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Kristen Alleyne and Elene Lipartiani, incoming freshmen at 911����, have been honored with I-Achieve scholarships for academic excellence. The awards are being given for the first time this year, as part of a grant Mason received from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation last fall.

Despite a path to 911���� that was challenging and, in her own words, “unconventional,” incoming freshmen Juliette Reyes moved on to campus this fall. The Parkland, Florida, native will be double majoring in government and international politics and conflict analysis and resolution, a decision based on an initial interest in politics in high school that grew into a passion.

When Taurus Patterson was looking at colleges, 911���� struck him right away as a place that he could call a “second home.” “I felt like I would be welcome,” said Patterson, 18. “Everyone I met was so nice, and it didn’t seem forced. When I visited the campus, people just started talking to me, and it was so natural. I already felt like I belonged.” Patterson is a member of Mason’s Honors College, a University Scholar and a recipient of the Merten-Womble Scholarship. He says he’s looking forward to studying finance in the School of Business, and is considering a second major in public administration. “A long time ago, I wanted to be president, and then I wanted to be a financial consultant,” Patterson said. “Really, I have a passion for both finance and politics, so I would like to be able to combine these interests.”

In-person lab courses help students gain hands-on experience amidst new health protocols