For many university students, scholarships are more than financial support. They represent a bridge to opportunity, enabling students to pursue their dreams and aspirations. At George Mason University, scholarship donors help pave the way for education that will not only shape students’ futures but also prepare them to serve their communities.
“As president, I have the privilege of seeing that long arc of what you all are a part of. A single act of generosity that becomes a chain of impact for generations,” said Gregory Washington during the 2026 Scholarship Celebration on April 23. “When you sow into George Mason soil, the outgrowth is tremendous.”
The event, hosted by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, brought together scholarship donors and extraordinary students who are the recipients of those scholarships, giving all attendees the chance to connect and hear firsthand how scholarships have made a difference in students’ lives. Throughout the evening, each student story reflected how scholarship support can open doors, remove barriers, and create pathways to experiences that empower both personal growth and future impact.
“Being a scholarship recipient has shaped my college experience and who I am,” said Avery Shippen, BA Art and Visual Technology, BS Conflict Analysis and Resolution ’26, a University Scholar who has also received the Oxford Consortium Scholarship, the Peraton Scholarship, and the Noah J. Seidenberg Endowed Scholarship. In May, Shippen completed two degrees with a concentration in building peace in divided societies. Her story illustrated how scholarships can connect academic ambition with life-changing opportunities beyond the classroom. Noting her study abroad experience at Oxford University, Shippen expressed that these scholarships have “not only allowed me to pursue my undergraduate degrees but also provided me with opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to me.”
That same sense of opportunity through support was echoed in the arts. Honors College student Lena Rice, who is pursuing dual bachelor of music degrees in classical piano performance and jazz studies in steel pan, is a recipient of the Dr. Linda Apple Monson Scholarship. She performed piano and steel pan selections as part of the Scholarship Celebration.
“As a Monson scholarship recipient, I have been given something incredibly meaningful…the ability to fully invest in my music, which has really helped me grow as an artist,” Rice said.
For graduate students as well, scholarship support can provide the freedom to deepen their craft and expand their impact. Katey Funderburgh, MFA Creative Writing ’26, pursued poetry while teaching creative writing, serving as lead teacher in the Poetry Alive! program, and co-coordinating the Incarcerated Writer’s Project. She said that receiving the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award “allowed for me to breathe and focus on my passions.” Funderburgh shared her own award-winning poem and spoke of how scholarship support enhanced her education.
“As a recipient, I was able to attend a literary conference to learn about art, community through art, and how to make my own art better,” she said.
George Mason University Foundation trustee Jason Howell, BS ’97, hosted the event and summed up the power of generosity.
“Scholarships,” Howell said, “create the conditions for students to discover who they are, pursue what they love, and ultimately make an impact far beyond even their own expectations.”
