Seniors receive Masonic scholarships

The Albany Masonic Lodge once again awarded four graduating seniors with $1,000 scholarships during a special dinner and program on May 16.

Winning the scholarships this year were seniors Cutter Cowart, Cassidy Schedule, Madison Wilkins, and Haley Stewart.

The ceremony started with a dinner honoring the recipients and their families, followed by the award presentations made by Worshipful Master Larry Nall.

According to Nall, the Masons have several criteria for selecting the recipients.

“The main thing we look at is community involvement,” he said. “We also evaluate each student’s work ethic, academic leadership, grades, moral character, and conduct. They get a few extra points if they have a family member who is a Mason, but that is not the most important aspect that we consider.”

Nall stated that the Masons have had a long history of helping education.

“The first schools in Texas were typically held in Masonic Lodge buildings,” Nall said. “Often the Lodge would be a two-story building with a school occupying the first floor, and the Lodge meeting on the second floor. Sometimes the Masons also paid the teacher’s salary.

The local Lodge hosts a breakfast for school personnel in May during Teacher Appreciation Week, along with providing dental care kits for elementary students. The scholarship program started several years ago as an effort to assist students seeking higher education.