Osher Lifelong Learning Scholarship

Trish Mikell 

Trish Mikell

Trish Mikell is a junior History major and Sport and American culture minor. Spring 2020 is her second full-time semester back at Mason. She had some serious health issues that unfortunately forced her to take some time away from school, but she is healthy again and so happy to be learning from the best professors at Mason and pursuing her passion in history. She is a student ambassador for CHSS at Mason, and enjoys going to many of the guest lectures and history related events that are routinely offered here. As an older student with a little bit of life perspective, she wants to get the most out of her education so she tries to take part in as many educational opportunities as she can. Trish's plans for the future are to pursue internship opportunities over the summer and continue to learn from and connect with the professors at Mason since they are wonderful resources. Trish plans to continue her post-secondary education with graduate school, where she hopes to use what she has learned at Mason to teach others the importance and value of history, either as a professor at a university, or at a museum.

 

Sarah Petroff  

Sarah Petroff  

Sarah Petroff was born in Virginia but grew up in a military family where they moved throughout the United States. Her interest in history was sparked by all the museums, National Parks and historic sites she visited while growing up which eventually encouraged and inspired her to major in history. She currently works at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens and worked there while she was a full time student at Northern Virginia Community College and as a transfer student to George Mason University! She is currently in her third year as a junior and hopes to work in the Public History field after she graduates whether it’s at a museum, historic site or an archives.

 

Julia Wheeler 

Julia Wheeler

A Virginia native, Julia Wheeler took her first art history class as an elective at Northern Virginia Community College. Though at first she was just looking for an elective that would fit her schedule, she immediately developed a great love for the subject. Since then, she has decided to pursue an MA in Art History at George Mason University. Julia explains that through art history, she has learned about not only art, but the cultures, religions, and histories of many parts of the world. She is currently a student in the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's program in art history, which she says has been one of the most challenging and exciting stages of her academic career. In the future, she hopes to have a career in the field of art history.