General Scholarship Thank-You Letters
Wuilmer H.
Curriculum and Instruction, MEd
Concentration in ESOL Education (PK–12)
Herndon, Virginia
I am honored to be selected for the 2025-2026 General Scholarship. I am truly grateful for your generous support.
“Once again, thank you for funding the General Scholarship and making a real difference in my life.”
I grew up in Honduras and moved to the United States in 2016. As a first-generation college student, attending Mason has been a life-changing experience. I want to inspire young minds and help shape the future by giving students tools and confidence they need to succeed. I hope to advocate for policies and practices that create more equitable opportunities for students. I am particularly passionate about developing support systems that address students’ academic needs as well as nurture their emotional and social well-being.
In addition, I dedicate time to community service, particularly volunteering with programs that support immigrant families, and I have also helped children with some tutoring. These experiences reinforce my purpose as a teacher and remind me why I chose this field.
Once again, thank you for funding the General Scholarship and making a real difference in my life. Because of your support, I can focus more on my studies and less on the financial burden of college. You are truly helping to shape my future, and I will carry this support with me along my journey.
Sokona D.
Psychology, BS
Concentrations in Clinical Psychology and Forensic Psychology
Manassas, Virginia
I would like to sincerely thank you for providing me with the funds to cover my tuition. Your generosity has made a significant difference in the last stretch of my academic journey and allowed me to stay focused on my goals.
My family is originally from Mali in West Africa, and my mom and sisters moved back to the United States in 2017 when my sister started attending Mason. Having a single mother struggle to support her children financially has shaped my perspective on resilience and responsibility. Watching her sacrifice for her children has pushed me to take my education seriously and strive for success despite all the challenges we have faced as a family.
Over the past year, I interned with the George Mason Center for Community Mental Health and served with ServeVirginia, implementing an upstream suicide prevention initiative in schools. I loved the idea that I could help someone, even if it was just one person. Eventually I plan to obtain a master’s in social work and hopefully a PsyD in clinical psychology.
Thank you once again for your generosity and for investing in me. I truly appreciate your support and the opportunity you have given me.
Jamie S.
Information Technology, BS
Spotsylvania, Virginia
I am writing to express my deepest and most sincere gratitude for your incredible generosity in providing the funds for my education. I truly appreciate your support as this award reinforces the value of my hard work and encourages me to continue striving for excellence as a proud Patriot.
My high school cybersecurity teacher Mr. Williams, a proud and passionate Mason alumnus, introduced me to George Mason University. He saw my potential when few others did and encouraged me to apply, leading me to choose Mason as the only university I applied to. A simple conversation about attending a four-year university changed my life.
“This scholarship significantly impacts my ability to succeed academically by providing stability and allowing me to dedicate more time to my rigorous studies, my apprenticeship, and professional certifications.”
George Mason has impacted my life by providing a platform for leadership and service. I was previously the vice president and am the current student advisor for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). As vice president, I successfully secured corporate sponsorships to fund our members’ attendance of the national convention, and the Hispanic Latine Leadership Alliance awarded my team “Best Registered Student Organization.” I also serve as a social media officer for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and as an admissions outreach fellow, leading campus tours and panels for K-12 students, sharing my authentic experience to inspire them.
Outside my 16-credit course load and leadership roles, I am a Fellow for the Technology Apprenticeship Program led by the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation, where I learn about new and upcoming technology in the broadcasting industry. The technical foundations from my telecommunications class directly assist me in my apprenticeship. I will complete a capstone for this program, and the NABLF will be placing me at a radio or television station this summer to work as a broadcast engineer intern.
Upon completing my studies, I plan to ultimately serve as a cybersecurity analyst within a federal agency. To fully prepare for the field, I am currently working toward my first CompTIA certification in networking. I will also remain active with the SHPE professional chapter in Washington, D.C., to mentor future STEM students. This scholarship significantly impacts my ability to succeed academically by providing stability and allowing me to dedicate more time to my rigorous studies, my apprenticeship, and professional certifications.
Thanks again for your gift. I appreciate the scholarship assistance. Your support reminds me of the strength of the Mason Nation, and I am committed to making the most of this opportunity.
Miles S.
Music, BM
Concentration in Music Education
Camden Wyoming, Delaware
Thank you so much for your generosity and your thoughtfulness in supporting the General Scholarship. I pray that you have peace and joy in your lives for giving generously.
Although my academic journey has had many difficulties both mentally and financially, I still wake up finding joy in learning new skills and concepts for music making. I applied to Mason, because I wanted to be somewhere that gave me the best opportunity to grow as a musician and teacher. My family works very hard to support me in my education. Scholarships like this are crucial for my success as a student at this school.
I plan to pursue a career in teaching music at a beginner level or at a high school. My passion is to help others find their unique artistic voice and find a love for music like I did. Next, I may join an Air Force Band to help me grow as a musician and potentially pursue a master’s degree in trumpet performance.
Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you for this generous gift. This scholarship means so much to me. My family and I are grateful for your kindness and support of students like me at George Mason University. Please continue your great service and support, helping students succeed and achieve their goals in school.
Sama A.
Business, BS
Concentration in Accounting
Great Falls, Virginia
I would like to sincerely thank you for your generosity to this wonderful institution, which has made continuing my education possible.
As a child of immigrants who had no access to higher education, college was not a privilege but a dream for me and my family. I grew up supporting my family in any way I could through working many jobs, starting organizations in the McLean community, including a program for tutoring, and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. After high school, my parents offered to take on my college education expenses fully, but I declined. Education was not only their dream for me but also my dream for them. I want to show that their sacrifices are recognized and deeply valued, and education is a collective effort.
At the beginning of every semester, my family and I evaluate if we have the funds for the upcoming semester or if I should take time off from school to save. This scholarship has lifted that burden, allowing me to stay on track for my graduation, completely uninterrupted. This would not be possible without the kindness of donors like yourself. Thank you, truly.
“I would like to sincerely thank you for your generosity to this wonderful institution, which has made continuing my education possible.”
Attending George Mason University has allowed me to remain rooted and remain a part of my lifelong community and family while doing the job I love most, teaching and mentoring. After taking my first accounting class, I was amazed by the material—challenging but rewarding—and by the professors who wish for you to succeed and excel beyond what is in a gradebook. Today, I volunteer for my introductory accounting professor as a teaching assistant to give back for the skills and knowledge that were awarded to me. I am also on the board of several accounting associations and maintain a 4.0 GPA. Being in such proximity to the wonderful collection of family, mentors, and professors in our new College of Business is what inspires me to continue on my path.
Upon completing my undergraduate studies, I plan on fulfilling my dream of working for a Big Four accounting firm while earning my CPA license and continuing to give back to the university and professors who pushed me the most to become the student and person I am today. I am happy to share with you that after completing my first internship, I already have a job waiting for me when I graduate in May 2027. I am excited to one day become a donor myself, supporting another aspirational scholar who stands where I stand and dreams as big as I dream.
Thank you for your compassion.
Vetle R.
Criminology, Law and Society, BS
Quantico, Virginia
“All in all, this scholarship will be a massive help for me to walk that stage in May of 2027.”
Your generosity made it possible for me to receive this General Scholarship. It represents your support and encouragement and means unbelievably much to me.
In 2021, my family moved here from Norway because my father, a lieutenant colonel in the Norwegian Army, was stationed to work with the U.S. Marine Corps. Three years later my family returned when my father’s deployment ended. I chose to stay, finish what I started, and graduate with at least my bachelor’s degree. Since freshman year, my goal has been to graduate with honors. I am now a junior with a 4.0 GPA and one of ten students in this year’s criminology honors seminar.
Having a degree in criminology will help me get closer to achieving my goals: starting a family that I can take care of and ending a day’s work knowing I tried to make the world a better place. I also want to learn how to do a standing backflip, and you never know, George Mason might help me with that, too.
All in all, this scholarship will be a massive help for me to walk that stage in May of 2027. Thank you again for this gift and the opportunity to continue studying here at George Mason. I will continue to put my all into everything I do, and I can promise you that none of this will go to waste.