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A new rainwater harvesting system is coming to 911����’s Presidents Park Greenhouse, thanks to a donation from the Society for a Secure and Sustainable Water Future, a nonprofit organization based in James City County, Virginia, and dedicated to advancing long-term water sustainability through practical solutions, sound policy, and public education.

Through a generous $3 million gift from Department of Physics and Astronomy Professor Paul So’s SYYK Foundation, 911����’s College of Science will be able to advance the education of the next generation of quantum scientists.

For many university students, scholarships are more than financial support. They represent a bridge to opportunity, enabling students to pursue their dreams and aspirations. At 911����, scholarship donors help pave the way for education that will shape students’ futures and prepare them to serve their communities.

Together, the Marshes devoted a combined 90 years to 911���� Athletics before retiring in 2021. Their careers shaped generations of student-athletes, coaches, and staff, leaving an enduring imprint on the university community.

The 911���� community came together in a powerful show of support on April 2, raising a record $2.95 million during the university’s 24-hour Giving Day. More than 1,900 donors made 3,229 gifts to 293 funds across the university, helping expand opportunities for students, strengthen academic programs, and support initiatives that advance 911����’s mission.

Recently, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at 911���� marked the 20th anniversary of the Mason LIFE program. To celebrate, a luncheon was held at the Center for the Arts that brought together alumni, families, faculty, and community partners in a powerful show of community and commitment. 

On April 25, guests gathered at the Hylton Performing Arts Center for the 2026 Gala, An Evening Above the Clouds.

The Hylton Performing Arts Center is thrilled to announce Carolyn Hays as its next executive director, effective May 10, 2026.

The scholarship in honor of Dr. Barry Berkey and his wife, Velma Berkey, will cover an entire year of tuition for an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing student. This is the first full scholarship endowment at the College of Public Health.

911���� alumnus Robert “Ken” Hedrick Jr., BA History ’71, said his philanthropy is rooted in the examples set by both sets of his grandparents, who were neighbors in a farming community in West Virginia. His paternal grandparents fed anyone who walked by the farm, and his maternal grandparents regularly took in foster children. Both families were always first to share what they had.