2025 Mason FOREVER Foundation award-winners announced

Press Release

The Mason FOREVER Foundation was established in honor of Mason Sawyer Monteleone, an interdisciplinary health science major at the University of Florida in Tallahassee who tragically died in a car accident at the age of 21. He was interested in becoming a physician assistant or an orthopedic surgeon. He graduated from Canisius High School in Buffalo, and attended middle school at Lewiston-Porter.

A scholarship was formed in Mason’s honor. This year’s local scholarship recipients are Lewiston-Porter High School graduates Rayhaan Shaikh, a biology major at Niagara University; Alyssa Auer, a nursing major at Alfred State College; Dominic Tracy, a bio-chem pre-med major at University of Florida; Ava Wylke, a biology or health/exercise major at Wake Forest University; Liliana Unversaw, a physician assistant major at James Madison University; Maya Marcyan, a sociomedical science major at SUNY Geneseo; Aydan Weese, graduate of Canisius High School, a biology pre-med major at SUNY Geneseo; Robert Dickey, a Canisus High School graduate and physical education major at Canisius University; and Barbara Kunz, a graduate of the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, and a physical therapy major at D’Youville.

Other awardees include Austin Faller of Center Moriches, a medical sciences major at Misericordia University; and Karson Howerton of Longdale, Oklahoma, a dietetics major at University of Oklahoma.

Students are awarded scholarships based on their course of study, grade-point average, commitment to the medica//health/fitness professions, sports involvement, and community service.

The Mason FOREVER Foundation supports the community and youth interested in medical, health, fitness and sports. Its major fundraising event is an annual 5K that is held in May/June every year.

There also will be a meat raffle at Lewiston Fire Co. No. 1 on Nov. 14. Mason FOREVER Foundation is partnering with Lew-Port Boys basketball. There will be a special Christmas 50/50 raffle for UP Academy in Dorchester, Massachusetts; and a basket raffle and silent auction as well. Those interested in purchasing a ticket for the event can contact Tracy at 716-525-0409 or Jamie at 716-471-1240.

Visit www.masonforefver.com to donate, or to learn about scholarship opportunities and community events.

Lewiston-Porter graduates Alyssa Auer and Rayhaan Shaik, with treasurer of Mason FOREVER Foundation Collin Monteleone. Recipients are volunteer first-responders at Lewiston No. 1 Fire Co. (Submitted photos)