Sept. 25, 2007

Junior pre-med biology major and Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), Mutsa Nyakabau initially came to George Mason from Harare, Zimbabwe on scholarship to compete as a Patriot on the men's track and field team. Only half way through his time at Mason, Mutsa excels and accomplishes more than the average student-athlete both on and off the field.

As a member of the George Mason men's track and field team, Mutsa Nyakabau has qualified for the IC4A Championships a total of three times, once during the indoor season (distance medley relay) and twice during the outdoor season (400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay). After a freshman season that saw him run the team's top-two times in the 200-meter dash during the indoor track and field campaign, Nyakabau was even more successful as a sophomore in 2007, finishing with the top time on the team in the 500-meter dash during the indoor track and field season and both the 200- and 400-meter dash during the outdoor track and field season. In addition to his experience competing at the IC4A Championships during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, Nyakabau was a member of George Mason's 4x400-meter relay team that finished as the runner-up at the 2007 CAA Championships, where he also placed seventh in the 400-meter dash.

Off the track, Mutsa serves as the SAAC Vice President and the Vice President for the Mason Resident Students Association, an organization designed to bring residents together through events and fundraising. Last year, he represented Mason at the NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida. Mutsa is also involved in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the American Society of Microbiology.

Currently, Mutsa is working hard to initiate a program at Mason called Letters for Kids in an effort to get his fellow student-athletes involved in the community. He believes the members of the Mason student-athlete community have a tremendous opportunity to serve as positive role models for children, particularly those kids who are in disadvantaged situations. Student-athletes will be writing letters to children to encourage them to direct their attention to positive efforts and activities such as community service, involvement in athletics and emphasizing the importance of a sound education. Letters for Kids will develop into a pen-pal program where children and Mason student-athletes will build a relationship. In addition to the pen-pal program, student-athletes will be working and volunteering with the children.

Mutsa plans to graduate pre-med and attend medical school to become a doctor. His goal is to take what he has learned and the skills that he has acquired at Mason back to Zimbabwe once he has finished school in order to help his family and his people.