philanthropy

Adaptive baseball hits a home run at George �鶹��Ƶ

Katarina Benson — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 21:04:21 +0000

Adaptive baseball hits a home run at George �鶹��Ƶ Katarina Benson Tue, 12/16/2025 - 16:04

In a first for any university in the United States, visually impaired baseball players are getting a chance to step up to the plate at �鶹��Ƶ. Led by a volunteer coach and University Life’s �鶹��Ƶ Recreation and Disability Services offices, �鶹��Ƶ’s Beep baseball initiative is gaining momentum after a successful community learn-to-play clinic last fall.

Beep baseball allows blind and visually impaired batters to listen for a loud beep coming from a ball pitched by a sighted pitcher. Photo by Paul Bazzano/�鶹��Ƶ Recreation

The adaptive sport of Beep baseball allows blind and visually impaired batters to listen for a loud beep coming from a ball pitched by a sighted pitcher. If the batter hits the ball, they run to one of two buzzing bases. If they touch the base before the ball is fielded, they’ve scored a run. It’s a game that prioritizes communication, teamwork, and athleticism. This initiative supports George �鶹��Ƶ’s efforts to build an inclusive community where all students are valued and have meaningful ways to participate, connect, and belong.

“Beep baseball is a fantastic way for �鶹��Ƶ to tap into some underserved populations via athletics,” said Paul J. Bazzano, assistant director of competitive sports with �鶹��Ƶ Recreation. “Beep baseball brings together students, staff, and community members in a meaningful way. It’s about creating space for inclusive play and laying the groundwork for something that can grow far beyond campus.”

Bazzano said that it is also providing opportunities for George �鶹��Ƶ as there really are no collegiate Beep baseball programs. “But we have had some conversations with other schools interested in forming their own teams.”

The addition of Beep baseball to �鶹��Ƶ Recreation represents the fulfillment of a lifelong passion of a George �鶹��Ƶ philanthropist, the late Dr. Barry R. Berkey, through the vision of his wife, Velma Berkey. She proposed the idea to Bazzano and sponsored the three-year pilot program.

The beep baseball initiative by �鶹��Ƶ Recreation is the first of its kind. Photo by Paul Bazzano/�鶹��Ƶ Recreation

“My husband’s dream was to become a major league baseball player, but he became a doctor instead,” Berkey said. “In later years Barry’s vision gradually deteriorated, which greatly impacted watching and enjoying his favorite sport. We became very sensitive to visually impaired and blind kids who may be in the same position. After my husband passed away, I delved into reading about Beep baseball, which inspired me to present the sport to �鶹��Ƶ.”

Berkey said the George �鶹��Ƶ community has an opportunity to be an innovator and leader by bringing this sport to campus and the region. “The team can serve as a model for other colleges and universities, serving as a mentor further down the road for high schools and Little League teams.”

Jeff Rhines, head coach of the Philadelphia team that won the 2024 Beep Baseball National Championship, helped arrange �鶹��Ƶ’s first learn-to-play clinic. Alfonso Medrano, head coach for a Houston-based team, also provided valuable input. Students and members of the surrounding community who participated described it as a fantastic community-building experience.

“We had two blind students who thoroughly enjoyed it and said they would definitely do it again,” said Naomi Martinez-Jones, director of Disability Services at George �鶹��Ƶ. “We also had some of George �鶹��Ƶ’s baseball team help and participate. It was great for everyone to have that connection with each other.”

George �鶹��Ƶ’s long-term goal is to build a competitive team made up of students, staff, and community members to play in tournaments and events sanctioned by the National Beep Baseball Association. As a first step, �鶹��Ƶ Recreation is working to connect with other teams and recruiting a volunteer coach. There are plans to offer more training and networking events and launch a sustainable, inclusive team with regular practices and programming.

To learn more, reach out to Bazzano at pbazzano@gmu.edu.

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Driving community spirit: Kathy McKay's impact on George �鶹��Ƶ

Katarina Benson — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:44:25 +0000

Driving community spirit: Kathy McKay's impact on George �鶹��Ƶ Katarina Benson Tue, 12/16/2025 - 07:44

Kathleen (Kathy) McKay has deep ties to Fairfax, Virginia, her hometown. Her parents, James "Smilin’ Jim" and Ruth Averill McKay, were pioneers in the Fairfax business community; her father opened Jim McKay Chevrolet in 1956, becoming one of the first car dealers in the area.

As student athlete at Woodson High School, she grew up near �鶹��Ƶ's burgeoning Fairfax Campus. “I played field hockey, I played softball, and I was a swimmer,” she said.

McKay with �鶹��Ƶ basketball players on the K. McKay Court. Photo provided by �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

Much of that swim experience took place at a neighborhood club, where her own daughters still hold records from the 1990s. After graduating from James Madison University, she returned to Fairfax.

McKay is now the president of Jim McKay Chevrolet, a sponsor for many student activities and sports at George �鶹��Ƶ, and Intercollegiate Athletics has been at the heart of her personal connection with the university. Since the mid-1990s, she’s been an avid Patriots fan, attending many men's and women's basketball games, including the ones out of town, often with her daughters and now her grandchildren.

“I’ve always been a sports person,” McKay said. “I love college athletics; it’s the excitement. This is something that the athletes really, really want to do, and so few make it [to this level].”

She also appreciates the role college sports plays in bringing a community together. “It’s everything. No matter what your preference is, we offer every sport to allow a fan to be involved.”

McKay's support extends far beyond the sidelines. She has been a generous donor to George �鶹��Ƶ for nearly 20 years, serving as a member of the Patriot Club Advisory Board and in the Green Coat Society, which recognizes generous, multi-year donors.

In 2017, she made a leadership gift to the university's basketball fundraising campaign, resulting in the naming of the K. McKay Court at the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC). Her philanthropy has included substantial gifts—in conjunction with the family-linked Richard W. Averill Foundation and Jim McKay Chevrolet—to a variety of George �鶹��Ƶ’s teams, including a pledge that touched all 22 sports teams during an annual �鶹��Ƶ Vision Day.

She has also made gifts to the College of Visual and Performing Arts' scholarship benefit ARTS by George! and to the Green Machine ensembles.

“Kathy McKay embodies the spirit of George �鶹��Ƶ and the Northern Virginia community,” said Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “Her loyalty and generosity have touched every corner of our program—from cheering courtside to investing in opportunities that enrich the student-athlete experience. Kathy’s passion, rooted in family and community, reflects the very best of what it means to be a Patriot, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have her in our corner.”

McKay and President Washington. Photo provided by �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

McKay carries on a family tradition of philanthropy and community service—George �鶹��Ƶ’s Jim McKay Natatorium in the Aquatic and Fitness Center on the Fairfax Campus, a regional resource that includes a 50-meter Olympic-sized competition pool, bears the name of her father. She is continuing that tradition and is encouraging a culture of connected philanthropy through her own children: her daughter, April, and son-in-law, Matt, are also active supporters of George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics.

McKay has been there for some of basketball’s biggest moments.

She remembers being warmly welcomed by the men’s basketball team, including then-coach Jim Larrañaga and his wife, Liz, when she traveled with the team to the ESPN Events Invitational Thanksgiving tournament in Orlando, Florida, in 2007. She also attended Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) Tournaments at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, including “during COVID, in March 2020, [when] we got sent home after winning our first game.”

McKay was also in the front rows at the Robins Center in Richmond when the men’s basketball team defeated the University of Richmond to claim the 2025 A-10 regular season title, the team’s first. That same season saw Patriots Head Coach Tony Skinn, whom McKay had known since his undergraduate days, named A1-0 Coach of the Year.

“Tony was my pick from day one when we were searching for a coach,” she said.

With a grandson in tow, McKay traveled in March 2025 with the women’s basketball team to Richmond for the A-10 Women's Basketball Championship, where George �鶹��Ƶ defeated St. Joseph’s to claim the title for the first time.

“I couldn’t not go, and they win this thing—because I really thought they could,” she said.

She also joined the women’s team for the España 2025 cultural and athletic expedition, where the Patriots played international opponents in Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona. With her on the trip was her eldest granddaughter, who has been attending games with McKay since she was six months old.

“Riley and I had a time together that neither one of us will ever forget!” she said.

She plans to enjoy as many games and team activities as she can fit on her calendar. “I love it!” she said. “I’m always looking at the schedule to see who’s playing what.”

Learn More

Topics

Athletics

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

A legacy of resilience: New scholarship helps students persevere to get their degree

Sarah Holland — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:46:17 +0000

A legacy of resilience: New scholarship helps students persevere to get their degree Sarah Holland Thu, 11/06/2025 - 15:46

“What advice would you give to someone who’s in the process of understanding and knowing their worth?” Amany Bouali asks her mother.

“Everyone one of us has a lot to give and a lot to receive. You are so precious, and you are worth this world and more,” Zeineb replies.

It’s a bittersweet interlude on Amany Bouali’s album Came from Something: Her mother, Zeineb Mrad Bouali, passed away not long after recording. She was a student in �鶹��Ƶ’s MA in English program.

Amany (left), Fathi, and Ons hold a photo honoring Zeineb at Ons' graduation from Elon University. Photo provided

Inspired by their mother’s determination, Amany and her sister, Ons, and their father, Fathi, created the Zeineb Mrad Bouali Tenacity and Perseverance Award for students who have had to pause their educational goals and are now hoping to return to complete their degrees.

Zeineb called herself an “avid life wanderer,” her daughters said. A mother, a daughter, an educator, a poet, a cake decorator, and a business owner, Zeineb wore many hats throughout her life. But she had one dream waiting to be fulfilled: completing a master’s degree.

Before immigrating to the United States, Zeineb was an accomplished English teacher in her home country of Tunisia. But like many immigrants, her credentials didn’t transfer upon her arrival in the U.S.

“Part of my mom’s struggle in this country was all the barriers that are in place for immigrants to start a business, go back to school, resume where they were in their country,” explained Ons. “She had to start her college education from scratch.”

Throughout her life she tried returning to school to be reaccredited, periodically taking classes at University of Texas at San Antonio, George �鶹��Ƶ, and Northern Virginia Community College. Life just kept getting in the way of a formal degree program.

But Zeineb cared deeply about her daughters’ education. “Her whole life's dream was watching us succeed. When we went on college tours and got acceptances, she was so excited,” said Ons. “She was beside herself with happiness when the acceptance letters came in.”

“That was her moment,” agreed Amany. “It meant so much more to her than it could have ever meant to me.”

Zeineb in from of the Department of English offices. Photo provided

And it was her daughters who encouraged Zeineb to try for her master’s degree one more time. “Our mom put her whole life on hold to make sure we could achieve our dreams,” said Ons. “And once we were older, we told her that it was time for her to go after her dreams.”

With support from then-graduate admissions coordinator of the Department of English Holly �鶹��Ƶ Badra, Zeineb applied and was accepted into the MA in English program in 2021, where she planned to pursue a concentration in literature. She passed unexpectedly from complications due to a rare autoimmune disease in September 2022. This is the inaugural year for the scholarship honoring her legacy.

“I hope my mom’s story inspires the recipients to be resilient and to find a way to achieve their dream no matter the obstacles, even if it doesn't look exactly like they planned,” said Ons. “I want them to think, ‘what would Zeineb do?’”

“We want the scholarship to give people from diverse backgrounds who have these additional challenges they’re facing a bit of additional support and kind of ease that burden from them, so they can persevere like our mom did,” said Amany.

This year’s inaugural awardees honor Zeineb’s legacy through their determination to achieve their dreams despite major setbacks.

Hyerin Cha

Major: Global affairs

Photo provided

When Hyerin Cha was a child, she and her family were displaced from their home in South Korea after a major tragedy. Rebuilding from those early hardships shaped her deep commitment to education and community service. “I’m always trying to learn something” she said. “Because of the lack of resources around me, I had to teach myself.”

Driven by curiosity and compassion, Cha grew into an active advocate for equitable education. She has served as a STEM and coding mentor for underprivileged children, an NGO strategy coordinator, and a volunteer leader in community development initiatives both in Korea and abroad. “Giving back through education became my way of honoring the help I once needed,” she said.

Knowing early on that she wanted to work in policymaking, Cha chose �鶹��Ƶ Korea for its global connections and focus on international governance. Balancing her studies with part-time jobs to fund her education, she continued to excel academically and serve her community.

As a �鶹��Ƶ Korea student, she was required to complete a year at the Fairfax Campus, but her student visa limited her ability to work. The Zeineb Mrad Bouali Tenacity and Perseverance Award provided crucial support, allowing her to continue her studies and complete her degree.

“This scholarship didn’t just relieve a financial burden, it reaffirmed my belief that perseverance and purpose matter,” she said. “It reminded me that I’m on the right path, and that I can keep going.”

Andrea Delgado Portillo

Major: Criminology, law and society

Photo provided

Andrea Delgado Portillo and her family immigrated to the United States in 2017. Despite being approved for a green card and completing her high school education in Virginia, Delgado Portillo did not qualify for in-state tuition and was ineligible for federal financial aid.

After graduating from high school in 2020, she completed three semesters at Northern Virginia Community College, paying out-of-state tuition. Already facing financial strain, she was forced to pause her education when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2022.

“My primary focus shifted to providing for her both financially and emotionally, and after my money ran out, going back to school was out of the question,” she said.

But Delgado Portillo, a first-generation high school graduate, had dreams of studying criminology and law and being the first in her family to get a college degree. “My community doesn't have a lot of representation in law enforcement,” she said. “When my mom went through a domestic violence incident, she didn’t have anyone to translate for her. I want to be able to help people like that in my community.”

While supporting her mother through treatments, she saved money whenever she could in the hopes of returning to college. After a two-year gap, she applied to George �鶹��Ƶ to finish her degree.

“[George �鶹��Ƶ’s] financial aid office helped me be accepted for in-state tuition and showed me where to apply for scholarships,” she said. The Zeineb Mrad Bouali Tenacity and Perseverance Award was one of her awarded scholarships.

“With the scholarship I was able to pay for books, parking, and part of my tuition,” she said. “I hope one day I can pay their generosity back, maybe through supporting another immigrant student who, like me, had a dream they were struggling to achieve.”

Delgado Portillo plans to graduate in Spring 2026.

“When I came here [to the United States], I knew nothing, not even how to say, ‘how are you?’” she said. “Now, I’m going to graduate from college. Hopefully, my mom is going to see me walk across the stage.”

Zeineb Mrad Bouali: A remembrance, a celebration, a legacy

Topics

Students

The Mats Hormel vQ scholarship endowment is making a difference in the lives of �鶹��Ƶ LIFE Students

Colleen Rich — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:45:56 +0000

The Mats Hormel vQ scholarship endowment is making a difference in the lives of �鶹��Ƶ LIFE Students Colleen Rich Mon, 09/29/2025 - 12:45

“It has transformed the life of my child in remarkable ways and helped them discover the strength and resiliency that was always inside them.” This sentiment is common among families whose young adults attended �鶹��Ƶ’s Learning Into Future Environments (�鶹��Ƶ LIFE) program.

The �鶹��Ƶ LIFE cohort processing into EagleBank Arena during the College of Education and Human Development's Degree Celebration. Photo provided

Now even more students will be able to take part in the program, thanks to the financial support provided by the Mats Hormel vQ Scholarship Endowment.

This scholarship endowment is provided by Tommy Everett and Sarah Hormel Everett in honor of their son, Mats Von Quillfeldt, a former �鶹��Ƶ LIFE student. The scholarship was established to help defray the costs associated with attending �鶹��Ƶ LIFE, including tuition, fees, housing, textbooks, and related expenses. Scholarship awards are given to both incoming and continuing �鶹��Ƶ LIFE students and are based on a student’s demonstrated financial need.

The Everetts have made a $1.2 million pledge to expand the existing �鶹��Ƶ LIFE scholarship. The Mats Hormel vQ Scholarship Endowment will now offer two full-ride scholarships for the program, doubling the financial support previously provided.

�鶹��Ƶ LIFE is a comprehensive four-year postsecondary transition program in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) that offers young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities a full university experience in a supportive academic environment. The �鶹��Ƶ LIFE program focuses on research, academic progress, community involvement, employment and housing with the goal of gaining independent living skills. The impact of �鶹��Ƶ LIFE on students who participate in the program is nothing short of transformational.

Von Quillfeldt, who completed the program in May 2020, captures the essence of what the �鶹��Ƶ LIFE program is all about.

“College changed my life. I would not be able to work full time or have my own apartment with two roommates without my �鶹��Ƶ LIFE experience,” Von Quillfeldt said. “�鶹��Ƶ LIFE taught me how to cook, shop, do my laundry, be respectful of my roommates and be on time to classes and work. I learned to plan my daily life.”

In addition to his academic work—he said his favorite subject in college was Early American History—Von Quillfeldt held an internship on Capitol Hill, where he performed administrative duties in a congressional office. He traveled to and from Capitol Hill on his own using the Metro bus and subway system.

His mother, Sarah, highlighted the positive impact that the �鶹��Ƶ LIFE program had on him. “It is amazing to have gone through this whole process with him. Even during his junior year in high school, I would not have imagined him to be able to live independently. This is an incredibly unique program. Just having this inclusive setting for these young adults is priceless.”

His father, Tommy, concurred, adding, “�鶹��Ƶ LIFE opened our eyes to what he could do.”

Through the shared experience of living together, learning together, working together, and supporting one another, students in the �鶹��Ƶ LIFE Program build important skills that help them in living a more independent life. They earn a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

Linn Jorgenson, associate professor of special education at George �鶹��Ƶ and director of �鶹��Ƶ LIFE, has dedicated herself to the program’s success.

“Our students participate in academics, they participate in the community, they have a work component, and they have the option to live in campus housing,” said Jorgenson.

Jorgenson points out that some students begin the �鶹��Ƶ LIFE program feeling apprehensive. For many, like Von Quillfeldt, it is their first time being away from home and making certain decisions on their own. As they begin their educational journey under the guidance of �鶹��Ƶ LIFE faculty and staff, these same students quickly acclimate to their new surroundings, and their sense of independence begins to develop. Their self-confidence grows stronger as they progress through the �鶹��Ƶ LIFE program and are exposed to new experiences.

Noah Miller, a �鶹��Ƶ LIFE student from 2018 to 2022, spoke highly of the program, highlighting the life skills he acquired, particularly in �鶹��Ƶ Life’s independent Living Course. “All four years I lived on campus in the dorms. That's how I learned to be independent,” Miller said. “Cooking for myself, getting along with my roommates—all the good stuff.”

Miller appreciated his other classes too, especially those in sport management. His enthusiasm leaves no doubt about how much he valued his time at George �鶹��Ƶ. “College was the best,” Miller said. “I enjoyed George �鶹��Ƶ a lot. Not only getting to be in the �鶹��Ƶ LIFE program but also getting to explore other classes as well.”

The faculty and staff of �鶹��Ƶ LIFE routinely hear from the families of students who are grateful for the life-changing opportunity their students received, many because of the generous financial support provided by the Mats Hormel vQ Scholarship Endowment.

“My hope for a person who completes the �鶹��Ƶ LIFE Program is that they learn who they are and that they live a life that they had hoped for whether that is independent living, working, contributing, or just being part of a world that they had hoped to be part of,” said Jorgenson.

Topics

College of Education and Human Development

Gift from Charles Schwab Foundation Will Help Develop Next Generation in Certified Financial Planning

Katelynn C Hipolito — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:34:26 +0000

Gift from Charles Schwab Foundation Will Help Develop Next Generation in Certified Financial Planning Katelynn C Hipolito Mon, 08/04/2025 - 09:34

�鶹��Ƶ has announced a generous multi-year commitment from Schwab Advisor Services in partnership with the Charles Schwab Foundation to grow and strengthen George �鶹��Ƶ’s Financial Planning and Wealth Management Program (FPWM) and to position it to meet the region’s strong demand for certified financial planners.

“Our partnership with Schwab Advisory Services is an extraordinary benefit for our students,” said Ajay Vinzé, dean of the Costello College of Business. “Charles Schwab’s engagement with the college has given our students valuable insights into the personal finance industry, and this grant will help to attract and retain world class talent to lead the program and bring it to the next level.”

Costello’s FPWM program was launched in 2019 in response to a growing need for financial planners and wealth managers, particularly in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. The Charles Schwab grant will allow the college to strengthen its ability to meet this demand by establishing a dedicated faculty member with certified financial planning (CFP) experience to lead operations within FPWM, teach key courses, and to deepen relationships within the CFP industry.

“Charles Schwab is an enthusiastic partner to business education institutions, including the Costello College of Business,” said Jon Beatty, head of Schwab Advisor Services. “Costello students include those with backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in the financial planning and wealth management profession, and we share the college’s vision of developing these students into qualified professionals who will be able to serve the diverse clients in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.”

The Costello FPWM program benefits from its association with the college’s Financial Planning and Wealth Management Advisory Board, comprising George �鶹��Ƶ and Costello alumni, business professionals, individual supporters, faculty, and NextGen Board members who link students with industry veterans. The board has developed the program in consultation with more than a dozen registered investment advisor (RIA) and financial planning firms in the Northern Virginia region. FPWM students graduate from George �鶹��Ƶ with a bachelor of science degree in business, with a concentration in financial planning and wealth management.

“Our objective is to create the next generation of financial planning professionals,” said David Johnson, chair of the Financial Planning and Wealth Management Advisory Board.

“With cross-pollination from Costello’s finance and accounting academic disciplines, our graduates will possess the technical skills, soft skills, and ethical grounding that will launch them into successful careers.”

In This Story

Ajay Vinzé, PhD

Learn more about �鶹��Ƶ Now

Topics

Costello College of Business

Costello College of Business News

Hylton Performing Arts Center

�鶹��Ƶ Now campaign

�鶹��Ƶ Vision Day 2025 noted for record support from the George �鶹��Ƶ community

Colleen Rich — Wed, 28 May 2025 18:18:12 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Vision Day 2025 noted for record support from the George �鶹��Ƶ community Colleen Rich Wed, 05/28/2025 - 14:18

Each year, �鶹��Ƶ Nation unites for 24 hours to support the mission and vision of �鶹��Ƶ. �鶹��Ƶ Vision Day 2025 encouraged donors to support what means the most to them. They came forward in record numbers—with record-breaking results.

More than 1,900 donors participated in this year’s �鶹��Ƶ Vision Day, breaking last year’s record and raising $1.38 million.

By the Numbers

1,924 donors

322 new donors

43.5% alumni donors

26.1% community partner donors

17.5% faculty/staff donors

$1.38 million raised

207 funds supported

"It’s a wonderful showing from our community of alumni, faculty, staff, families, and friends, and I could not be more proud of that support,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation and George �鶹��Ƶ’s vice president for advancement and alumni relations.

Donors made more than 2,300 gifts during the 24-hour period from noon April 3 to noon April 4, supporting 207 distinct funds across the university. These included campus-wide programs like the Military, Veterans, and Families Initiative, the Center for Community Mental Health, and the Patriot Pantry—programs that strongly impact the experience of hundreds of George �鶹��Ƶ students as well as members of our local community.

Several of George �鶹��Ƶ’s individual units saw exceptional support throughout the day, spurred by challenge gifts and matching opportunities that allowed individual gifts to work to create more meaningful impact. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Public Health, and the Honors College were among the areas that benefited from the enthusiastic generosity of donors.

Zofia Burr, dean of the Honors College, was very pleased with the generosity of donors to the college. “The Honors College walks in step with the important mission of �鶹��Ƶ: to offer exceptional access to an exceptional education,” she said. “Our students are leaders—in academics and everywhere on campus. We are proud of our program that brings such highly motivated students to the university community, and it means a great deal to know that our alumni recognize the value of the Honors College education and experience.”

The �鶹��Ƶ Nation of alumni, now 250,000 strong, was responsible for the bulk of the gifts made on �鶹��Ƶ Vision Day. “The generosity of our alumni community is particularly inspirational,” said Bowden. “They give to George �鶹��Ƶ in so many ways, through their time, talents, and in this case, their treasure. They are a living tribute to what this university experience means, and what it means to be a Patriot.”

Support George �鶹��Ƶ

The Hylton Center Celebrates Successful 15th Anniversary Gala

Kirstin Franko — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:54:29 +0000

The Hylton Center Celebrates Successful 15th Anniversary Gala Kirstin Franko Wed, 04/30/2025 - 13:54

In This Story

Rick Davis

Gregory Washington

The Hylton Performing Arts Center hosted its 15th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, April 26, celebrating 15 years of artistic excellence in Manassas and throughout the Northern Virginia region. The event welcomed 237 guests and raised $162,500 in support for the Hylton Center’s artistic programming, Veterans and the Arts Initiative, and Education Initiative.

Ten percent of net proceeds will also fund the Hylton Center’s Endowment, and funds raised through the Gala contribute to �鶹��Ƶ’s �鶹��Ƶ Now: Power the Possible, a university-wide comprehensive one-billion-dollar fundraising campaign.

Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and executive director of the Hylton Performing Arts Center; Sam Hill; Lillian Hill; Gala Honoree Marion Wall; Deborah Johnson, LaToya Asia Smith, Gala Honoree Dominion Energy; Jason Hickman, Presenting Sponsor Compton & Duling; Gregory Washington, president of �鶹��Ƶ. Photo by Sean Kelley.

The Hylton Center’s 15th Anniversary Gala festivities began at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, with a cocktail reception in the Didlake Grand Foyer, featuring a French 75 signature cocktail crafted by MurLarkey Distilled Spirits. Guests then enjoyed an elegant dinner on Merchant Hall stage, which was catered by Susan Gage Caterers, before the evening’s program commenced.

Rick Davis, executive director of the Hylton Center and dean of �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), opened the program with a dimming of the lights in memory of William Reeder, founding dean of CVPA, who passed away on April 12 and whose visionary leadership enabled the creation of the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

In a video presentation, Dean Davis and other important figures from the community looked back at the beginnings of the Hylton Center and toward its promising future. “As we celebrate 15 years at the Hylton Center, we envision continued growth in the quality, the quantity, and the impact of the arts that we create here, and the arts we present," Davis said. "Everything that we do at the Hylton Center is a testament to the vitality of having a world-class performing arts center right in your community.”

President of �鶹��Ƶ Gregory Washington speaks to the guests.
Photo by Sean Kelley.

George �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington built on Davis’s remarks, “The Hylton Performing Arts Center is a crucial component of George �鶹��Ƶ’s broader role as a cultural hub for the region, a talent incubator for our students, and a gathering place for so many in our community. I’m proud to join in celebrating 15 impactful years of creativity and innovation in the arts, and express my deepest gratitude to the leaders, staff, and supporters who have brought us to this milestone anniversary.”

The honoree tribute was dedicated to Marion Wall and Dominion Energy, two longtime champions of the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Wall was celebrated as a steadfast supporter since the Hylton Center’s earliest days, who played a pivotal role in the planning, development, and ongoing success of the venue. Dominion Energy was recognized for making a profound impact on the cultural landscape of Northern Virginia, including investment in George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, programs like the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, and other benefits to ensure accessible arts experiences for all.

The event also included a live auction of unique arts experiences, Raise Your Paddle fundraiser, and wine-and-whiskey pull in support of the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, which offers free workshops and concerts for local Veterans, Servicemembers, their families, and community members. These activities raised more than $27,000 for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, continuing the celebration of its 10-year anniversary and its mission of creativity and service.

Champagne skirt performer recognizing Gala Presenting Sponsor Compton & Duling.
Photo by Sean Kelley.

The evening closed in a lively fashion with an after-party that featured a mix of George �鶹��Ƶ students and professional musicians in a 10-piece swing band from �鶹��Ƶ Music Productions, a swing dance experience led by dancers from Gottaswing, a champagne skirt performer from Carbone Entertainment, and a Blackberry Sage Smash cocktail crafted by MurLarkey Distilled Spirits.

The Hylton Center’s 15th Anniversary Gala was supported by many regional businesses and individual donors, including Presenting Sponsor Compton & Duling, L.C., Cocktail Reception Sponsor Appliance Connection, Live Auction Sponsor United Bank, Raise Your Paddle Sponsor Todos Supermarket, Wine Pull Sponsor Whitlock Wealth, and Wine Sponsor Thomas Sabal and Daniel Tucciarone. Other generous sponsors of this year’s event included: City of Manassas; Rick Davis and Julie Thompson; Didlake; Dominion Energy; ECU Communications; �鶹��Ƶ Foundation; Carolyn Hays and Jeff Burke; The Law Office of Sheyna Nicole Burt, PLC; Micron Technology; Potomac Health Foundation; Sentara Health; Stanley Martin; UVA Community Health; Wall Foundation; and Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, & Walsh, P.C.

To view additional images from the event visit the 15th Anniversary photo gallery.

Niyati Dhokai, program director of the Veterans and the Arts Initiative confirming the impact of the program on the military-connected community. Photo by Sean Kelley.

Some of the notable guests in attendance included: Mayor of the City of Manassas Michelle Davis-Younger; Virginia State Senator Jeremy McPike and Sharon McPike; Virginia Delegates Briana Sewell, Ian Lovejoy, Josh Thomas, and Luke Torian; Manassas City Councilmembers Theresa Coates Ellis, Tom Osina, Ralph Smith, Ashely Hutson, and Mark Wolfe; Manassas City Manager and Hylton Center Executive Board Member, Steve Burke and Cary Burke; Prince William Board of County Supervisors Vice Chair Andrea Bailey and Reverend Cozy Bailey; Prince William Board of County Supervisors, Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry and Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin; Managing Member of Compton & Duling, LC Jason Hickman; Vice President and Site Executive of Micron Technology Virginia Delbert Parks; President of Pitkin’s Home Center Sarah Pitkin; Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C. President V. Rick Nishanian and Nunik Nishanian; Todos Supermarkets Owner Carlos Castro; President and CEO of NOVEC, Kristen Senechal; President of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, Jeff Joyner; Senior Policy Advisory of Nelson Mulling and Hylton Center Executive Board Member Rod Hall and Lena Hall; Artistic Director of Manassas Ballet Theatre Amy Wolfe; Hylton Center Executive Board Chair Sheyna Burt; Hylton Center Executive Board Vice Chair Joyce Connery; Hylton Center Executive Board Member the Honorable Ann Wheeler and John Wheeler; and Hylton Center Executive Board Member Gayle Whitlock and Bennett Whitlock, and Hylton Center Executive Board Member Kris Nohe and Martin Nohe.

Interested in contributing to ensure the success of the next 15 years of the Hylton Center? Explore ways to give on the Hylton Center website.

Enjoy a video from the event, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Veterans and the Arts Initiative.

Topics

Hylton Center

Rick Davis

Gregory Washington

veterans and the arts

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

�鶹��Ƶ Arts

�鶹��Ƶ Vision Day: one day, extraordinary impact

Katarina Benson — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:09:59 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Vision Day: one day, extraordinary impact Katarina Benson Thu, 03/27/2025 - 11:09

Once a year, every corner of �鶹��Ƶ unites for a 24-hour period, �鶹��Ƶ Vision Day, coming together with the singular goal of moving George �鶹��Ƶ forward.

“We have the entire community in mind,” said Zavin Smith, BA ’00, MA ’03, assistant vice president for annual and constituent giving and strategic initiatives, “both for their generosity and for the recipients of that generosity. It is truly an opportunity for everyone in the �鶹��Ƶ Nation, whether alumni, staff, faculty, parents, or steadfast friends, to support whatever it is they love at the university.”

�鶹��Ƶ Vision Day kicks off at noon on April 3 and continues for 24 hours. Across George �鶹��Ƶ’s campuses, units have organized structured challenges, matching opportunities from generous donors and leadership, and specific initiatives—and they have been letting their constituents know about those opportunities. The Schar School of Policy and Government and the College of Public Health, for example, are noting their Student Emergency Assistance Funds, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts is highlighting several initiatives. The College of Science offers opportunities around the goal of supporting scientific innovation. Each unit encourages donors to join matching challenges and support the areas at George �鶹��Ƶ that resonate with them.

Smith emphasized that what matters most is the community nature of �鶹��Ƶ Vision Day. “George �鶹��Ƶ has a host of initiatives that support students, research, and programs. Everyone in the �鶹��Ƶ Nation has been touched by one or more of them, and every donor can help them grow.” A complete listing of all �鶹��Ƶ giving opportunities is available through masonvisionday.gmu.edu.

“�鶹��Ƶ Vision Day is a yearly reminder of the impact we can make when the entire community comes together,” said Smith. “It truly is the power of YOU.”

Power the Possible

Topics

�鶹��Ƶ Now campaign

Advancement launches new awards to recognize faculty and staff giving

Katarina Benson — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:10:28 +0000

Advancement launches new awards to recognize faculty and staff giving Katarina Benson Fri, 03/14/2025 - 15:10

�鶹��Ƶ’s staff and faculty bring their generosity to their work each day, and many go a step farther by contributing to George �鶹��Ƶ through financial giving. Each year, the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations holds a celebration of faculty and staff generosity and commitment, and this year debuted two awards highlighting a faculty member and a staff member who embody the many ways in which the George �鶹��Ƶ community gives to its students and programs.

Kim Eby and Philip Wilkerson with their awards. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

“George �鶹��Ƶ’s success streams directly from the many ways that our faculty and staff give of themselves,” said Trishana E. Bowden, vice president of advancement and alumni relations and president of the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation. “We are incredibly fortunate to benefit from this culture of philanthropy, and we created the Luminary Award and the Spirit of Giving Award to let us tell the stories of individuals whose giving serves as an inspiration to us all.”

The Luminary Award honors faculty donors whose philanthropy and advocacy serve as a shining example for the George �鶹��Ƶ community, she said. These faculty members go beyond their professional roles to champion George �鶹��Ƶ students and programs, inspiring students, colleagues, and the broader university community to engage in meaningful giving through their leadership, advocacy, and their own commitment to giving.

The inaugural Luminary Award was given to Kim Eby, vice provost for faculty affairs and development.

“Kim truly embodies the ethos of the arts at George �鶹��Ƶ,” said Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, as he presented the award. “For years, Kim has served as the co-chair of the Dance Fête, our annual celebration of dance and philanthropy. Through her leadership, this event has grown in both impact and visibility, ensuring that our dance students have the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to excel.

“Kim’s support of George �鶹��Ƶ students extends across and beyond the arts, from dance to music, from undergraduate research to supporting student food and housing insecurity issues. She has given not only her resources but also her time, energy, and leadership to ensure that the students continue to thrive at George �鶹��Ƶ.”

Eby appreciated that the award reflected the length and breadth of her service to the university. “It is an honor to be recognized with the inaugural Luminary Award, particularly since George �鶹��Ƶ has been my professional home for nearly 30 years,” she said. “The knowledge that I am part of making a difference for our students brings me a sense of purpose and gives hope. I know that together we can have a tremendous impact on our community.”

Bowden also announced a Spirit of Giving Award to recognize staff members who embody the university’s philanthropic spirit and actively contribute to the university through charitable giving, service, and engagement. Their deep commitment to supporting George �鶹��Ƶ’s mission, whether by donating, leading fundraising efforts, or encouraging a culture of giving within their departments, exemplifies selflessness and generosity, strengthening the George �鶹��Ƶ community and inspiring others to give back.

The first Spirit of Giving Award was given to Philip Wilkerson III, MEd ’23, an employer engagement consultant with the Office of Career Services, and was presented by Lewis Forrest II, associate dean of University Life.

“Philip's charitable giving supports initiatives benefiting student success, including the College of Education and Human Development Dean’s Excellence Fund, University Life Student Emergency Assistance Fund, the Black Scholars Endowment, and the Career Readiness Fund,” said Forrest. Moreover, he said, Wilkerson "literally knows everyone on campus. His light and energy make it easy for others to be inspired to give their time, talents, or gifts to George �鶹��Ƶ.”

Forrest described a particular effort of Wilkerson’s that has made a positive impact: “The Pats for Patriots initiative enables members of our community to send kind messages to colleagues. These are easy ways to show someone you see them, and it costs nothing,” said Forrest. “This is what Phil does, he gives of himself so that others can benefit. Because of his leadership, more than 2,000 George �鶹��Ƶ Patriots have submitted recognition to colleagues and friends. This is what it means to give in a variety of ways.”

Wilkerson said that George �鶹��Ƶ was the place where he found his life’s work in helping others. "This award made me feel seen, heard, and valued as someone who contributes to �鶹��Ƶ through my day-to-day efforts. That means the world to me because George �鶹��Ƶ has given me so much—a community, a career, and a profound sense of purpose and belonging,” he said. “I’m honored to be recognized in this way, and I will continue to do the work that helps the next generation of students feel empowered, just as George �鶹��Ƶ has empowered me. It’s about sustaining the thriving community that has given us so much.”

That thriving community, said Bowden, is “a reflection of care, dedication, and belief in our students, our mission, and our future that makes an impact far beyond the classroom or office. Our faculty and staff offer an extraordinary commitment to the university, and it is an honor to highlight their service—and to thank them.”

In This Story

Rick Davis

Kim Eby, PhD

Power the Possible

Topics

Alumni