Statistics major Brody Receveur (right) and his parents invited computer science sophomore Nawaf Alshathri to live with them in Hampton, Virginia, for the rest of the semester because Alshathri couldn't make it back to his home in Saudi Arabia. Photo provided
Striving to Help Others during the Coronavirus Crisis Mason Engineering students used their innovative skills to solve more than engineering problems. They came up with creative ways to perform random acts of kindness, both big and small, during the coronavirus outbreak. Statistics major Brody Receveur and his family invited computer science sophomore Nawaf Alshathri to stay with them for the second half of the semester. The students are friends who lived in the same residence hall at Mason. When classes went virtual after spring break, Receveur was at home with his parents in Hampton, Virginia, while Alshathri was on campus because he couldn’t get back to his home in Saudi Arabia. Receveur asked his parents if Alshathri could come live with them for a while, and they agreed. Receveur returned to the Fairfax Campus to pick up Alshathri. When they weren’t taking their classes online or studying, the two worked out together, walked on the beach, and played board games with the family. “I taught him how to make Yankee cornbread and steaks,” says Receveur. “He’s gardening with my mom (April), and my dad (Tim) talked to him about the history of our area.” Alshathri says he enjoyed his time with the Receveur family. “Tough times make the best qualities of people shine,” he says. “The Receveurs have been caring and kind. They took me in during this period of uncertainty, and they taught me valuable life skills.”
48 VOLGENAU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2020
