Graduating Student Receives Dennis-Weathers Award

Graduating Student Receives Dennis-Weathers Award

Dionne Foster, Sociology '10, was awarded the Dennis-Weathers award at the Black Graduation ceremony held May 6, 2010, on the George Mason University campus.  Foster received the award to reccognize contributions to the Mason community. 

The Dennis-Weather award is given to to highlight work in one, or all, of the following areas intercultural/cross-cultural education and understanding through activities; commitment to diversity/cross-cultural issues; and leadership in the elimination of discrimination through encouragement, or understanding, between persons of different races, sexes, ages, ethnicities, sexualities, or religious heritage.

Foster has been active in the Mason community as vice president of the university's Amnesty International chapter and in helping to organize many on-campus programs promoting human rights. She participated in the Mason Alternative Break Program five times  including co-leading trips to New Orleans for Katrina rebuilding and New York for HIV/AIDS outreach and education. Foster was also proud participant in the Undergraduate Apprenticeship Program where she co-authored a paper with Dr. Mark Hopson titled, "Exploring memories of the day after.", a critical analysis of everyday communication, lived experience, and the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

This summer Dionne will work as a Research Associate for the Council on Foundations studying diversity and inclusiveness at the leadership level of non-profit organizations.