MACOMB, Ill. – Thanks to the generosity of various donors during the Western Challenge, Western Illinois University Athletics is pleased to announce that the endowment for the Hunter Mason Scholarship has been fully realized. The Hunter Mason Courage Award and Scholarship was created in 2022 to honor the memory of Leatherneck Football student-athlete Hunter Mason, who passed away that year. The scholarship is given annually to a single student-athlete who displays the characteristics and values embraced by Hunter: scholarship, community service, and most importantly, leadership through courage.

Mason was 22 and in his first year of the Sport Management graduate program at WIU when he passed away after a brief, but incredibly courageous battle with brain cancer. Prior to his graduate studies, Mason completed his undergraduate degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) at WIU in just three years. He was an Honors Scholar earning High Academic Distinction and Summa Cum Laude recognition. Mason was also recognized for his athletic abilities, earning recognition as an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Honorable Mention Linebacker in 2021. 

"Hunter was the first person to lighten the load of others with a big smile, a kind word, or by doing more than his share of heavy lifting," said Dr. Jeremy Robinett, Associate Professor and WIU Athletics' Faculty Athletics Representative. "He exemplified what it means to be a scholar, community servant, and a courageous leader. The world would be a much better place if we could all commit to living like Hunter."

The Mason family, Dr. Robinett, and Athletic Director Paul A. Bubb established the award so that Hunter's legacy would live on to inspire future Leatherneck student-athletes to live like Hunter. Since 2022, generous donations have been made to the the scholarship endowment, and during this year's Western Challenge, the scholarship received the remaining funds needed to become permanently endowed.

Dr. Robinett, WIU Athletics' NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and professor in WIU's RPTA degree program, helped spearhead the effort to finalize the scholarship endowment, posting $4,000 in matching funds during the Western Challenge this year. Through the generosity of the Hunter Mason Foundation and donations given as part of the Western Challenge last week, over $8,000 was raised to fulfill the $25,000 endowment requirements. 

"We are very honored to have the Hunter Mason Scholarship fully endowed," said Director of Athletics, Paul A. Bubb. "This endowment ensures that his memory will forever inspire future generations of Leatherneck student-athletes, embodying the resilience and dedication Hunter exemplified on and off the field."