As part of its commitment to sustainability and community engagement, George Mason University Korea held its fifth annual beach clean-up at Masian Beach in Yeongjongdo, Incheon, on Saturday, April 19. Organized under the Mason Cares Program, the initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aims to positively impact the local community. Students, faculty, and staff from both Mason Korea and the University of Utah Asia Campus participated.
“It was a meaningful experience to join community members in working together to restore the beach,” said Noble Gabriel, a junior Computer Game Design major from George Mason’s Fairfax campus.
The event featured plogging, an eco-friendly practice that combines jogging and picking up litter. Now in its fifth year, the clean-up has become a key part of Mason Korea’s community outreach, inspiring sustainable action.
“Leading these beach cleaning experiences is always meaningful, but this year, seeing participants work diligently to restore the area despite strong chilly winds, was especially inspiring and affirmed the value of service in our Mason Korea community,” said Lauren Poindexter, Senior Coordinator of Student Involvement.
The Mason Cares Program is Mason Korea’s signature social impact initiative. As a UN Global Compact member, the campus partners with the local community on hands-on volunteer and learning opportunities, such as coastal clean-ups, youth mentoring, SDG-focused English programs, and campaigns like the Zero Waste Challenge.
“It was deeply meaningful to see our students and faculty come together once again to give back to the Incheon community,” said Joshua Park, Campus Dean of Mason Korea. “Through the Mason Cares Program, we will continue putting our educational mission—pursuing a more just and prosperous society—into action by delivering a real social value.”
