College of Education and Human Development

Two Scholarship Winners for the Strong Scholars Award

Congratulations to graduate students Robyn Regan and Kayla Iacuzio!

They are the winners of the first annual Strong Scholars Award, presented by the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University through the Hattie M. Strong Foundation.

A scholarship committee from CEHD reviewed the applications for the $5,000 awards, which are available to eligible students who have exhibited outstanding success and enthusiasm in their student-teaching field experiences.

The scholarship recipients will be recognized at a reception later in the spring.

Robyn Regan

Robyn Regan is in her final semester of the Elementary Education master’s degree program. As part of the program, she is completing a 16-week student-teaching experience at Woodburn Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia.

Regan, who also has a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University, was previously a mathematics instructional assistant at Mason Crest Elementary School in Annandale as well as a clinical social worker.

In describing her teaching goals, Regan notes the importance of using data to differentiate instruction for her students. She also explains her wish to teach students “the value of giving to others and your community while not expecting anything in return.” Through the use of children’s literature and critical thinking lessons, she is able to help students draw connections between the problems the characters face and the needs within her students’ own communities.

Kayla Iacuzio

Kayla Iacuzio is in the Secondary Education English master’s degree program. As part of the program, she is currently student-teaching an eighth grade language arts class at Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon.

Iacuzio received her B.A. in English from George Mason University and was part of the Honors College. In describing her teaching goals, Iacuzio notes that she wants her “students to leave my classroom knowing that their ideas, thoughts, and opinions matter, and that writing is one of the most powerful tools they have to take those ideas and turn them into something powerful outside of the classroom.”

 

Since 1928, the Hattie M. Strong Foundation has provided financial assistance to students attending college, particularly for students pursuing a career in education. The foundation aims to reduce financial pressure during the student-teaching semester when a student’s ability to offset expenses with outside employment is curtailed by the rigor of full-time work in the classroom.

George Mason University is one of 21 institutions in the Washington, D.C area chosen by the foundation as a scholarship site, based on the university’s demonstrated leadership in preparing outstanding classroom teachers.

  

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For additional information:

• CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
• Graduate School of Education: gse.gmu.edu
• School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism: rht.gmu.edu

About the college:

George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a full range of courses, certificates, and degree programs on campus, online, and on site to more than 4,000 students each year. CEHD is fully accredited by NCATE, and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. George Mason University, located just outside of Washington, D.C., is Virginia's largest public research university.

Follow CEHD on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasonCEHD or Twitter at @MasonCEHD.