Orientation Meeting: Healthy by Design Student Case Competition

Background
Faculty from the Department of Global and Community Health in the College of Public Health (Dr. Iulia Fratila, Dr. Laura B. Santacrose, and Dr. Jessica Mitro) and in the Department of Kinesiology, Sport, and Hospitality Management in the College of Education and Human Development (Dr. Ellen B. Drogin Rodgers) are collaborating with the City of Fairfax to launch an exciting new student case competition for George Mason Students this fall. 

Students are invited to apply to participate in an interdisciplinary team to develop an innovative pitch for a real, vacant community site in downtown Fairfax, Virginia! 

Benefits for Students Who Participate

• Students have an opportunity to collaborate with peers from across campus and apply classroom knowledge and skills to address a real-world challenge in the local Fairfax community.
• Students will have an opportunity to meet other like-minded students!
• Students will have an opportunity to meet Fairfax community leaders and faculty from different departments who hold subject matter expertise. 
• Winning teams may have the opportunity to collaborate with community partners to support implementation of their solution in Fairfax City!
• Winning teams will receive cash prizes (up to $1000)

Important Dates:
Student Applications Due: September 23, 2026
Orientation Meeting for Participants: September 30, 2026, from 12 - 1 pm
Design Sprint with Consultants: October 5, 2026, from 12 - 4 pm 
Final Pitch to Community Leaders: October 21, 2026, from 12 - 2 pm

If you have questions, please contact: Dr. Iulia Fratila (ifratila@gmu.edu)

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Co-hosted with: College of Public Health - Office of Student Affairs