Honors College

Lina Bondesson, a Conflict Resolution major, Korean Studies minor, and Honors College student at George Mason University, has built a passion for cross-cultural understanding through international education, language study, and global engagement. After studying in North Macedonia as a high school exchange student and later earning a prestigious U.S. State Department Critical Language Scholarship to study Korean in South Korea, Bondesson is preparing for a career that combines conflict resolution, international education, and bridge-building across cultures.

Beech leaf disease is a threat to the Fairfax area’s estimated 4.2 million beech trees. A group of first-year George Mason University Honors College students got involved by mapping beech trees and symptoms in Daniels Run Park in Fairfax, which will help the City of Fairfax manage the disease.

Community Health students share their insights from nutrition professor and registered dietitian Raedah Basiri for their Honors College project exploring nutrition interventions for chronic disease.

Three George Mason interdisciplinary teams placed in the 2026 National Case Study Competition in Health Education. Students share what they learned from the experience and why they recommend it to others.

This past spring, nearly a dozen George Mason students received nationally competitive fellowships and scholarships, supporting work across a wide range of fields.

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 George Mason University, scholarship donors help pave the way for education that will shape students’ futures and prepare them to serve their communities.

Xia Parkes did not arrive at George Mason University certain she wanted to be a scientist. Originally, she envisioned a future in dermatology after shadowing a physician in her hometown of Chesapeake, Virginia. But once she began college-level coursework, lab experiences opened new interests for her. 

Honors College student Avery Shippen earned degrees in conflict analysis and resolution and art and visual technology while receiving multiple prestigious scholarships, fellowships, and international study opportunities. Her interdisciplinary work blending graphic design and peacebuilding, along with internships in global affairs and national security, has prepared her to pursue a career in education policy and curriculum development.

During her final semester at George Mason University, Sophia Colby put her environmental policy training into action. Colby traveled to Capitol Hill as part of the Rachel Carson Council’s National Environmental Advocacy Day, where she met with federal lawmakers to discuss climate legislation and community resilience.

As a freshman, George Mason University Honors College student Marley Oare chose the Global Affairs Program because she pictured herself working for the CIA or the United Nations. That quickly changed when she took a natural science course in her first semester.