One of the best parts of my job as campus dean is meeting Mason Korean students. So many of them have amazing stories and have already accomplished so much.
Many of these same students can realize their potential because they receive Mason Korea need-based scholarships supported by our generous donors. Our No Limits: Fall Fundraising Campaign ends in less than two weeks on December, 31, 2023. As of this writing, we are at $57,966, or 82% of our campaign goal of $70,000.
Who are you supporting when you contribute to our scholarship fund? There’s Sherlin Amaya Medrano, featured in this month’s newsletter. Sherlin, whose family is from El Salvador and who hails from Northern Virgina, is a force of nature at Mason Korea. She co-founded our Multicultural Exchange Club, serves as a member of the Patriot Activities Council, which organizes activities for the Mason Korea student community, and created the English Café, a language exchange program that serves Incheon parents and their children together, while she was an intern for our lifelong learning program, Incheon Citizen’s College. Sherlin was just elected president of Mason Korea student government for 2024.
"As a first-generation college student, studying abroad initially seemed impossible for me. However, after being exposed to George Mason University's fantastic community, I learned of their campus abroad program and knew I had to seize the opportunity. Coming to Korea has been one of the best decisions I have made for myself and my family," Sherlin told me.
In addition to lower-cost, in-state tuition, additional scholarships support Sherlin at Mason Korea. This support, Sherlin said, enables her to study at Mason Korea and "to make a difference without worrying about my financial situation or my family's well-being."
Or take Jackie Baek Gouen, featured in our June 2023 newsletter. Jackie spent the first part of 2023 on an internship in Malawi, where she served as program coordinator for the Miracle for Africa Foundation (MAF). While in Malawi, she served as a manager at Daeyang Luke Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, and presented MAF's initiatives to Malawi President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and its Ministry of Education. She also served as an interpreter for the MAF at key meetings with government ministries and partner NGOs. Once back in Korea, she continued to work at MAF’s headquarters in Seoul.
A scholarship recipient herself, Jackie is seeking to expand MAF’s donor network. "I want to create similar opportunities for other students by expanding MAF's network and offering scholarships to students in need," she said. Jackie is currently on a one-year leave of absence in order to earn tuition before embarking on her transition to the Fairfax campus.
When you give to Mason Korea you are providing needed material support. But that is not all. By investing in our students, you are giving them confidence in their own potential and you are giving them the example of service to others.
I make most of my charitable donations at the end of the year, in this season of giving. If you’re like me, I hope you will consider a year-end donation to Mason Korea. Help us reach our fundraising goal, and, more importantly, help students like Sherin, Jackie and so many others here at Mason Korea continue to grow into the true leaders I know they will become.