The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations celebrated faculty and staff donors at A Night of Stars, an event centered on the appreciation of the university’s leadership. “Thank you for your generosity, which helps our students succeed,” said President Gregory Washington. “It is supporters like you, people who care about the mission and the potential of this place, that has made it what it is today, and that will propel it into the future.”
The occasion transformed the Hub ballroom on the Fairfax Campus into a dinner reception for 200 guests, featuring jazz music, fellowship with colleagues, and plenty of gratitude.
“I want to be very clear, the stars in the room tonight are all of you,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the George Mason University Foundation and vice president for advancement and alumni relations, noting that the faculty staff give generously of their time, talent, and treasure, “investing in George Mason’s mission and creating incredible opportunities for our students.”
Bowden also announced the launch of a new George Mason tradition: a set of awards to recognize the generosity and dedication of inspirational faculty and staff members. The inaugural Luminary Award, which honors faculty donors whose philanthropy and advocacy serve as a shining example for the university community, was given to Kim Eby, vice provost for faculty affairs and development. “There is something remarkably powerful about being part of change in the trajectory of someone’s life,” she said, accepting the recognition.
Philip Wilkerson III, MEd ’23, was chosen to receive the first Spirit of Giving Award, which recognizes a staff member who embodies the university’s philanthropic spirit. Wilkerson, an employer engagement consultant with the Office of Career Services, is well known for his support of students, and for launching Pats for Patriots, a human resources program that allows faculty and staff to submit kudos to their colleagues for acts of kindness, making sure that they do not go unnoticed. He credited George Mason for helping him to find his path. “It was at Mason that I found what I wanted to do,” he said. “I wanted to be an educator. I wanted to help people.”
A true star of the evening was Chloe Ogurek, one of several students attending the event. Ogurek, a senior majoring in criminology, law and society, was able to use the Stay Mason Student Support Fund to continue her education in the face of significant economic difficulties, and spoke to the donors about her experience. “I know that many of you here tonight have supported funds like this,” she said. “Without your concern for students, I would not have been able to continue my studies here. I truly don’t know what I would have done without your generosity.”
Bowden reminded the gathered faculty and staff that giving is not just a financial act, and that their service to the university encompasses their teaching, mentoring, encouragement, and volunteer work to continue to make George Mason an environment where everyone can thrive together. It 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,” she said.
By Kendra Anderson