College of Education Dean Dr. Meredith Critchfield presented the inaugural Woody Mason Unsung Hero Award to Emily Farkas, Director of the Canyon Center for Character Education, during the annual faculty conference at Grand Canyon University. The award honors the memory and contributions of Woody Mason, a longtime online instructor for the College of Education who died in a car accident in May.
Mason was remembered for his efforts to uplift colleagues and students alike. He often sent emails expressing appreciation to fellow instructors and gave students breaks from study to help them recharge. “He didn’t do it with fanfare or to get praise in return,” Critchfield wrote in an Instagram post. “He just wanted to acknowledge and see the person for who they are. It says so much about who he was to all of us. He made us all feel important.”
At the conference, faculty wore Mason’s favorite floral shirts in tribute. Critchfield described him as someone who operated “behind the scenes with a sense of kindness, generosity, grace and that ever-present smile.” She added, “it’s important that this award be symbolic, this year and for years to come, of his legacy of who he was and how he exemplified Jesus, His hands and His feet, every single day doing that work.”
Allison Mason, Woody Mason’s wife and former associate dean of the Colangelo College of Business, joined by video call from Minnesota to thank the GCU community for their support after her husband’s passing. She reflected on his positive influence: “It really did prove the impact he made on your lives and, I imagine, on his students’ lives… You may not have seen him every day and spent time outside of work with him, but you certainly came up in conversations, only in the best ways … He would never say anything negative about anyone.”
Emily Farkas accepted the award while recalling her long friendship with Mason dating back 20 years to their days teaching together at Alta Loma Elementary School in Peoria, Arizona. “He lit up the room wherever he went,” she said. “Little kids would always be following him; they just wanted to be around him… He was just the kindest individual.” Farkas encouraged others to express appreciation for those around them: “I just took the chance, and I just told him: ‘I think the absolute world of you,’ and gave him a big old hug… So I encourage you to do the same, tell your people… Just tell your people.”
Mason was also featured posthumously in a video created by Farkas’ character center highlighting faculty members nominated for displaying core values. Kimber Underdown nominated Mason for his positivity toward others. In one segment from that video shared at Wednesday’s meeting, Mason stated: “I feel unconditional love and support from my colleagues.”
Other awards presented at the conference included Teacher Placement Counselor of the Year (Gavin Boylan), Field Experience Counselor of the Year (Alexandra Schilling), Faculty Supervisor of the Year (Dr. Mary Ann Manos), Online Fulltime Faculty Member of the Year (Dr. Micaela Swan), Ground Fulltime Faculty Member of the Year (Jennifer Jakobi), Staff Members of the Year (Julianne Brett and Dr. Emily Pottinger), and Lope Appreciation Award (Dr. Tacy Ashby).
