PATS FOR PATRIOTS AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Pats for Patriots is a free and easy way to thank, recognize, and show appreciation for a Mason colleague or student who has taken the time to do something kind, generous, or thoughtful toward others. The community at George Mason University wants to encourage quick shoutouts and recognition throughout the Mason Community for students, faculty/staff, and Alumni. Kindness does not need to be a grand act to be recognized. Small actions make a world of difference to those who receive them. Adding up all the small shows can create a culture of positivity and kindness.

Pats for Patriots was started in October 2021, during the height of the pandemic, to contribute to the Mason Chooses Kindness campaign. Since the Pats for Patriots program began, over 500 Pats have been submitted. The Mason Chooses Kindness Committee aims to have over 2000 Pats submitted by July 1st, 2024! Philip Wilkerson (pictured) is an Employer Engagement Consultant at George Mason University Career Services who assisted with this initiative.

The benefit of receiving recognition is that someone will be encouraged to continue their small acts of kindness. Kindness yields more kindness. We want to make this process seamless and easy for others. Sometimes, people say it is too much to submit nominations for largescale awards, so we wanted to create an alternative to complement the pre-existing, more prominent awards on campus. GMU Human Resources shares Pats publicly on their website, and the Fourth Estate (GMU’s Student-Led publication) also does. Both links are below:

Pats for Patriots on GMU Human Resource Page: Pats for Patriots Recipient Roundup – Human Resources | George Mason University (gmu.edu)

Pats for Patriots on Fourth Estate: https://gmufourthestate.com/category/opinion/pats-for-pats/

For more information, visit: https://forms.office.com/r/HRZGvhdJEA

By: Philip Wilkerson, Employer Engagement Consultant, George Mason University