K-12 Partnerships

911�� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms

ckearney — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 20:16:20 +0000

911�� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms ckearney Thu, 10/08/2026 - 16:16

Quantum technologies are poised to transform computing, communications, and national security. At 911��, faculty are working to ensure students do not have to wait until college to begin imagining themselves as part of that future.

Through a growing series of professional development opportunities, 911��’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center (QSEC) is partnering with K-12 educators to make quantum science approachable, relevant, and practical for students.

That work accelerated this summer, when educators participated in a three-day professional learning experience supported by the National Science Foundation-funded Quantum in the Middle initiative and the Booz Allen Foundation’s TechXplore initiative. Led by faculty from 911��’s College of Science and College of Education and Human Development, the program helped teachers explore quantum concepts, consider age-appropriate approaches for their classrooms, and examine how quantum learning can build from elementary school through higher education.

911�� physics professor Jessica Rosenberg talks to area educators at the Quantum in Your Classroom workshop. Photo by Christopher Hewes/Office of University Branding

“We’re building pathways into quantum and connecting them to the standards and curriculum teachers already use,” said Jessica Rosenberg, professor of physics and astronomy and QSEC director of education. “We want students to encounter these ideas early, build the knowledge they’ll need over time, and be ready for quantum opportunities when they reach college or pursue quantum-adjacent technical careers.”

Teachers are central to developing that pathway. Summer participants explored classroom activities and were invited to test them with their students, giving 911�� faculty an opportunity to learn directly from educators about what works in real classrooms.

“We’re developing a roadmap educators can use from elementary through high school, but we’re developing it with teachers, not simply for them,” said Nancy Holincheck, associate professor of STEM education and QSEC associate director of education. “Their experience and feedback help us identify activities that spark curiosity, build confidence, and give students the foundation to see themselves in future quantum careers.”

Teachers try out some experiments at the Quantum in Your Classroom workshop. Photo by Christopher Hewes/Office of University Branding

That teacher-focused effort continued this fall with Quantum in Your Classroom, a one-day professional development workshop on 911��’s Fairfax Campus. Designed for educators with no previous quantum experience, the workshop introduced quantum concepts and provides classroom resources for grades 6-12. Teachers explored quantum processes through activities including a simple polarization experiment and received curriculum materials adaptable for elementary and secondary classrooms.

Rosenberg and Holincheck want to extend this effort beyond individual workshops or lessons. They envision an educational pathway that allows a student’s first encounter with quantum science to grow into deeper learning, higher education, and ultimately participation in an emerging workforce.

Quantum in Your Classroom gives educators a place to start, while giving 911�� researchers something equally valuable—the perspective of teachers who understand how students learn and can help shape how the quantum workforce journey begins.

By putting teachers at the center of that work, 911�� is helping quantum education reach students where their curiosity begins: in the classroom.

Learn more about Quantum at 911��

Power the Possible

Topics

Campus News

quantum

Quantum Science and Engineering Center

College of Education and Human Development

K-12 Partnerships

College of Science

philanthropy

Mason Now: Power the Possible

Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service sees highest participation in a decade

Katarina Benson — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:37:07 +0000

Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service sees highest participation in a decade Katarina Benson Thu, 10/08/2026 - 12:37

Nearly 400 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members participated in 911��’s 14th annual Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service, the event’s strongest turnout in nearly a decade. The day brought together volunteer-led projects, educational programming, and a community blood drive. An opening ceremony and “Thank You Lunch” in Dewberry Hall honored veterans and first responders.

Volunteers making animal blankets. Photo by Andani Munkaila

Participants registered for 632 volunteer shifts, with many serving in multiple projects throughout the day. Nearly 100 additional attendees participated as walk-ins. Registration more than tripled last year’s total and reached its highest level in the past 10 years.

Projects included making toys and blankets for animals in local shelters, working in 911��’s Innovation Food Forest, picking up trash on campus, writing cards, and collecting and sorting donations for Women Giving Back.

The event also strengthened connections between 911�� and the broader community. A group of fifth-grade students from Pattie Elementary School in Prince William County participated in a Leadership for Positive Change workshop facilitated by student staff from the Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement. The Pattie Elementary School student group also ran a picture frame decorating project and spoke at the luncheon, reflecting on their volunteering and workshop participation. Prince William County Schools created a video highlighting the day’s events.

Students from Pattie Elementary. Photo by Andani Munkaila

911�� partnered with Inova to host a blood drive, which attracted 90 donors and produced 57 blood products, including 37 units of whole blood and 20 units of red cells. According to Inova, it was the largest blood collection effort held at 911�� in years.

Taking part in the Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service offers volunteers a way to give back to the university and local communities and contribute to positive change.

Topics

Mason Artist-in-Residence Music From The Sole Shares the Joy of Tap with 911�� Community—and Beyond

Laura Mertens — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:04:45 +0000

Mason Artist-in-Residence Music From The Sole Shares the Joy of Tap with 911�� Community—and Beyond Laura Mertens Fri, 10/02/2026 - 12:04

Mason Artist-in-Residence Music From The Sole arrived at 911�� last month for a week packed with workshops, classes, discussions, and community events. Working with staff, faculty, students, and local educators, members of the acclaimed live music and dance company shared their knowledge of tap, percussion, and Afro-diasporic music, along with their real-world expertise as performing artists.

As part of Mason Artist-in-Residence Music From The Sole's engagement activities, cofounder Leonardo Sandoval and company members Gerson Lanza and Ana Tomioshi worked with students in 911�� School of Dance Professor Christopher D'Amboise's beginner tap class.

The residency kicked off on September 21, 2026, before Music From The Sole had even arrived on campus, when members joined graduate students in the Arts Management Program for a virtual conversation moderated by Professor Eric Oberstein. Two days later, faculty and staff welcomed the company to campus with a welcome lunch and then beginner tap students had the opportunity to work closely with members of the ensemble during a masterclass at the School of Dance. The energetic session drew praise from Professor Christopher d’Amboise.

“I cannot say enough about the generosity and joyful spirit of everyone from Music for the Sole. They are such talented dancers and musicians and were so generous with their time and spirit,” he said. “They are a very special and unique ‘family’ of artists.”

Sandoval teaches a tap class at Metropolitan School of the Arts.

After the morning class, Music From The Sole headed over to Metropolitan School of the Arts, an Alexandria nonprofit, to lead two free open-to-the-public masterclasses with intermediate and advanced tap students.

On September 24, the group visited Hunters Woods Elementary for Arts and Sciences in Reston to lead an assembly on body percussion, where they received an enthusiastic reception.

“We were beyond thrilled to welcome Music From The Sole to Hunters Woods Elementary,” said Julie Ohrnberger, who serves as the school’s K–6 dance educator. “Bringing their vibrant fusion of tap dance and percussive movement to our second and third graders offered our students an incredible opportunity to experience storytelling through rhythm and sound. Watching our young learners discover new ways to express themselves and connect with art in such an interactive, high-energy environment was truly unforgettable.”

Following the field trip performance, Music From the Sole members led a body percussion workshop onstage at the Center for the Arts.

More area kids got in on the fun on September 25 during a field trip matinee performance at the Center for the Arts, which was followed by an afternoon body percussion workshop for students. The day wrapped up with a lecture/demonstration and dinner hosted by the Brazilian Student Association at 911�� that provided opportunities for questions and socializing.

Cofounder Leonardo Sandoval participates in the discussion with company members and students from the Brazilian Student Association at Mason (BRASA).

The residency culminated in a Center for the Arts performance on Saturday evening. After participating in a pre-performance discussion with Professor D’Amboise, Music From The Sole took to the stage to deliver I Didn’t Come to Stay, a rousing, Carnival-inspired work led by choreographer Leonardo Sandoval and composer Gregory Richardson that showcased the company’s distinctive blend of samba, passinho (Brazilian funk), Afro Cuban, jazz, and house. The night was a celebration—and the perfect way to finish off the first residency of the 2026–27 season.

Music From The Sole's "I Didn't Come to Stay" at the Center for the Arts

The Mason Artist-in-Residence program is supported in part by the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund.

Launched during the 2019–20 season through 911��’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Mason Artist-in-Residence program connects artists appearing at the Center for the Arts and its sister-venue the Hylton Performing Arts Center with on- and off-campus communities. Artists engaged at the Center for the Arts have included Maria Schneider, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, Indigenous Enterprise, Sphinx Virtuosi, Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, Third Coast Percussion, Camille A. Brown and Dancers, Small Island Big Song, Ballet Hispánico, the Silkroad Ensemble, Versa-Style Street Dance Company, Papermoon Puppet Theatre, and Limón Dance Company. Mason Artists-in-Residence coming up in the 2026–27 season at the Center for the Arts include the Grammy Award-winning Third Coast Percussion in February 2027 and S ilkroad Ensemble, returning in March for its fifth consecutive year in residence.

Learn more about the Mason Artist-in-Residence program

Learn more about CFPA

In This Story

Christopher d'Amboise

Topics

Mason Artists-in-Residence

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

911�� researcher brings critical AI literacy program to Prince George’s County

Nathan Kahl — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:18:35 +0000

911�� researcher brings critical AI literacy program to Prince George’s County Nathan Kahl Mon, 08/31/2026 - 18:18

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms society, 911�� researcher Thema Monroe-White is helping prepare the next generation not just to use the technology, but to navigate it thoughtfully and responsibly. Her work empowers students to understand AI's opportunities, limitations, and consequences, giving them the agency to make informed choices in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Thema Monroe-White. Photo provided

Monroe-White, an associate professor with appointments in the Department of Computer Science and the Schar School of Policy and Government, is part of a new $1 million initiative aimed at helping Prince George’s County students understand not only how to use AI, but how AI works, who it affects, and when it should and should not be used.

The project is funded by the Pull Up Fund, a philanthropic organization focused on supporting youth in Prince George’s County through its Youth AI Mastery and Proficiency initiative. 911�� is working with Ashley Griffin Gilchrist at Bowie State University and Evan Shieh at the Young Data Scientists League (YDSL) on the project. The initial award covers a one-year pilot, with the potential for two additional years of funding.

For Monroe-White, “AI mastery” shouldn't simply mean becoming proficient at using the latest AI platform. “To have or gain AI mastery requires not that you know how to prompt any given model,” she said. Instead, students should understand some of the technical machinery underneath AI, including how models generate outputs, as well as the human and social systems surrounding the technology.

That approach, known as critical AI literacy, asks students to examine issues such as algorithmic bias, labor, privacy, surveillance, environmental impacts, and the human work involved in creating AI systems. It also encourages them to question the technology itself rather than treating AI as a mysterious digital oracle.

“What does it mean? What is it doing? How is it operating? How is it affecting my life?” Monroe-White said.

The Prince George’s County initiative builds on work Monroe-White recently completed with New York City Public Schools and YDSL. Through the Exploring Equity in AI fellowship, educators explored ways to bring critical AI literacy into K-12 classrooms. The program defines AI literacy as encompassing not merely using AI, but “critiquing, researching, evaluating, (re)designing, and reimagining AI.”

The New York effort included topics ranging from AI and consent and algorithmic auditing to data centers and questions about how “intelligent” artificial intelligence actually is. Monroe-White and YDSL Executive Director Evan Shieh served as facilitators of the Critical AI component. Monroe-White is also an external research collaborator with YDSL.

After completing the New York pilot and a public showcase in June, Monroe-White saw the Prince George’s County project as an opportunity to expand the approach closer to home.

“We wanted to expand it and keep the work going,” she said. “And so that’s what we’re doing with Maryland and this county.”

Ultimately, Monroe-White wants young people to understand the technology well enough to make informed decisions about it themselves. Students, she said, should graduate “armed and equipped with the knowledge that most don’t have that demystifies AI,” allowing them to engage in meaningful conversations about when AI is appropriate and what consequences its use might have.

“It’s more of an agency-based training,” Monroe-White said. “It’s lifting up their own individual agency so that they’re empowered in this revolutionary moment.”

In This Story

Thema Monroe-White

Explore AI at 911��

Topics

Artificial Intelligence

Research

K-12 Partnerships

College of Engineering and Computing

Schar School of Policy and Government

GCI-Education

Fall for the Book’s Writers in the Schools reaches more than 1,000 students

Katarina Benson — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:45:43 +0000

Fall for the Book’s Writers in the Schools reaches more than 1,000 students Katarina Benson Wed, 08/12/2026 - 08:45

Last year, Fall for the Book’s annual Writers in the School series reached nearly 1,200 K-12 students in the Fairfax County Public Schools with their Writers in the School series. The program, organized by the 911��-based festival, is designed to introduce students to authors and encourage interest in reading and writing.

Misako Rocks! taught students how to draw manga. Photo provided.

Last fall Japanese writer and artist Misako Rocks! visited Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax to show students how to draw manga. Misako Rocks! has published many graphic novels including Bounce Back, winner of the American Library Association’s 2021 Best Graphic Novels for Children. She also conducted a manga drawing workshop and signed books during 2025 Fall for the Book Festival.

"Having Misako visit was such a joy for the Robinson community. It can be difficult to secure school funding for author talks, and we were so fortunate to receive this opportunity through Fall for the Book. It was really a special day and truly enriched the learning of the 250 students who were able to participate,” said Michael Van Wambeke, Robinson Secondary School Library.

Local author Ann McCallum Staats visited Mosaic Elementary School, also in Fairfax, to teach students about botany with the help of her book Fantastic Flora: The World’s Biggest, Baddest, and Smelliest Plants.

Award-winning writer and professor of English at William Paterson University Marina Budhos visited Manassas Park High School to discuss teenage life and immigrant families. Her recent book, Tell Us We're Home, follows three eighth-grade girls in Massachusetts.

Author Ann McCallum Staats at Mosaic Elementary School. Photo provided

“We worked with the schools to create meaningful, immersive activities to connect the featured books with their current schoolwork,” said Kara Oakleaf, director of Fall for the Book and a faculty member in 911��’s English Department. “For many of these children and teens, it was their first time seeing an author speak in person.”

Engaging with authors allows students to learn more about the writing process, increases interest in reading, and improves literacy outcomes.

At this year's festival, which runs October 6-10, authors will again visit schools.

Cassandra James, international bestselling author of fantasy epics for teens, will visit Chantilly High School. Her debut duology, Capitana and Libertad, has been translated into multiple languages and was chosen for the Junior Library Guild Gold Selection.

Marcie Flinchum Atkins is a teacher-librarian and the author of When Twilight Comes. The author of several nonfiction books for children, she will speak to Mosaic Elementary students about crepuscular plants and animals active in summer in Virginia. Atkins’s debut historical YA novel, One Step Forward, is about the youngest suffragist imprisoned at Occoquan Workhouse.

Based at 911��, Fall for the Book is an independent nonprofit literary arts organization that promotes reading by sponsoring a variety of year-round events and activities on the 911��’s Fairfax Campus and throughout Northern Virginia.

Topics

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

College of Education and Human Development launches initiative to strengthen Virginia’s educator workforce

Katarina Benson — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:04:24 +0000

College of Education and Human Development launches initiative to strengthen Virginia’s educator workforce Katarina Benson Mon, 02/23/2026 - 11:04

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at 911�� is kicking off Future Ready Teachers, a new initiative designed to strengthen Virginia’s educator workforce by removing financial barriers, innovating and elevating teacher preparation, and supporting teachers from entry through their early years in the classroom.

Future Ready Teachers responds to a growing challenge in Virginia and across the nation: Too many aspiring educators step away from the profession—or leave it early—due to cost, limited early-career support, and salaries that often do not align with the cost of living. The result is a teacher shortage that disproportionately affects high-poverty, rural, and high-need schools, limiting PK–12 students’ access to stable, high-quality learning environments. With deep regional partnerships and a strong track record of preparing effective educators, 911�� is positioned to deliver a scalable, high-impact solution.

Future Ready Teachers supports future educators. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“At 911��, we believe every aspiring educator deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of financial barriers or the realities of sustaining a career in teaching today,” said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of CEHD. “Future Ready Teachers reflects our responsibility to address the nation’s teacher shortage by investing not only in access, but in forward-looking innovative preparation, sustained support, and long-term success in the profession.”

The urgency is clear. Eighty-six percent of U.S. public schools report hiring challenges due to a lack of qualified applicants, with Virginia reporting more than 3,600 teacher vacancies in 2024-25. Each Future Ready Teachers scholar represents a stable classroom and hundreds of students reached over a career, strengthening schools and communities across the commonwealth.

“Teacher preparation is the cornerstone of educational excellence,” said Audra Parker, director of CEHD’s Office of Teacher Preparation. “When we invest in teachers and teacher preparation, we’re investing in the lives of students who will shape tomorrow’s future.”

The initiative focuses on three priorities: removing financial barriers, advancing teacher preparation for evolving classrooms demands, and supporting educators beyond graduation. Funds raised will provide full-ride and cost-of-living scholarships and sustain a rigorous model that integrates structured mentorship, a three-year induction program, and preparation for technology-enabled, data-rich learning environments, positioning teaching as a rigorous, future-ready profession designed to attract and retain top talent.

This comprehensive approach positions Future Ready Teachers as more than a scholarship effort; It is a workforce strategy designed to increase teacher retention, reduce preventable turnover, and strengthen long-term classroom stability.

“Future Ready Teachers represents a bold commitment to every child, every classroom, and every future,” said Guerra-López. “It is an investment in people and in the long-term strength and stability of our education system.”

This initiative supports the Advancing 21st-Century Education for All solution of 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative

Future Ready Teachers is part of the Mason Now campaign.

Outdoor learning at Burke Lake shows students science career pathways

sholla4 — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:42:18 +0000

Outdoor learning at Burke Lake shows students science career pathways sholla4 Mon, 01/26/2026 - 09:42

Cynthia "Cindy" Smith (left) works with one of the seventh grade students. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Down at the shores of Burke Lake, seventh-grade students squeal in delight and disgust. They've found a collection of invertebrates under a rock. Their field interpreter—a 911�� student—gathers them around to take a closer look and identify what they see. Nearby, another group of students takes water samples. Another group measures the soil compaction around the mossy roots of a tree.

For some of these Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) students, it’s the first time they’ve been to Burke Lake. Some didn’t know it existed at all, despite being in their proverbial backyards. But through the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) program, FCPS students get the chance to do hands-on learning outdoors.

Developed as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program and Chesapeake Bay Program, MWEEs increase environmental literacy through hands-on experience in indoor and outdoor classrooms. Since 2010, 911�� environmental science and policy professor Cynthia Smith has worked with FCPS and Fairfax County Park Authority to develop and support her students in delivering MWEEs in waterfront park locations around the county. In her role as outreach director for the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC), Smith integrates PEREC aquatic ecology research into these programs.

The program is an extension of the FCPS seventh-grade life science curriculum, bringing students out of their classroom labs and into the field to gain hands-on experience. With support and guidance from field interpreters, the students move through different stations to learn about the history of development around the lake, test the water chemistry, investigate invertebrate habitats, measure soil erosion and compaction, and examine biodiversity living amongst the trees and leaf litter to gather a holistic look at the health of their local watershed. The data they record during their field excursion is further investigated in the classroom.

911�� student and field interpreter Deena Chouaf (right) and one of the seventh grade students. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“We’re looking at the human impact on the land and how it impacts the water,” Smith explained. “But instead of just hearing a lecture on it, the students are immersed in the environment. When you see it, touch it, measure it, and talk about why you’re doing it, then the learning is just so much more impactful, and you become more invested in protecting and preserving it.”

Smith recruits 911�� students to serve as the field interpreters, giving them an opportunity to practice their science communication skills in a real-world setting. “They’re explaining challenging concepts to young learners, encouraging them to engage with the data they’ve collected, helping them learn through inquiry," Smith explained. “I’ve seen so many students evolve into incredible leaders and communicators through their experiences as field interpreters.”

“I had never had a job where I had to speak in front of people, and I really couldn’t do it at all when I started,” said Matt Helfinstein, BS Biology ’12. He worked as a field interpreter throughout his time at 911��. “But I was able to develop those science communication skills and get much more comfortable with it.”

Now, Helfinstein is camp director of Fish and Explore—a company that offers guided outdoor experiences and summer camps—and continues to work with Smith as the MWEE site manager. Helfinstein met the owner of the company while serving as a field interpreter, which opened the door to his future career.

"We have students go into policy, environmental science, science communication, as well as working for our partners like the Park Authority or Fish and Explore,” said Smith. “Translating science to the public opens up so many opportunities for them that they never thought possible.”

911�� student and field interpreter Angelina Seehusan. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

It’s an important opportunity for the middle school students as well. “This is the first time some of them have ever met a college student working outdoors in a park setting,” Smith explained. Because of this, she has her field interpreters introduce themselves not just as 911�� students, but with their expected career paths: freshwater ecologist, marine biologist, environmental scientist, etc.

“They hear about all these different career fields and areas of study in science, they get excited. They routinely ask field interpreters what they have to do to pursue that same career,” said Smith.

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement put forth a new goal in 2025 of increasing elementary, middle, and high school student participation in MWEEs, working toward 75% of public school students enrolled in a school district with MWEEs by 2040.

In 2016, Smith and her collaborators in FCPS and the Fairfax County Park Authority received a Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations in the category of Partnership Initiative for their work. Ten years ago, they had served over 25,000 seventh graders throughout the county. Now, Smith estimates PEREC outreach programs reach more than 10,000 students a year. And more and more, she’s seeing those students enroll at 911�� and become field interpreters themselves.

“Sometimes just seeing one cool thing is life-changing,” Smith said.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Explore the College of Science

Topics

Campus News

College of Science

Fairfax County Public Schools

Fairfax County Park Authority

Community Engagement

GCI-Climate

K-12 Partnerships

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

Music alumna returns to the Center for the Arts stage with her students

sbrown79 — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:30:10 +0000

Music alumna returns to the Center for the Arts stage with her students sbrown79 Mon, 11/17/2025 - 13:30

For more than two decades as a high school music teacher and band director, Melissa Hall has seen a lot of student ensembles come and go—but one remains dear to her heart. 

“I've always kept a strong connection to 911��,” said Hall, MM '05. 

It's that connection that led her back to the 911��’s Center for the Arts for Mason Bands' 55th anniversary “Celebrations in Motion” concert in September, bringing together alumni, students, and special guests for a night of music and memories. 

Not that Hall was really that far away. For one thing, she's currently the band director at nearby Centreville High School, where she teaches 175 students, and for another, she's never lost touch with her old ensemble. 

“When Dr. [William] Lake became director of concert bands at 911��, I reached out about collaborating. We’ve maintained a really good relationship over the past few years.” 

That relationship led to a special invitation. “He told me about the band’s anniversary and invited me and my students to perform alongside them. I was really honored and said yes right away,” Hall recalled. 

Hall has dedicated 24 years to teaching music, starting in elementary and middle schools before taking the helm at Centreville High School in 2007. 

Melissa Hall with her students. Photo provided.

“I oversee the comprehensive band program, which is something I’ve worked toward over the past 19 years,” she said. Her program includes symphonic and concert bands, wind and percussion ensembles, jazz groups, chamber music, and a marching band with color guard. 

Sharing the stage with Hall and Lake were 911�� Professor Anthony Maiello and Scott Casagrande, son of the late John Casagrande, a former Mason band director. 

“Professor Maiello is the reason I came from New York to attend 911��,” Hall said. “My high school band director introduced us, and I knew immediately I wanted to study conducting with him.” 

Performing with Scott Casagrande also held special meaning for Hall. “It was my way of paying tribute to John, who really taught me how to be a high school band director. Up until he got sick and passed away, there wasn’t a day I didn’t call him for advice,” she said. 

Hall (center) with Tony Maiello and Scott Casagrande. Photo provided.

The Centreville Wind Ensemble performed multiple pieces including “Havana Nights” by Randall Standridge, “Breath of the Mountains” by Cait Nishimura, “Let Freedom Ring” by Ryan Nowlin, “Shenandoah” by Frank Ticheli, and “Tight Squeeze” by Alex Shapiro. Hall said the pieces that book-ended the concert both took the audience to Havana and were uniquely different in their presentation. She chose them to honor a diverse panel of composers and styles.

Hall’s ties to the university extend beyond performance. As a member of the Virginia Band and Orchestra Association, she has hosted the statewide music assessment at 911�� for the past three years, bringing more than 1,300 students in 25 to 30 bands to campus each spring.

The concert is part of a yearlong series celebrating Mason Bands’ legacy. 

“Throughout this school year, we’re inviting a different ensemble for each concert—three of which are led by 911�� alumni,” said Lake. “Melissa was my first ask because she was so open to connecting when I arrived at Mason.” 

“Our goal this year is to connect with our alumni who are teaching in our area and feature their outstanding work in the classroom by showcasing their performance here at the university,” Lake explained. “When they arrive, they get to see our thriving campus and see themselves in the students.”

Students also participate in K-12 Group Tours through 911��’s Office of Admissions. 

Despite the challenge of preparing for a concert early in the school year, Hall said the experience was unforgettable. 

“It all just came together. It was really a special night, and to be able to honor my 911�� story is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” she said. 

In This Story

Dr. William Lake, Jr.

ACCESS Academy freshmen to become dual-enrolled college students this spring

Katarina Benson — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:52:45 +0000

ACCESS Academy freshmen to become dual-enrolled college students this spring Katarina Benson Mon, 11/03/2025 - 12:52

An open house at Fuse at Mason Square offered an exciting glimpse into the future for 911��’s Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy, complete with robotics demonstrations and hands-on technology experiences. Behind the buzz and energy was a deeper message: Through a collaborative partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), ACCESS Academy freshmen will take their first college course this spring, an opportunity rarely available to ninth-grade students.

The inaugural cohort will enroll in an asynchronous Information Technology course through NOVA Online, making them officially dual-enrolled college students while still in their first year of high school. It’s a bold step that underscores the program’s mission to accelerate learning and expand access to higher education.

To prepare students for this milestone, NOVA staff and a dedicated online student success coach will guide them through registration and orientation, helping them understand what it means to take a college-level course in an online, asynchronous format. Students will learn about managing study time, accessing digital course materials, and communicating effectively with college faculty. Webinars and virtual office hours will also provide opportunities to connect with NOVA staff and ask questions as they adjust to this new academic experience.

Through dual enrollment, ACCESS Academy students can meet their Virginia high school graduation requirements while earning college credit in courses taught by NOVA instructors. Over time, students will be able to take dual enrollment classes in English, social studies, math, and science, earning up to 13 college credits before graduation.

“This partnership represents the best of what dual enrollment can offer: early access, equity, and opportunity,” said Kristen Carter, associate director of dual enrollment at Northern Virginia Community College. “By working together, we are opening college doors to students much earlier, providing a strong framework of support, and instilling the confidence to see themselves as future college graduates.”

The benefits of dual enrollment are well documented. Research shows that high school students who earn college credit before graduation are more likely to persist in college, earn higher GPAs, and complete degrees at higher rates. They also report greater confidence and a stronger understanding of what it takes to succeed in college.

“To be eligible to take a college-level Python programming course as ninth graders, students must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA. This standard reflects both their readiness and the rigor of this experience,” said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of 911��’s College of Education and Human Development. “At the same time, ACCESS Academy is deeply committed to creating the conditions for every student to thrive. Our mission is to open doors to opportunities like this for all learners, preparing them to be future-ready across college, career, and life."

Topics

College of Education and Human Development

Lab School

K-12 Partnerships

Campus News

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

GCI-Education

Expanded BioE Buzz summer camp brings high schoolers to life sciences

Jennifer Pocock — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:56:23 +0000

Expanded BioE Buzz summer camp brings high schoolers to life sciences Jennifer Pocock Tue, 10/21/2025 - 13:56

New offerings and a healthy dose of competition left campers happily humming along.

BioE Buzz students work on a polymer testing challenge at the 2025 summer camp. Photo provided.

When the 2024 BioE Buzz camp was declared a success, the 911�� organizers used the momentum to level up in 2025. Its inaugural year boasted one week of experiments, tours, lectures, and activities for 16 high school juniors and seniors.

This past summer, however, introduced a new element that lit the fire for bioengineering-curious kids: competition. Expanded to two one-week sessions for 32 students, the camp’s codirectors Khadija Zaidi-Rashid and Liszt Yeltsin Madruga randomly assigned them into teams.

“We would do lab tours, meet faculty experts, and have seminars in the mornings,” said Zaidi-Rashid, an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering in the College of Engineering and Computing. “After lunch, we would separate them into their groups, where they would develop a certain skill and work on a team challenge.”

One day, the kids used 3D printing to model a bone that couldn’t break. The next, they mixed polymers to see which could suspend a steel ball. Another day saw them swabbing campus benches, rocks, and trashcans to find out which would result in the petri dish with the richest bacteria culture.

“They were very creative in working with our parameters,” said Yeltsin Madruga, a research assistant professor in bioengineering. “We told them they could not swab anything biological, like humans. They pushed this by swabbing a bench they saw animals climbing on, or the bottom of a person’s shoe.”

All of the projects were tested live on the final day of camp in front of the campers and parents, where the winners were announced. The prize? A one-week internship in the students’ department of choice.

According to Zaidi-Rashid, both the competition and the prize were huge hits with campers. “At the beginning of the week, we took them to the EDGE ropes course to encourage team development. They were immediately psyched about the competition, asking if they could get points for finishing the course,” she said.

The camp’s hands-on aspect was also motivating. One camper returned for a second year at the urging of his parents. “At first, he wasn’t excited," said Yeltsin Madruga. “He was afraid it would be a repeat from last year. At the end, he came up and told me, ‘I thought it would be an adult’s idea of educational…like lectures.’ He was happy to be wrong!”

And the fact that the reward could help them in their careers and get aspiring bioengineers to take a deeper look at 911�� was a win for campers and the college alike. “Many of the campers arrived on the first day wearing college t-shirts and sweatshirts—and none of them were from Mason,” said Zaidi-Rashid. “On the last day, they were all wearing Mason apparel, and lots of them were interested in our programs because they saw what we could actually offer.”

The most rewarding, however, was helping the kids build community. “On the first day, the students were very quiet. By the end of the camp, they were all very friendly and chatty,” she said. “In high school, it’s hard to know who has your same future aspirations, so it was nice to see them find their people.”

Topics

Summer Camps

K-12 Partnerships

Bioengineering

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

Students

K-12 Partnerships

911�� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms

Related Stories

Topics

Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service sees highest participation in a decade

Related News

Topics

Mason Artist-in-Residence Music From The Sole Shares the Joy of Tap with 911�� Community—and Beyond

In This Story

Related Stories

Topics

911�� researcher brings critical AI literacy program to Prince George’s County

In This Story

Related Stories

Topics

Fall for the Book’s Writers in the Schools reaches more than 1,000 students

Related Stories

Topics

College of Education and Human Development launches initiative to strengthen Virginia’s educator workforce

Related Stories

Outdoor learning at Burke Lake shows students science career pathways

Related news

Topics

Music alumna returns to the Center for the Arts stage with her students

In This Story

Related Stories

ACCESS Academy freshmen to become dual-enrolled college students this spring

Related News

Topics

Expanded BioE Buzz summer camp brings high schoolers to life sciences

Topics

K-12 Partnerships

911���� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms

Related Stories

Topics

Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service sees highest participation in a decade

Related News

Topics

Mason Artist-in-Residence Music From The Sole Shares the Joy of Tap with 911���� Community—and Beyond

In This Story

Related Stories

Topics

911���� researcher brings critical AI literacy program to Prince George’s County

In This Story

Related Stories

Topics

Fall for the Book’s Writers in the Schools reaches more than 1,000 students

Related Stories

Topics

College of Education and Human Development launches initiative to strengthen Virginia’s educator workforce

Related Stories

Outdoor learning at Burke Lake shows students science career pathways

Related news

Topics

Music alumna returns to the Center for the Arts stage with her students

In This Story

Related Stories

ACCESS Academy freshmen to become dual-enrolled college students this spring

Related News

Topics

Expanded BioE Buzz summer camp brings high schoolers to life sciences

Topics

911�� helps teachers bring quantum science into K-12 classrooms

Mason Artist-in-Residence Music From The Sole Shares the Joy of Tap with 911�� Community—and Beyond

911�� researcher brings critical AI literacy program to Prince George’s County