Photo Credit: John Boal Photography
This year’s inaugural session of Camp Costello gets underway Wednesday, August 20 and concludes Friday, August 22. Over 100 first-year business students have registered for this opportunity to connect with their peers, academic advising and career services resources within the college, and Costello faculty, staff, and alumni—all before the start of fall semester classes.
Camp Costello is a new initiative that allows incoming, first-year students to connect with their peers, faculty, staff, and alumni of the Costello College of Business. The program includes three days of activities, from Wednesday, August 20 to Friday, August 22, and is designed to foster a sense of community and build traditions among its participants. Activities will begin on Wednesday in the afternoon and conclude by the George Mason University Convocation on Friday.
On Friday morning, student participants will have an opportunity to connect with Becky Howick, Director of Operations and Engagement of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Costello College of Business, and her team for a 30-minute session on the resources, benefits, and tools available to aspiring entrepreneurs within the business college.
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship hosts Costello’s Patriot Pitch Competition each year, a shark tank-like competition that supports ideas and early-stage business ventures and is open to current George Mason students and recent alumni from all majors and fields of study. In April 2025, participants with an idea and a desire to launch a start-up competed for a chance to win a share of last year’s $50,000 in Patriot Pitch Competition prize money.
In addition to the Patriot Pitch Competition, the Center’s experiential learning opportunities also include the Patriot Ventures Program. This program provides students with a unique entry point into entrepreneurship through real-world learning and collaboration. Working with the Center and George Mason Alumni, and in coordination with our Honey Bee Initiative, students curate and sell food and honey products, gaining firsthand experience in business operations, marketing, accounting, and finance. This early-stage program equips students with the skills and mindset to explore entrepreneurship confidently—whether launching future ventures or driving innovation in existing organizations.
The Center’s participation in this year’s Camp Costello session is made possible through the generosity of our namesake, Donald G. Costello, and is sponsored by a subsidiary of the Donald G. Costello Declaration of Trust and the Sara Costello Exempt Trust, Joseph J. Contrucci, Trustee.