student organizations

Historic victory for George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team

Shayla Brown — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:22:50 +0000

Historic victory for George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team  Shayla Brown Thu, 12/04/2025 - 11:22

�鶹��Ƶ's Debate Team won the prestigious West Point Sword at the United States Military Academy’s 60th annual National Debate Tournament in West Point, New York.

“This is one of the most iconic awards in college policy debate, and it was the one title George �鶹��Ƶ Debate had never won until now,” said Jackie Poapst, director of the Debate Team. “To see our name finally engraved among the champions in the tournament’s 60th year is nothing short of historic. This moment represents six decades of legacy, and the future of excellence at George �鶹��Ƶ.”

The victory in October was one of many for the George �鶹��Ƶ varsity team this season.

George �鶹��Ƶ's Debate Team. Photo provided.

George �鶹��Ƶ students competed against teams from Harvard, Cornell, James Madison University, Liberty University, Binghamton University, New York University, the University of Rochester, and Suffolk University.

This year’s tournament topic was labor rights, and the George �鶹��Ƶ team had several wins on the tournament leaderboard:

Austin Davis (Communication, sophomore) and Del Gorman (Government and International Politics, sophomore) — 1st Overall Seed, undefeated, Tournament Champions
Ashley Wright (Government and International Politics, junior) and Ben Witkov (Economics, freshman) — 2nd Overall Seed, Tournament Co-Champions
Reet Taxali (Criminology, junior) and Dean Richter (Government and International Politics, senior) — 4th Overall Seed, Elite Eight
Brenda Reyes (Conflict Analysis and Resolution, senior) and Amira Shananier (Computational and Data Science, senior) — 7th Overall Seed, Elite Eight

George �鶹��Ƶ debaters also triumphed as individual speakers, winning four of the top five speaker awards, with Davis taking first place.

Students from George �鶹��Ƶ's Debate team accepting the West Point Sword. Photo provided.

“I told my coaches last year after losing in the finals that it was ‘Sword or bust’ this season. To win it with Del and to do it for George �鶹��Ƶ Debate, it’s a dream realized,” said Davis, who is also a teaching assistant for the writing-intensive course COMM 300 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism.

Other students placing individually were Witkov at 3rd, Gorman at 4th, and Wright at 5th.

Reyes also serves as the team’s social events coordinator.

“We've been going to this tournament every single year, and our director has always been our biggest supporter. I’m so proud of my team's hard work and dedication. It’s an honor to be part of this legacy,” said Reyes, who is in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program.

“My partner Amira and I centered our debate on marginalized populations often neglected in labor rights,” said Reyes, who also serves as vice president of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law and Government Fraternity. “We argued that migrants and undocumented workers are not classified as workers by the [National Labor Relations Act] therefore, do not get access to all labor rights under most generic cases. This makes teams start to question what they can do for migrant laborers who are undocumented, who we believe are the backbone of America.”

One of Reyes’ takeaways from this experience is that as a senior, her time on the team is winding down.

“The moments of working together to achieve our team's goal of earning the West Point Sword will always be a special core debate memory,” said Reyes. “These memories from supporting our George �鶹��Ƶ team, no matter the results, are what matter the most.” “We argued that migrants and undocumented workers are not classified as workers by the [National Labor Relations Act]; therefore, they do not get access to all labor rights under most generic cases."

George �鶹��Ƶ’s performance was described by tournament officials as “one of the most comprehensive team showings in recent memory.”

“This win means everything to our students,” Poapst said. “They have proven that teamwork, resilience, and belief in each other can quite literally make history.”

More from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Topics

Debate Team

accelerated bachelor's to master's

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

student organizations

Students

This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all

Katarina Benson — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:30:10 +0000

This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all Katarina Benson Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:30

There are few �鶹��Ƶ students as busy as senior Rakibul Alam. A senior majoring in business and concentrating on management and marketing, Alam has become one of the most visible student leaders in the Costello College of Business, where he works as a marketing and communications intern. Recently he was among the speakers welcoming the community at Fuse’s grand celebration in September at �鶹��Ƶ Square.

But when you hear Alam talk about his campus experiences, it is surprising to learn that his first week of college was rocky. As a first-generation student commuting to campus from Centreville, Virginia, Alam said wasn’t he sure how he would fit in.

“I remember thinking, I need to get involved if I want to have the best George �鶹��Ƶ experience,” Alam said, and that he did.

Within weeks, Alam joined Student Government and soon co-founded the student organization Collective Organization of South Asia. A semester later, he joined another student organization, �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group. As vice president of the �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group, he has worked to ensure that other students have access to experiential learning opportunities.

Alam spoke at the Fuse’s grand celebration in September. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“George �鶹��Ƶ has such unique individuals with so much talent,” said Alam, who is also a member of the Honors College. “We need to go out into the community and show what we can do. My goal has been to create those opportunities for others.”

�鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group is open to George �鶹��Ƶ students of all majors. Alam said about 210 students are registered, but there is a core group of about 70+ who are the most active members.

Under his leadership—he is now president of the group, the �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group has grown into more than just a student organization. Over the past few semesters, the organization has brought in representatives from Northern Virginia companies, such as KPMG, one of the area’s top four accounting firms, to talk to students about careers.

And those connections are paying off. He said seven of the group’s members secured high-profile internships in consulting this past summer, including Alam himself who served as a human resources and change management advisory intern at KPMG.

“That says a lot about the kind of pipeline we’re building,” Alam said. “George �鶹��Ƶ students are competing head-to-head with students from Stanford, Cornell, and Harvard—and we’re ending up in the same places.”

That pipeline is expanding beyond the corporate world. Through a formal partnership with the �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group, Fairfax City Economic Development supports experiential learning opportunities for George �鶹��Ƶ students who consult with local businesses. Program funding is provided to George �鶹��Ƶ, which administers the initiative, ensuring students benefit from real-world experience while businesses gain strategic insights.

“These are the ripple effects,” Alam said. “We’re being recognized not just as students, but as professionals making an impact.”

Rakibul Alam presenting at the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition. Photo by Office of University Branding

Alam himself has a résumé that reflects both ambition and a deep commitment to service. Last year, his summer internship with the U.S. Navy reinforced his interest in government consulting.

“After my Navy internship, I realized how much I wanted to serve the public sector,” he explained. “Administrations change, but the government will always be here. Consulting allows me to use my skills to support the American people.”

That sense of purpose also extends globally. Alam was the recipient of the prestigious Gilman Scholarship, which allowed him to study international development in Morocco in January 2025. He also represented George �鶹��Ƶ at a United Nations Cooperatives Youth conference in India, where he worked alongside students from across disciplines, including public health and business.

“It was incredible to see George �鶹��Ƶ represented on the world stage,” he says. “These experiences showed me how interconnected business, policy, and global development really are.”

Alam’s drive has earned him recognition closer to home as well. Early in his George �鶹��Ƶ career, he won Costello’s Patriot Pitch competition with a social entrepreneurship project. He has since served as a mentor to other entrepreneurs in the annual competition, paying forward the guidance he received from faculty mentors.

“Every opportunity I’ve had, I had to pitch myself for it,” Alam said. “But when I get to the top, I want to throw the rope back down for others. Because there’s always room at the top.”

That mindset—paired with his relentless schedule—has required discipline. Between taking 18 credits, leading a student organization, and juggling multiple internships, Alam relies on strict time management.

“I learned early on that I needed structure,” he said. “I use calendars, I set boundaries, and I make sure to take mental breaks. And I also have mentors—some older, some younger—who keep me grounded.”

In turn, he also mentors undergraduate business students.

Despite his packed calendar, Alam said he finds balance through pickleball, which he plays religiously, and painting, which fills his home with his own watercolor and mixed-media creations. “Sports and arts keep me well-rounded,” he said with a smile.

Looking ahead, Alam is weighing whether to finish his bachelor’s degree early or pursue an accelerated master’s. Either way, he plans to remain in Northern Virginia after graduation, contributing to the same business and government ecosystems that shaped his education.

“Businesses in Northern Virginia should know they don’t need to look far for talent,” he said. “We’re right here, and we’re ready to make an impact.”

Explore internships at George �鶹��Ƶ

Topics

internships

student organizations

Mentoring

Students

Honors College

Costello College of Business

Costello College of Business News

Student group ‘Accessible’ connects global tech with local advocacy

Katarina Benson — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 19:10:40 +0000

Student group ‘Accessible’ connects global tech with local advocacy Katarina Benson Tue, 07/15/2025 - 15:10

This spring, Accessible, a registered student organization (RSO) at �鶹��Ƶ Korea, expanded its mission of promoting inclusive environments across continents.

Yim visits NaviLens in Spain.

Founded in fall 2024 by Eunchong Yim, a junior global affairs major who now serves as its president, Accessible began as a group of six students raising awareness about accessibility and disability advocacy in South Korea. It has since grown into a platform for real-world impact.

In April, Yim traveled to Murcia, Spain, to visit NaviLens—a global leader in assistive technology—and to produce the first Korean-language introduction to the company’s work. NaviLens’ QR code system enables blind and partially sighted individuals to access location-based information, such as potential physical obstacles or physical descriptions of the environment, with their smartphones. Accessible hopes to help introduce this technology into South Korea’s public spaces.

Accessible is uniquely positioned to link global innovation with local needs. This semester, the group began discussions with the Songdo-based National Museum of World Writing Systems—South Korea’s second most visited museum—about a potential collaborative exhibition to enhance accessibility. The connection emerged from course field trips, such as INTS 245 Visual Culture and Society, and was made possible by the enthusiasm of museum staff.

A simulation of using NaviLens.

In a timely coincidence, George �鶹��Ƶ also began testing NaviLens codes on the Fairfax Campus, �鶹��Ƶ Square in Arlington, and the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas. As a result, Yim was connected with a member of the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community. By sharing updates on events related not only to NaviLens but also to virtual reality games and accessible environments more broadly, �鶹��Ƶ Korea and the Virginia-based campuses are exploring opportunities for future collaboration.

Yim will complete a remote internship with the NaviLens team this summer, continuing to bridge student advocacy with practical accessibility solutions.

“I’m excited to learn about the team’s ongoing projects with blind and partially sighted students in America and to gain communication and project management skills,” she said. “Every moment at �鶹��Ƶ Korea has become one of my greatest strengths—helping me adapt to new environments and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds.”

Take a look at what's happening at �鶹��Ƶ Korea

Student literary journal recognized with Pacemaker award

Katarina Benson — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:43:26 +0000

Student literary journal recognized with Pacemaker award Katarina Benson Wed, 06/11/2025 - 09:43

For more than 30 years, the student-run bilingual literary journal Hispanic Culture Review (HCR) at �鶹��Ƶ has published poetry, essays, and narratives in both Spanish and English and highlighted photography and visual art. Now it is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

HCR has been awarded a 2024 National Magazine Pacemaker Award by the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP). Volition, George �鶹��Ƶ’s undergraduate literary and arts journal, was named a finalist in the same category.

ACP has awarded the preeminent recognition in student journalism, unofficially known as the “Student Pulitzer,” to spotlight excellence in college media since 1927.

The HCR team with the Pacemaker Award. From left, HCR faculty advisor Carla Burns; Valeria Veliz-Vargas, 2024-25 HCR editor-in-chief; Katty Becerra de Melo, 2023-24 HCR editor-in-chief; HCR faculty advisor Jason Hartsel; and Robin Borge Mora, 2023-24 HCR managing editor. Photo provided

HCR’s mission is to bridge communication gaps and strengthen cultural bonds between English- and Spanish-speaking peoples by publishing original works from diverse creators around the world.

Since the first issue of Volition in fall of 2006 (formerly known as Apathy), the publication’s mission has been to unite George �鶹��Ƶ’s artistic community and serve as a showcase for undergraduate creativity. Publishing original poetry, prose, and visual art, Volition seeks to elevate emerging artists and writers.

Gary Lundgren, coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, noted the quality of the winning student magazines rivals those produced by professionals. “The creativity displayed in the literary arts magazines is incredible — the unique formats and creative designs make the magazines themselves a work of art,” he said.

For Valeria Veliz-Vargas, HCR’s editor-in-chief, the award was welcome news. “Getting the news about the Pacemaker award was super exciting,” said Veliz-Vargas, who worked on the journal for three years. “It goes to show that the work HCR produces is valuable and seen.”

Veliz-Vargas, who is double majoring in Spanish and communication with a concentration in public relations, said she first heard about the journal in her SPAN 315 Spanish in Context for Heritage Speakers class. “It caught my attention because it blends the two majors I’m studying and blends language and culture with writing and literature.”

HCR and Volition faculty advisor Jason Hartsel in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of Student Media said he was thrilled to see the two journals recognized nationally. “Each issue [of the journals] is the culmination of many hours of hard work, creativity, and hands-on learning by our talented students, and this award will no doubt inspire future teams to leave behind their own legacy of distinction."

Student Media comprises more than 10 student-run media groups that publish original content online and in print, enabling students hone career-related skills in publishing and broadcasting. Those outlets include the university’s official student newspaper, radio station, and television network, as well as seven journals/magazines, a sports broadcasting team, and student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Veliz-Vargas said working on HCR definitely enhanced her time at George �鶹��Ƶ, and she gained a lot of experience from her leadership role. “I learned how to delegate and lead a team while managing hard deadlines, planning events, and promoting the publication both on and off campus,” she said. “It has motivated me into exploring career paths that will allow me to continue doing this kind of work.”

"Putting out a journal that shines light on the beauty of Hispanic literature and art meant a lot to me, and seeing other people's reactions was always a treat," said George �鶹��Ƶ alumna Katty Becerra De Melo, BA English '24, who served as editor-in-chief of the award-winning issue. "I really value what writing and reading bring to the world, and I believe it should be celebrated."

Learn more about George �鶹��Ƶ's Student Media

Check out the award-winning issue

Topics

student organizations

�鶹��Ƶ Student Media

Students

Student organization recovers more than 1,600 pounds of food from dining halls, campus events

Katarina Benson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:01:11 +0000

Student organization recovers more than 1,600 pounds of food from dining halls, campus events Katarina Benson Fri, 02/21/2025 - 13:01

�鶹��Ƶ has won four consecutive Gold STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) Assessment, and it’s thanks in part to campus systems and organizations such as the Food Recovery Network (FRN).

Zero Waste �鶹��Ƶ, a collaborative university-wide program that aims to reduce waste, has an ambitious goal of diverting 90% or more of university waste from trash disposal. The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is an important part of that equation.

The Food Recovery Network is one of the largest student-led movements against food waste and hunger in the country, focusing on diverting surplus food from college campuses and redistributing it to the local community. Student volunteers work with �鶹��Ƶ Dining’s Food Recovery Verified staff to sort, package, and deliver food to the local community and campus partners.

“We and so many other sustainability organizations are the main impactors on �鶹��Ƶ’s sustainability goals, as we are the individuals going out there and doing the work,” said junior Camila Rosales, president of George �鶹��Ƶ’s chapter of FRN.

FRN’s members are committed to sustainability. Before they can volunteer, they are required to complete an online course in food safety and handling.

Camila Rosales and FRN students in action. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Rosales, a business major with a concentration in operations and supply chain management, originally joined the club to fulfill service hours but fell in love with the organization’s mission. Since the chapter began in 2018, they have recovered more than 1,600 pounds of excess food. In the Fall 2024 semester, under Rosales’s leadership, they recovered more than 750 pounds alone and are on track to reach similar numbers in Spring 2025.

The diverted food is donated to nonprofit organizations in the Northern Virginia community such as New Hope Housing’s Mondloch House, a shelter in Alexandria, and the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter, an emergency family shelter in Fairfax. The club also helps combat food insecurity on campus through Swipe4Change, an end-of-semester �鶹��Ƶ Dining initiative that allows students to donate leftover meal swipes and volunteer to collect unused food for Patriots in need.

“Food Recovery Network’s impact is definitely only something you can see behind closed doors,” said Rosales.

Rosales, who is also the events director of Her Campus at George �鶹��Ƶ and a Costello College of Business Impact Fellow, was encouraged by previous leadership to take on the mantle of president. She fondly remembers the time she showed up to a volunteer shift, without realizing it had been rescheduled, and began processing and packing everything herself. The chapter’s leadership were so impressed by her efforts that they asked her to become their new president.

Students repackage food collected from �鶹��Ƶ Dining. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Rosales said that one of the things that drew her to the organization was helping so many people within that supply chain, she said. “Not only are we donating to these nonprofits, but our dining staff has taken so much time to create this food that being able to make sure food continues on is rewarding. [Joining the FRN] is one of the best decisions I’ve made since entering �鶹��Ƶ,” she said.

As president she oversees all volunteers as well as coordinates communications between FRN’s national leadership, the nonprofit organizations they donate to, and �鶹��Ƶ Dining staff. “It’s a lot of emails and managing finances,” she said. “Everything needs to be done almost perfectly, from coordinating [food] drop off times to sanitation.”

Her main goal for the spring semester is to increase recruitment efforts to be able to make an even greater impact on campus and in the local community. She also wants to expand the chapter to include more opportunities for student connection.

Rosales highly recommends getting involved with sustainability efforts on campus. "Beyond the service hours, you get to see behind the scenes of where your food comes from (if you eat at the dining halls), and you're supporting the local community."

Learn about Sustainability at George �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ ASCE teams hosted, competed in 2023

Teresa Donnellan — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:00:16 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ ASCE teams hosted, competed in 2023 Teresa Donnellan Mon, 01/08/2024 - 12:00

In This Story

Doaa Bondok

Every year, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) allows its college chapters to participate in competitions that showcase the engineering knowledge and finesse of civil engineering students across the country.

Two of �鶹��Ƶ's ASCE teams—Team Surveying and Team Sustainable Solutions—participated and won in the annual competition, which was held in early spring of 2023. Led by Doaa Bondok, assistant professor of structural engineering and �鶹��Ƶ ASCE faculty advisor, the �鶹��Ƶ teams competed in challenges like the Steel Bridge Competition, Surveying Competition, and Sustainable Solutions.

“These competitions present fun challenges where students extend their engineering knowledge, think through concepts, create innovative solutions, and consider sustainability practices in their final designs,” said Bondok.

�鶹��Ƶ's student team competes in the Steel Bridge Competition at the annual ASCE Virginias' Conference, hosted by the student chapter of �鶹��Ƶ’s American Society of Civil Engineers. Photo by Bethany Camp/Office of University Branding

Several �鶹��Ƶ civil engineering students also won ASCE National Capital Section scholarships: Amber Brown, previous ASCE student vice president, received $2,500; Phillip Hunt, current ASCE student vice president, received $1500; and Kyler Resnick, ASCE recruiting and membership officer and the captain of the Steel Bridge Competition, received $1,500.

“My role as faculty advisor is to support the teams to achieve their goals,” said Bondok. “Personally, I see the most significant aspect of my role is to encourage and motivate them to overcome challenges along the way, help them grow professionally, uplift their spirit, and just being there for them.”

According to Bondok, being an ASCE student member is a rewarding experience that offers the chance to participate in and work on projects that may not be taught within a classroom and work closely with professional mentors in the industry.

Nicholo Gadiana, a �鶹��Ƶ ASCE alum, was the project lead of the Sustainable Solutions Competition in 2022.

“One thing I would advise to anyone interested is don't be afraid to let your ideas be heard,” said Gadiana, who underscored the value of being a member of �鶹��Ƶ's ASCE chapter. “Students should start having the mentality of networking and interacting with students, professors, and industry professionals when joining ASCE. After graduation, this attribute significantly improved how I approach other professionals in the industry.”

“Students have the ability to significantly improve their critical thinking abilities, gain management skills, and have a strong role on their resume that helps them be well-rounded and competitive as job candidates,” said Bondok.

The �鶹��Ƶ ASCE chapter also received an honorable mention for their outstanding activities in 2022.

Topics

Civil Engineering

competitions

student organizations

Students

College of Engineering and Computing

Native American and Indigenous Alliance builds awareness and ‘family’ at �鶹��Ƶ

Colleen Rich — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 16:46:10 +0000

Native American and Indigenous Alliance builds awareness and ‘family’ at �鶹��Ƶ Colleen Rich Fri, 11/11/2022 - 11:46

�鶹��Ƶ’s Native American and Indigenous Alliance (NAIA) works each semester to foster a sense of community for �鶹��Ƶ’s Native and non-Native students. But the month of November is an especially busy time for this student organization.

That’s because November is National Native American Heritage Month (NAHM), an opportunity to honor the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans, past and present.

NAIA’s Spring Retreat to Nanjemoy Creek in Charles County, Maryland, in March 2022. Photo provided

“It’s the reality for many people that they are going to be uneducated about topics like Native American history and culture because the society that we live in perpetuates stereotypes and false histories,” said Domi Hannon, NAIA’s internal president and a senior foreign languages major. “So we are being that welcoming space and allowing anyone to come here and learn about Native American people as an actual people, not just as a stereotype.”

NAIA has filled its November calendar with numerous events, such as attending the dedication of the National Native American Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian, and holding a beading workshop led by NAIA Secretary Mariko Nojima-Schmunk of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians.

The goal is to educate people about Indigenous history but also to “celebrate Indigenous creativity” and have “moments of good times, joy, and family,” Hannon said.

At the start of their general body meeting on Nov. 3—focused on the history of NAHM—members filled their plates with squash, chicken, salad, and other filling foods they made for a dinner together. This, they said, is a tradition they do for anyone who joins their biweekly Thursday meetings.

NAIA members, alongside Yapatoko drum members, at NAIA’s Spring 2022 Powwow on April 23. Photo by Hayley Madl/NAIA

Logan Varker, a graduate student in �鶹��Ƶ’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, said he wasn’t aware of NAHM prior to the meeting. Not only has NAIA been helpful with understanding indigeneity, Varker said, but also with his work in his HIST 685 Community Engaged History class taught by Associate Professor Gabrielle Tayac.

Each NAIA event starts with a reading of a land acknowledgement statement, something the group hopes becomes standardized across �鶹��Ƶ.

“It’s important to know whose land you’re on and the history of what these Indigenous people had to go through so that these huge buildings could be built,” said Sara Jefferson, NAIA’s external president who is also a junior conflict analysis and resolution major and a member of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe of Charles City County, Virginia.

NAIA is unique, as it’s a group for both the more than 45 Indigenous students on campus this semester and also for allies, Jefferson said. “We find strength in numbers, so having these allies come together to learn and amplify our voices is important.”

To honor LGBTQ+ History Month in October, NAIA collaborated with the LGBTQ+ Resources Center and the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment for a virtual conversation with Two-Spirit Elder Elton Naswood of the Near to the Water People Clan.

Naswood explained that a “two-spirit” is a person who identifies as having both a masculine and a feminine spirit, and is used by some Indigenous tribes to describe their sexual, gender and/or spiritual identity.

“Terms are validating and understanding,” Naswood said. “If we had terms in our Native communities, that means we existed.”

Learn more about NAIA’s events on Instagram at @gmunaia.

Topics

Students

student organizations

Native American Indigenous Alliance

Sen. Warner visits Democrats at �鶹��Ƶ

Colleen Rich — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 19:36:38 +0000

Sen. Warner visits Democrats at �鶹��Ƶ Colleen Rich Mon, 10/03/2022 - 15:36

Photo by DeRon Rockingham/Creative Services

U.S. Senator Mark Warner spoke with about 50 students Friday, Sept. 30, on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus at an event hosted by the student group Democrats at �鶹��Ƶ. Warner is the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and serves on the Committee on Finance; Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; the Committee on the Budget; and the Committee on Rules and Administration.

The senator talked about infrastructure funding, including $20 million for a bicycle–pedestrian bridge across the Potomac River from Arlington to Washington, D.C., and the war in Ukraine, and he took questions from the audience, including ones about the polarization present in national politics.

He encouraged students to vote and to be politically active.

“Our democracy, for all its flaws, is worth fighting for,” Warner told the group.

�鶹��Ƶ’s proximity to Washington, D.C., provides many opportunities for students to meet policymakers and engage with them on critical issues.

Topics

Students

�鶹��Ƶ Votes

student organizations

proximity to D.C.

Picture This

More women in STEM is this group’s benchmark

Colleen Rich — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 16:40:22 +0000

More women in STEM is this group’s benchmark Colleen Rich Wed, 08/24/2022 - 12:40

For Areeba Qureshi and Aiza Asam, president and vice president, respectively, of �鶹��Ƶ’s student-run organization STEMinists, their mission statement is clear.

Areeba Qureshi (left) and Aiza Asam of the student organization STEMinists. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

“The number of women in STEM fields is very low compared to the number of men,” Qureshi said. “We really want to battle that gender difference and increase women who are in science and engineering.”

The numbers do tell the story.

According to the Computer Research Association’s national 2020-21 Taulbee Survey, women accounted for just 22.3% of bachelor’s degrees in computer science, 17% in computer engineering and 22.7% in information technology.

�鶹��Ƶ’s graduation numbers mostly mirror those statistics, with women accounting for 19% of computer science degrees in 2020-21, 18% in computer engineering and 25.6% in information technology.

For Asam, the numbers also speak to ethnic sensibilities.

“We are children of immigrants,” she said. “So immigrants, most of them don’t have a good idea of what STEM fields are. To them, career opportunities are very simple, very basic, like lawyer, doctor. There are roles for women outside of what they’re used to. They just need an outside source to give them that information, that inspiration.”

STEMinists is only a bit more than a year old, but claims 183 members on its �鶹��Ƶ360 page.

Qureshi and Asam, both senior biology majors, have been there from the start, and collaborated on painting the colorful STEMinists bench you can’t miss as you walk north on campus past SUB I.

The organization is active.

In March, the group put on an in-person speaker event that drew an audience of 30 and included Ali Karim, founder of Global Shout, a nonprofit that, according to its website, helps those in need around the world attain the essential goods, tools and expertise to improve their lives; Lorraine Waltz, director of oncology at Virginia Hospital Center; and Soha Mohammed, a medical student at Howard University.

An event about networking is planned for next spring. There also is a planned partnership with Women in Bio, an organization of professionals that promotes careers, leadership and entrepreneurship for women in the life sciences. The groups will join forces, that will help develop prospects for internships and jobs.

That STEMinists has grown so rapidly is a testament to �鶹��Ƶ’s culture, said Asam, who transferred to �鶹��Ƶ from Northern Virginia Community College.

“I always say this to everyone, but I just love how diverse �鶹��Ƶ is and how you can learn so many new things just by having a conversation,” she said. “It gives me a sense of unity, which is very nice.”

Even so, STEMinists had some growing pains.

“Before every single meeting we were always panicking. ‘Is anyone going to show up?’” Asam said. “But we always have somewhat of a turnout and it always makes us happy.”

“I feel like we accomplished something,” Qureshi said. “I feel like we’re making a difference.”

For more information about STEMinists, go to its Instagram page @gmusteminists.

Topics

Students

student organizations

College of Science

Rising senior Alaina Ruffin and incoming �鶹��Ƶ NAACP president honored for her activism at NAACP Annual Conference

Colleen Rich — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:40:32 +0000

Rising senior Alaina Ruffin and incoming �鶹��Ƶ NAACP president honored for her activism at NAACP Annual Conference Colleen Rich Tue, 08/09/2022 - 12:40

Alaina Ruffin. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

Alaina Ruffin joined �鶹��Ƶ’s NAACP chapter her freshman year. Three years later, the rising senior English major is the organization’s incoming president.

“I was very curious because coming from my background, I had known the NAACP as such a revered, and frankly, old civil rights organization,” she said. “Especially housing big names like Ida B. Wells and W.E.B. DuBois.”

Although Ruffin, who is from Herndon, Virginia, has been an advocate since she was 15, she said she wondered what the NAACP would want with younger people, and how her generation could even contribute to the cause.

She began attending general membership meetings and getting more involved with NAACP events. Her passion for activism led Ruffin to gain more responsibility and leadership roles.

Ruffin was initially a part of the Political Action Committee and the Education Committee for �鶹��Ƶ’s NAACP chapter, and in her sophomore year served on the Executive Committee as the social justice chair.

Although the pandemic and organizational difficulties resulted in �鶹��Ƶ’s chapter being placed on hold, Ruffin continued to advocate during the Black Lives Matter social justice movement, holding multiple check-ins, discussions, and voter registration drives in the Fairfax area. “I went rogue,” she joked. “I kind of just took matters into my own hands.”

Ruffin played a pivotal role in officially reactivating the formerly inactive chapter in May 2021.

Philip Wilkerson, the manager of industry advising and employer development in University Career Services, has been the faculty advisor for �鶹��Ƶ’s NAACP chapter since 2019.

“Alaina was built for this,” Wilkerson said. “Every president before her has gone on to do great things, and I know she will too.”

In addition to serving as the chapter’s vice president her junior year, Ruffin served as the first vice president in the Virginia NAACP Youth and College Division for an interim period. She also reactivated NAACP chapters in the Loudoun Youth Advisory Council, the Stafford Youth Council, and the University of Lynchburg.

For all of her hard work, Ruffin is the recipient of two NAACP Annual Conference Awards: the 2022 Gloster B. Current Organizer of the Year Award and the Medgar Wiley Evers Youth Leadership Award in the College Short Story Category.

“I wasn’t expecting to win one, let alone both,” she said.

The latter award, presented in honor of the Civil Rights figure, has three categories: an essay, a short story, and a poem.

Evers is one of Ruffin’s idols, and she compares her feelings as a Black woman in contemporary America to how Evers, the first NAACP field secretary, must have felt at times, and takes strength knowing that he forged ahead.

“The award is a testament to his memory and the work he did, not just as a civil rights figure but as a character in conceptualizing how we perceive racial justice advocacy today,” Ruffin said.

As the incoming president of �鶹��Ƶ’s NAACP chapter, Ruffin said she can’t wait to join forces with other students in hopes of creating a more just world.

“Advocacy is multifarious,” she said. “There is a place for you in the movement. Even when we doubt ourselves, we still have something to contribute to our futures.”

Topics

Students

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

student organizations

student organizations

Historic victory for George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team

Related News

Topics

This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all

Related Stories

Topics

Student group ‘Accessible’ connects global tech with local advocacy

Related News

Student literary journal recognized with Pacemaker award

Topics

Student organization recovers more than 1,600 pounds of food from dining halls, campus events

Related Stories

�鶹��Ƶ ASCE teams hosted, competed in 2023

In This Story

Topics

Native American and Indigenous Alliance builds awareness and ‘family’ at �鶹��Ƶ

Topics

Sen. Warner visits Democrats at �鶹��Ƶ

Topics

More women in STEM is this group’s benchmark

Topics

Rising senior Alaina Ruffin and incoming �鶹��Ƶ NAACP president honored for her activism at NAACP Annual Conference

Related Stories

Topics