Category: Annual Event

*Submissions are rated individually, not in comparison to other designs submitted.

*Schedule is an estimate, updates will be emailed to painters

Starting at 9am: RSO painters will check in at the tent on SUBI Quad and receive the materials to paint their assigned bench the base colors and for design.

3 Hours is the minimal time for the base coat to dry before the design should be added

12pm: Lunch for painters is available. Mason ID check-in required for food and drinks.

3:30pm: Clean-Up begins for the Student Involvement Office

4pm: All groups needing to continue painting or to come back may retain their supplies and come back at a later time.

• Benches are painted the base color by the RSO painters early morning of Bench Painting.
• The Bench Painting Party is scheduled each Spring during the first reading Day (rain date is the following Reading Day).
• Groups who are awarded a bench to paint in Spring will be contacted at the end of April to ensure they have re-registered for the following academic year.
• Co-Sponsored with Sherwin Williams  – a fantastic partnership with their amazing team!
• Sherwin Williams provides the paint materials. Outdoors Acrylic
  • We have been assured that any other types of paints to help embellish the benches should be ok, since the benches are painted each year.
  • If you use your own paint, ensure you top coat the paint if it is water soluble.
• If you see damage to the bench during the year, please contact our office ASAP to have this remedied.
• You may request paint supplies for touch-ups during the year if the bench is showing more than normal wear and tear (no drastic design changes).
• Selection of awarded RSOs includes a review of the proposed design and how the bench design enhances the significance of the RSO’s mission.
  • Please do not copy and paste the mission statement. This does not explain how the design will enhance the RSO’s reach to the students entering the SUBI Quad.
  • Please review the Free Speech at Mason website.
  • The reference to the University must follow current Mason Branding. IE an RSO may not use “GMU” in the design (unless it is part of a social media reference) and must always include “at” when adding the text “George Mason University”
• Designs submitted must be recreated on the assigned bench. If a design is changed without prior approval from the RSO Lead Team or is not painted within the allotted timeline, the bench will be forfeited and the RSO will not be able to apply for a bench the following year.
• Fraternity and Sorority Life holds 9 benches and may have repeated organizations from year to year due to their number of groups
• RSOs (including club sports) are assigned the other 50 benches
  • RSOs who have painted a bench a previous year will be placed on the waiting list automatically
  • Does not include Department Organizations
  • Our team will place RSOs who held a bench the previous year on the waitlist

*Pending Re-Registration Completion*

Bench Archive Photographs

Visit the George Mason University Photo Library for more photos!

Past Bench Painting Images

• The Distinguished Freshmen Leadership Award is an honor bestowed upon a Mason student who has exhibited an outstanding commitment to leadership, academics and service during their freshmen year at George Mason University.
• Award Criteria
  • Demonstrates a record of outstanding service, leadership and academic achievement while providing service and leadership to the campus community throughout their freshman year at Mason.
  • Continuously makes meaningful contribution to the students, the University and the surrounding community
  • Demonstrates on-going flexibility, initiative, creativity and perseverance in efforts
  • Engages others in a manner that acknowledges their dignity
  • Makes themselves available to group members and includes others in decision making
  • Able to articulate and share a vision
  • Leads with integrity

• The Distinguished Sophomore Leadership Award is an honor bestowed upon a Mason student who has exhibited an outstanding commitment to leadership, academics and service during their sophomore year at George Mason University.
• Award Criteria
  • Demonstrates a record of outstanding service, leadership and academic achievement while providing service and leadership to the campus community throughout their sophomore year at Mason.
  • Continuously makes meaningful contribution to the students, the University and the surrounding community
  • Demonstrates on-going flexibility, initiative, creativity and perseverance in efforts
  • Engages others in a manner that acknowledges their dignity
  • Makes themselves available to group members and includes others in decision making
  • Able to articulate and share a vision
  • Leads with integrity

• The Distinguished Junior Leadership Award is an honor bestowed upon a Mason student who has exhibited an outstanding commitment to leadership, academics and service during their junior at George Mason University.
• Award Criteria
  • Demonstrates a record of outstanding service, leadership and academic achievement while providing service and leadership to the campus community throughout their junior year at Mason.
  • Continuously makes meaningful contribution to the students, the University and the surrounding community
  • Demonstrates on-going flexibility, initiative, creativity and perseverance in efforts
  • Engages others in a manner that acknowledges their dignity
  • Makes themselves available to group members and includes others in decision making
  • Able to articulate and share a vision
  • Leads with integrity

• The Distinguished Senior Leadership Award is an honor bestowed upon a Mason student who has exhibited an outstanding commitment to leadership, academics and service during their Senior year at George Mason University.
• Award Criteria
  • Demonstrates a record of outstanding service, leadership and academic achievement while providing service and leadership to the campus community throughout their senior year at Mason.
  • Continuously makes meaningful contribution to the students, the University and the surrounding community
  • Demonstrates on-going flexibility, initiative, creativity and perseverance in efforts
  • Engages others in a manner that acknowledges their dignity
  • Makes themselves available to group members and includes others in decision making
  • Able to articulate and share a vision
  • Leads with integrity

This award is presented to a student whose dedication and commitment to community engagement has had a positive impact and: 

• Is actively involved in a Mason registered student organization 
• Strives to build partnerships between Mason and the greater community 
• Demonstrates community engagement and Mason spirit 
• Consistently strives to make positive impacts on Mason and the surrounding community 

• Description– This award is presented to a student leader who has displayed dedication and commitment to their peers and fellow organization members.
• Award Criteria
  • Is actively involved in a Mason registered student organization
  • Provided assistance and guidance for organization members during times and activities that include but are not limited to recruitment, onboarding, event planning, professional and academic development, crisis etc.
  • Played a part in onboarding new organization members or assisted/managed the transition of organization officers
  • Influenced the development and mentoring of future leaders of Mason
  • Is passionate about the growth and success of their organization and peers

This award is presented to a Mason student organization whose activities, events, and programs have had a significant impact on the quality of campus life at Mason.  The recipient organization demonstrates quality leadership attributes, is actively engaged in campus life and promotes student involvement. 

This organization: 

• Demonstrates commitment to the organization’s purpose and those served by it 
• Effectively advances the mission and goals of the organization
• Actively makes meaningful contributions to student life, the university, and surrounding community
• Actively collaborates with other student organizations, departments and/or community partners
• Organizes activities, events, and programs that have a significant impact on the quality of campus life

This award is presented to a new George Mason University student organization whose activities, events, and programs have had a significant impact on the quality of campus life at Mason.  The recipient organization demonstrates quality leadership attributes, is actively engaged in campus life and promotes student involvement. 

This organization: 

• Founded in the current academic year (May – April)
• Demonstrates commitment to the organization’s purpose and those served by it 
• Effectively advances the mission and goals of the organization
• Actively makes meaningful contributions to student life, the university, and surrounding community
• Actively collaborates with other student organizations, departments and/or community partners
• Organizes activities, events, and programs that have a significant impact on the quality of campus life

This award is presented to a student organization that has created a program series, which: 

• Introduced new ideas and activities to the Mason community 
• Engaged students in unique learning settings 
• Included the needs/concerns of diverse populations 

This award is presented to two or more student organizations that demonstrate: 

• Outstanding team effort in planning a program 
• Successful goal setting and achievement through collaborative and cooperative efforts 
• Positive development for individual members of all involved organizations 
• Impact on and enhancement of the Mason community 
• And organizations involved must have purposes that are not substantially complementary of each other 

This award is presented to a student organization program or program series, which: 

• Actively reinforced the importance of academic learning/scholarship 
• Addressed the individual differences of student learning 
• Engaged students in active learning 
• Encouraged active reflection 
• Introduced thought-provoking topics and ideas 
• Enhanced the learning environment at Mason

This award is presented to a student organization whose dedication and commitment to community service has had a positive impact on the greater Mason community. 

• Description- The Inclusion and Social Justice Leadership Award is presented to a Registered Student Organization who, through their leadership and initiative, has contributed to university-wide efforts to build a strong sense of community at Mason.  This organization represents the core characteristic of the University to “bring together a multitude of people and ideas in everything that we do.  Our culture of inclusion, our multidisciplinary approach, and our global perspective, make us more effective educators and scholars” and advocates for the inclusion of diverse student voices.
• Award Criteria- Through their programming and initiatives this organization has:
  • Made a significant impact on the Mason community through the lens of Inclusion and Social Justice
  • Influenced the development and mentoring of future leaders of Mason
  • Demonstrated work in more than one issue, cause, or social justice organization OR have demonstrated a long-term commitment to an issue, cause, or social justice organization
  • Worked to benefit others and to build bridges across communities or issues

• This award is presented to a student organization that has contributed to university-wide efforts to build a sense of community at Mason.  This student organization also represents these core values of University Life:
  • Live and Act with Integrity
  • Catch the Mason Spirit
  • Dream Big
  • Cultivate an Inclusive and Respectful Climate

*Nominated by University Life Staff

This award is presented to a faculty/staff advisor who has exhibited outstanding leadership and service to a recognized Mason student organization. 

• Served as advisor for a currently recognized student organization for three or more years
• Allowed students to take responsibility for the direction of the organization while providing advice, encouragement and support
• Values diversity and encourages respect for differences among students and student groups

The individual who is receiving this award received nominations from several different students, some of the comments made about the recipient were: 

This award is presented to a faculty/staff advisor who has exhibited outstanding leadership and service to a registered Mason student organization. 

• Joined in the current academic year (May – April)
• Served as advisor for a currently registered student organization for two or less years.
• Allowed students to take responsibility for the direction of the organization while providing advice, encouragement, and support
• Values diversity and encourages respect for differences among students and student groups

• How are scores decided for nominations?
  • A rubric is used during the scoring of all nominee entries: 
• Can I nominate the same person/group multiple times?
  • You may only enter a nominee once for the same award.
  • You can nominate a person/group for multiple awards
• Does the amount of nominations for a person affect the scores they receive?
  • Scores do not correspond with how many times a person is nominated. The quality of each nomination is scored.