reach of Patdome into the �鶹��Ƶ Nation. “From the drawstring bag that a student receives on a tour to the graduation stole they wear four years later, and lots of branded giveaways in between, Patdome is a proud silent partner of George �鶹��Ƶ, working with incredibly talented professionals on campus who maintain the �鶹��Ƶ spirit from admission to graduation and beyond.”

Ickowitz is an example of a student who made the most of his college career. A brief television appearance as Gunston led to an offer to substitute during public appearances for the departing actor who was G-Wiz for the NBA Washington Wizards and Slapshot for the NHL Washington Capitals. “And I was the full-time mascot for the [WNBA] Washington Mystics in their first season,” he added. “All because I was Gunston.”

Now the Ickowitzes are a two-generation George �鶹��Ƶ family. The couple’s daughter, Rachel, is a University Scholar in the Honors College and a rising junior. She was recently named the 2025 Outstanding Sociology Undergraduate Student at George �鶹��Ƶ.

“We’re very proud of her,” her father said.

Mike Ickowitz and Patdome Promotions will present an educational seminar for university staff on branded products Thursday, July 31, at the Johnson Center Bistro; session one runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; session two runs from 1-2:30 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is required at this site.

�鶹��Ƶ Alumni

Topics

Alumni

Admissions

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

George �鶹��Ƶ Honors College

Jenny Chism is the July Employee of the Month

Katarina Benson — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:04:55 +0000

Jenny Chism is the July Employee of the Month Katarina Benson Wed, 06/25/2025 - 16:04

Jennifer (Jenny) Chism, assistant dean of Admissions, has been an integral part of �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of Admissions since 2021. She recently led the charge for the Office of Admissions to adopt new and better technology, which has greatly improved both George �鶹��Ƶ’s application process and the office’s efficiency. For her leadership, she is being recognized as the July Employee of the Month.

July Employee of the Month Jenny Chism with President Gregory Washington. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

In their nomination letters, her colleagues emphasized her hard work, dedication, and positive attitude, despite her heavy workload.

“From the moment Jenny arrived, her commitment to enhancing and improving the applicant experience through the application process has been evident,” said Crystal Buckley, director of graduate admissions. “We would not be where we are today without her vision and dedication.”

Stephanie Lowe, associate director of transfer operations, said, “Jenny is not only a forward-thinking innovator but also a compassionate leader. She consistently demonstrates empathy and understanding.”

“Jenny consistently displays strong leadership, tirelessly works to advance the processing efforts of our large team in Admissions, and selflessly gives of her time and her talent well beyond what is expected of her role,” said Melissa A. Bevacqua, director of admissions for transfer recruitment.

Byron Whitehead, document center manager in Admissions, said, “She leads with mutual respect, trusts and cares for her team, and speaks up the moment she has a concern or can see an area for improvement. To put it simply, she is the best boss I’ve ever had, and I cannot imagine what things would be like without her.”

How did you come to �鶹��Ƶ:

I joined George �鶹��Ƶ from St. Louis, Missouri, where I served as the associate vice president of enrollment management at a private liberal arts institution. My journey in higher education began at the University of Missouri – Columbia, and I’ve been passionate about expanding access and driving student success ever since.

Best day on the job:

It’s hard to pick one favorite day on the job. Every day feels like a win when you see your team thriving. Watching them grow in confidence, both personally and professionally, is incredibly rewarding. And when the team is clicking, and the energy is high—when the vibes are right, as the young people say—it’s pretty tough to beat.

What do you like best about working at �鶹��Ƶ:

I love being part of the education community because I know that each day, my work makes a meaningful impact in the lives of individual students and on a broader scale. I remain deeply committed, grounded in the belief in the transformative power of education and its ability to create lasting, positive change in the world.

What do you like to do when you’re not working:

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me doing something that fills my cup; I love traveling to spend time with our friends and family. At home in Arlington, my husband and I dote on our elderly golden doodle, Bear, FaceTime with our nieces and nephews, and daydream about (or plan!) our next adventure, whether it's domestic or abroad. I also love to cook, bake cookies, dive into topics in counseling psychology and personal well-being, do yoga, and take long walks to unwind. Some of my favorite moments are the simple ones: sitting on our apartment rooftop with a charcuterie board or watching the sunset from the pool after most people have headed home for the day.

Nominate a colleague for Employee of the Month

Topics

Employee of the Month

Faculty and Staff News

Admissions

Quill Camps Welcome New First-Year Students with Immersive Experiences

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:58:34 +0000

Quill Camps Welcome New First-Year Students with Immersive Experiences Andrew J Schappert Thu, 07/27/2023 - 11:58

Orientation season begins in earnest at �鶹��Ƶ in August, but for a number of rising freshmen, their first year of college began in July during Quill Camp.

Incoming freshmen from Quill Camp: Republic got a twilight tour of Washington, D.C., landmarks. Photos by Ron Aira/Creative Services.

The series of four-day camps—there are five of them, each with a different academic emphasis—bring together like-minded students who explore not just the �鶹��Ƶ campuses but also the surrounding Washington, D.C., region. For instance, True Crime members are provided insights into the criminal justice system; studio students are provided with hands-on experience in the arts; and Project Peak participants enjoy immersive outdoor excursions. The camps are organized by �鶹��Ƶ’s New Student and Family Programs Office.

A mid-July field trip capped off Quill Camp: Republic, which sent new students by bus into the District of Columbia to visit landmarks, tour museums, and get a general idea of where decisions are made in one of the most important political cities in the world.

Not surprisingly, many Quill Camp: Republic students are majoring in degree programs hosted by the Schar School of Policy and Government. Having some knowledge of what the vaunted “hallowed marble halls” of Washington, D.C., actually look like provides good background for government majors who will be studying policy and politics.

The camp’s activities were even insightful for those who had been to Washington before.

“I didn't see too many things that were new, but it was fun to tour them with my future classmates and colleagues,” said incoming government and international politics (GVIP) major Griffin Crouch, who lives in Arlington, Virginia, not far from the District of Columbia. “I was learning from all the other students what going to �鶹��Ƶ would be like.”

Quill Camp: Republic’s incoming freshmen got a tour of a place some of them may work as future interns—the Capitol.

The tour of the Capitol, the dusk visit to the familiar landmarks of D.C., and an excursion into the National Museum of African American History and Culture “was a great way to see the city with a different group of people and experience everything that’s here,” he said.

“It’s been amazing,” said Charlotte Bell, a GVIP major from Richmond, Virginia. Even though, like Crouch, it was not her first visit to the nation’s capital, Quill Camp: Republic afforded “a lot of really great opportunities this week,” she said after the visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“I never would've known what this museum was or knew of its importance” without the visit, she said. “I really gained perspective. And the monument tour we went on last night was really wonderful. It was beautiful.”

Request program information

Learn more about the Schar School

Topics

Schar School of Policy and Government

Admissions

Government and International Politics

New Student and Family Programs

Schar School News July 2023

Students

�鶹��Ƶ Spirit

Spirit Fall 2023

Schar School BA in Government and International Politics

Finding �鶹��Ƶ’s voice en español

Colleen Rich — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:26:34 +0000

Finding �鶹��Ƶ’s voice en español Colleen Rich Wed, 01/25/2023 - 10:26

If you recently caught a glimpse of the familiar green and gold on the side of a Northern Virginia bus, you may have also noticed something new. Since May 2022, �鶹��Ƶ has invited the families of prospective Hispanic students to learn about the university in its first Spanish-language marketing campaign.

The campaign features Spanish-language posters on buses and at Virginia Rail Express and Metro stations in Northern Virginia, as well as social media advertising and radio marketing aimed at the Hispanic community in the greater Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland area. The models in the ads are all �鶹��Ƶ students.

In addition, radio marketing has included commercials during 2022 World Cup coverage and Spanish-language faculty interviews, which received an overwhelmingly positive response.

Spanish speakers are invited to learn more about �鶹��Ƶ via a Spanish web presence, or to call for more information. The Office of Admissions and Enrollment and Office of University Branding, which operates the university switchboard, have both hired bilingual phone attendants to welcome callers and connect them with the offices that can help them.

�鶹��Ƶ enrolls and graduates the largest percentage and number of Hispanic students among Virginia and Maryland public universities, which makes the expansion into Spanish-language marketing even more important.

“The Hispanic populations in Virginia and at �鶹��Ƶ have both increased significantly in recent decades,” said Eric Woodall, associate vice president of brand marketing for the Office of University Branding. “This campaign is part of our efforts to better highlight our current Hispanic student population and ensure that prospective families have materials in Spanish to help them make informed decisions.”

“We are starting a lasting dialogue with households headed by those who may not be conversant in or comfortable speaking English, and are looking for way-finding to get their sons and daughters to and through college,” said Paul G. Allvin, �鶹��Ƶ vice president and chief brand officer. “Our messaging mirrors what these families tell us they look for and find in a �鶹��Ƶ education: flexibility, affordability, safety, and the existence of their own culture in campus life.”

Despite a nationwide increase in Hispanic college students, Hispanic young people are still the least likely among their peers to be enrolled in college or have a bachelor’s degree, according to the Pew Research Center. Taking this into account, the campaign’s first phase focused on raising parent awareness of �鶹��Ƶ’s commitment to diversity and accessibility.

“What comes next for us is maintaining our presence in terms of Spanish-language advertising and looking to expand and strengthen our partnerships with Hispanic community organizations,” Woodall said.

Apply Now

Request Information

Topics

�鶹��Ƶ sees a .9 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2022

Colleen Rich — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 12:54:54 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ sees a .9 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2022 Colleen Rich Mon, 10/03/2022 - 08:54

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Bucking a statewide trend of declining college enrollment, �鶹��Ƶ, a top 10 public university for diversity, innovation, and cybersecurity, welcomed its largest and most diverse freshman class in school history for the Fall 2022 semester.

Enrollment figures released by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) reaffirm �鶹��Ƶ’s status as Virginia’s largest public university, with 39,510 students enrolling at �鶹��Ƶ, an overall increase of 368 students. Statewide, public university student enrollment dropped slightly from 221,946 in the fall of 2021 to 220,466 in fall 2022.

�鶹��Ƶ’s nearly 7,000 total new undergraduate students included 4,156 first-time freshmen and 2,781 transfer students. They collectively accounted for a 3.5% increase in freshmen students, a .9% increase in undergraduate enrollment overall. �鶹��Ƶ also saw a 1.1% increase in graduate enrollment from the previous year, with 3,502 new graduate students.

More than 63% of incoming freshmen identify as being of a racial or ethnic minority or an international student, up from 57% from a year ago.

“�鶹��Ƶ’s consistent enrollment growth is a true testament to the strength and rigor of our academic programs and faculty, and, importantly, the role that �鶹��Ƶ plays in the nation’s capital and a thriving Northern Virginia economy by providing access and providing the generation of talent for the region,” Provost Mark Ginsberg said.

The top majors for the incoming freshmen included computer science, business, cybersecurity, information technology, and nursing.

The increase shows the value of a �鶹��Ƶ education at a time when college enrollment numbers are dropping across Virginia and nationally. �鶹��Ƶ has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the state’s most diverse and innovative university. Other rankings rank �鶹��Ƶ No. 1 in the nation for veterans and No. 2 among public universities for nontraditional students.

“This record enrollment is not new for us. In the last 20 years, �鶹��Ƶ has grown its enrollment every year except for two,” said David Burge, �鶹��Ƶ’s vice president for enrollment management. “Despite this growth, the �鶹��Ƶ Virginia Promise, now needed more than ever, is helping ensure families access to education and future career successes, especially the nearly one-third of �鶹��Ƶ’s incoming class who are first-generation college students.”

�鶹��Ƶ’s freshman Class of 2026 accounted for the highest averages in terms of GPA and SAT scores (3.8 GPA, 1240 SAT) and represented 45 different states and U.S. territories and 48 countries. The majority of incoming freshmen were students of color, with Asian students accounting for nearly 25% of the class, followed by Hispanic students (14.1%) and Black students (13.8%). Nearly half (48%) of �鶹��Ƶ’s incoming freshmen are females.

Editor's note: The numbers in this story have been updated.

Topics

Campus News

Admissions

enrollment growth

Research says club sports are �鶹��Ƶ’s untapped resource

Colleen Rich — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:22:08 +0000

Research says club sports are �鶹��Ƶ’s untapped resource Colleen Rich Wed, 09/28/2022 - 14:22

Participation in club sports is a significant factor in bringing in and maintaining students at �鶹��Ƶ, and also contributes to higher graduation rates, a new study has found.

Zikun Li. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

The research, by �鶹��Ƶ PhD student Zikun Li, also found that as an engine for recruiting students, club sports could be added to �鶹��Ƶ’s broader admissions and marketing strategies.

“These findings enhance the understanding of club sports and its broader impact on the university,” Li said. “Maybe it will inspire other universities to do some comparative studies.”

Li, who is in the interdisciplinary specialization program through the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), began the study in December 2021 after a request from Paul Bazzano, assistant director of competitive sports, camps, and athletic training at �鶹��Ƶ Recreation.

Laurence Chalip, a CEHD professor, a member of �鶹��Ƶ’s Recreation Advisory Board, and Li’s advisor, asked his students if anyone was interested. Li was all in, even though the subject was not exactly in her program concentration of sport for development.

In that way, Li embodies �鶹��Ƶ’s goal of delivering All Together Different by acting with confidence while trying something unconventional that challenges the status quo.

“As a novice scholar, I appreciate the interconnectedness among disciplines,” said Li, who earned her undergraduate degree in her native China and her master’s at the University of Michigan. “Because of �鶹��Ƶ’s interdisciplinary program I have been able to take courses outside the sports area, which gives me a refreshing way to look at it. I’m able to see sports in a broader way.”

“Zikun is deeply interested in the ways in which sport is used effectively and ineffectively for development purposes,” Chalip said. “But clearly, when you work in the policy world, economics matter. Policymakers want to know what the numbers look like. So to develop the kind of skills that will enable her to work in the policy world—understanding how to collect data, and analyzing and thinking through financial data—is really vital. So it made great sense.”

�鶹��Ƶ's men's ice hockey team was among the club sports that scored high in terms of players choosing �鶹��Ƶ to participate in the sport. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Strategic Communications

Li surveyed 425 undergraduate club sports athletes during the 2021-22 academic year. The data were eye-opening.

For example ...

The aggregate spending by undergraduate club sports athletes at �鶹��Ƶ in the 2021-22 academic year—including tuition, campus fees, campus housing, food, �鶹��Ƶ gear, study-related supplies, parking, and health insurance through the university, minus financial aid—is estimated at more than $21 million.
Athletes agreed that playing club sports factored into their decision to attend and stay enrolled at �鶹��Ƶ, and their decision to recommend the university to potential students. Those participating in men’s ice hockey and men’s football (both of which actively recruit athletes to attend �鶹��Ƶ), were especially strong on those scores, with 92.3% of football players and 100% of hockey players saying their participation is a factor in remaining at �鶹��Ƶ.
Students who participate in club sports as freshmen, even if they did not participate as sophomores, graduated at a significantly higher rate than the overall undergraduate student body: 76% to 70.1% for six-year graduates; 66% to 65.7% for five-year graduates; 54% to 47.4% for four-year graduates.

Why is this information important?

“Our goal was to gather information for us to make the best decisions moving forward as a department and a university,” Bazzano said. “Is recruiting an opportunity for some of our other clubs? Is recruitment something that can differentiate ourselves from other universities?”

There is also a financial consideration, Bazzano said.

“Is there any way we can restructure to support those programs, to lower the barriers of student participants funding them?” he said. “The focus is on how we can reimagine our budget and restructure what we’re doing.”

Andrew Bunting, �鶹��Ƶ’s executive director of enrollment services, also found Li’s research useful.

“Her work is certainly research of consequence and can have a direct impact on the way the �鶹��Ƶ markets itself to prospective students,” Bunting said. “Zikun’s findings help us to better understand the various and often very personalized factors that motivate students to apply, enroll, and persist at the university.”

Li, who plans to graduate by the end of 2023 and hopes to turn the research into a publishable paper, said the research experience will benefit her eventual search for a faculty position.

“This study not only generated my interest in continuously understanding club sports, but also enhanced my data analysis skills,” Li said. “To do some hands-on analysis really gave me confidence to do more quantitative research in the future.”

Topics

Dream Catchers partnership helps high schoolers envision a pathway to college

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 16:51:33 +0000

Dream Catchers partnership helps high schoolers envision a pathway to college Lauren Reuscher Wed, 09/21/2022 - 12:51

In This Story

Juliette Rouge (Shedd)

Everyone has the power to make a difference in the life of a young person. The Dream Catchers partnership between �鶹��Ƶ and local K-12 public school systems offers an opportunity for at-risk high school students to receive mentorship and support from �鶹��Ƶ faculty, staff, and graduate students.

The Dream Catchers program provides hope for college-capable youth enrolled in Fairfax County and Prince William County Nontraditional School Programs. Students apply for Dream Catchers through their school counselors, generally during their senior year.

Photo provided

“The program is designed to help students overcome barriers and see that attending college is indeed a possibility for them,” said Karen Kitching, associate professor of accounting in the School of Business. Kitching has volunteered as the coordinator for the Dream Catchers program since 2013 and has been a mentor since 2007.

“The program started 22 years ago with a goal of providing hope, encouragement, and support to at-risk students in alternative high schools and to help them achieve their dreams of attending college,” said Kitching.

Dream Catchers is sponsored by �鶹��Ƶ's Office of the Provost, with additional support from the Office of Admissions, the Office of International Programs and Services, and University Life.

The program currently serves approximately 30 high school students each year and has supported approximately 300 students since its inception 22 years ago under the leadership of Peter Stearns, provost emeritus.

Mentees are invited to attend a campus tour, workshops on college success skills, team building activities, and other campus life activities—like a �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball game and the International Week Dance competition. These activities help the students picture their lives as college students, Kitching explained.

The college application process can be challenging for all students—even those with strong support systems. Julie Shedd, associate dean with the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, has served as a mentor for the Dream Catchers program. She first got involved as a mentor after her oldest child started college.

"His college search raised my awareness of how difficult the process is, even with a lot of family and school support. I realized how much need there is for students who are first-gen or without those supports to have adult mentors to help guide them through the process,” said Shedd.

After completing the Dream Catchers program, many students apply to a community college, �鶹��Ƶ, or another four-year college or university.

As longtime coordinator Karen Kitching prepares to leave her faculty role at �鶹��Ƶ in December, the Dream Catchers program will be led by two new co-coordinators, Shedd and Buz Grover.

Serve as a Dream Catchers Mentor

�鶹��Ƶ faculty, staff, and graduate students are eligible to serve as Dream Catchers mentors. The time commitment includes monthly events held on campus on Fridays, along with two evening events.

Mentors get to know their mentees and their goals, support them in the college application process when needed, and share their own insights based on personal experiences.

Grover, director of contracts and special projects with Operations and Business Services, also serves as a mentor. He supports Dream Catchers to honor those who helped him in his youth.

“Several notable teachers and adults stepped up and helped me wrangle the issues I faced in my teens. Paying it forward is the least I can do to pay homage to those who assisted me,” Grover said.

Dream Catchers is seeking new mentors to help promising students find a path toward college. To volunteer as a mentor, contact Julie Shedd.

Topics

Dream Catchers Program

Office of the Provost

Faculty and Staff News

Faculty/Staff Announcements

University Life

Admissions

K-12 Partnerships

The ‘superheroes’ leading �鶹��Ƶ’s tour experience

Colleen Rich — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 16:49:00 +0000

The ‘superheroes’ leading �鶹��Ƶ’s tour experience Colleen Rich Mon, 09/19/2022 - 12:49

Tour season is year-round at �鶹��Ƶ, with sessions offered Monday through Saturday, twice a day, every week. The people that help make this happen are the �鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors: �鶹��Ƶ’s student-volunteer tour guides.

�鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

“The Ambassadors are like mini superheroes,” said Carla Goodwin, assistant director of undergraduate admissions and advisor to �鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors.

In addition to leading tours for prospective students, visitors, and new �鶹��Ƶ employees, Ambassadors participate in and represent �鶹��Ƶ’s student population at admission events, student panels, webinars, and photoshoots.

“What's unique about these tours given by current students is that they provide that sentimental and emotional piece about �鶹��Ƶ,” Goodwin said. “It’s nice to see what �鶹��Ƶ really means to the current students and how it makes a difference for them.”

For Sam Harrison, �鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors president and a senior majoring in community health, “college was all about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she said. “In high school, I had a big fear of public speaking, so I joined �鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors in 2019 to really improve my communication and interpersonal skills.”

�鶹��Ƶ Ambassador Mario Belenfante joined the team as a way to get involved and make connections. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

Ambassadors undergo an application and interview process. Upon acceptance, they go through training, including workshops with offices such as Career Services and Student Success Coaching for individualized academic and professional development.

Every spring, Goodwin said she teaches a one-credit course, called “UNIV 333: Peer Leadership—�鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors,” to help Ambassadors get acquainted with various student support services, such as the LGBTQ+ Resources Center and the Office of International Programs and Services.

The training has practical applications for the Ambassadors as well.

Navigating �鶹��Ƶ’s various resources and large campus can be overwhelming, Harrison said. And the training makes one comfortable with accessing �鶹��Ƶ’s numerous offices and sharing that important information on the tours.

Mario Belenfante, vice president of visits for �鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors, said he joined the team as a way to get involved, make connections, and build valuable experience for his communication major.

“I always tell people at the end of my tours that I hope I can make �鶹��Ƶ feel like an inclusive, safe place and make �鶹��Ƶ feel like home for them,” said Belenfante, who led 78 tours in the Spring 2022 semester.

“Seeing the students that I've given tours to end up at �鶹��Ƶ just makes what I'm doing 10 times better,” he said.

Tours are ever-changing, as the Ambassadors work to tailor the experience to students with different interests and as new features are added to the Fairfax Campus.

On-campus visits consist of a 30-minute information session with an admissions staff member, followed by an Ambassador-led campus tour or a self-guided walking tour.

�鶹��Ƶ also offers virtual options, including virtual information sessions hosted by an admissions counselor, virtual guided tours led by �鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors, and an independent virtual tour that’s accessible any time on the university website.

These virtual options remain important, Goodwin said, as they make tours accessible to underrepresented students and those that may not have the financial means to travel or take time off work.

Due to rising interest in on-campus visits, Goodwin said the goal is to recruit 100 new �鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors during this semester.

Students can apply here by September 24.

Topics

Students

Admissions

�鶹��Ƶ Ambassadors

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report

Aju Cherian — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 18:38:44 +0000

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report Aju Cherian Thu, 04/07/2022 - 14:38

April 8, 2022

To the �鶹��Ƶ Community:

On May 18, 2021, �鶹��Ƶ received a $32,116,557 supplemental allocation of funding for student emergency grants under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) as authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) signed into law on March 11, 2021. This third round of funding is commonly referred to as “HEERF III”.

The Department of Education has established eligibility and prioritization requirements for students to receive grants from the HEERF programs. Recent updates to the eligibility guidelines have expanded the population of eligible students beyond those eligible for earlier rounds of HEERF awards. �鶹��Ƶ estimates that up to 38,000 students are eligible to receive HEERF III grants based upon these expanded guidelines. �鶹��Ƶ has the discretion to determine individual award amounts provided to eligible students.

For the HEERF III awards, �鶹��Ƶ is continuing to use a multi-prong approach which includes proactive awards to students with existing FAFSA data in our Financial Aid system and application-based awards utilizing our existing Student Emergency Assistance grant process. Students were identified for proactive awards ranging from $500 - $1,350 with higher amounts awarded to students with the greatest need as indicated by estimated family contribution (EFC) as determined on the FAFSA. Application-based awards are provided to eligible students experiencing adverse financial impacts of the pandemic based on information provided in their applications. We anticipate that these funds will be fully disbursed during the 2021-2022 academic year.

The table below lists the award distributions made during the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2022, along with information on previous distributions for reference.

ARPA – HEERF III Awards

	Prior Quarters	1/1/2022- 3/31/2022	Grand Total
Total amount of HEERF grants distributed to students	$15,952,916	$15,037,370	$30,990,286
Number of students who received a HEERF grant (unduplicated)	14,414	12,448	15,840

Students experiencing on-going financial hardships are encouraged to apply for emergency assistance available from the HEERF funds, and can submit applications for assistance via �鶹��Ƶ’s University Life website. The application is updated for each new semester.

Topics

Admissions and Financial Aid

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report

Aju Cherian — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:45:23 +0000

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report Aju Cherian Mon, 01/10/2022 - 19:45

January 10, 2022

To the �鶹��Ƶ Community:

The table below lists the award distributions made during the calendar quarter ended December 31, 2021, along with information on previous distributions for reference.

ARPA – HEERF III Awards

	Prior Quarters	10/1/2021– 12/31/2021	Grand Total
Total amount of HEERF grants distributed to students	$14,597,933	$1,354,983	$15,952,916
Total number of students who received a HEERF grant	13,161	1,253	14,414

Topics

Admissions and Financial Aid

Admissions

Meet the alum who probably made your George �鶹��Ƶ shirt

�鶹��Ƶ Alumni

Related Stories

Topics

Jenny Chism is the July Employee of the Month

How did you come to �鶹��Ƶ:

Best day on the job:

What do you like best about working at �鶹��Ƶ:

What do you like to do when you’re not working:

Nominate a colleague for Employee of the Month

Related News

Topics

Quill Camps Welcome New First-Year Students with Immersive Experiences

Request program information

Learn more about the Schar School

Related News

Topics

Finding �鶹��Ƶ’s voice en español

Apply Now

Request Information

Topics

�鶹��Ƶ sees a .9 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2022

Topics

Research says club sports are �鶹��Ƶ’s untapped resource

Topics

Dream Catchers partnership helps high schoolers envision a pathway to college

In This Story

Serve as a Dream Catchers Mentor

Topics

The ‘superheroes’ leading �鶹��Ƶ’s tour experience

Topics

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report

Topics

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report

Topics