Student Association president Travis Mason has to be reminded he can’t be involved in everything.

Michelle Walker, placement coordinator for the public affairs department, said she has been an adviser to Mason since his freshman year at Syracuse University.

‘I always remind him to take it easy,’ Walker said. ‘I tell him to decide what is important to him and then to slow down.’

Mason, a junior political science, political philosophy and policy studies major, was selected as a 2005 Truman scholar by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation and will receive $30,000 toward graduate school for his leadership qualities and his intention to pursue a career in public service.

‘I’m extremely surprised gauging from the extreme talent of the other finalists and having gone through the interview process,’ Mason said. ‘I kind of would have never thought I’d get it.’

Mason was among 75 scholars selected nation-wide out of over 600 nominees. He went through an internal competition on campus to be selected as one of four students SU could nominate for the nation-wide competition.

Upon being nominated to the national level of the program, Mason chose to enter from his home state of Maryland instead of from New York.

‘Just getting to be a finalist is a big deal,’ said William Coplin, chair of the public affairs department and faculty representative for the Truman Scholar program.

Mason said the interview process was extremely hard to prepare for because the interviewer could ask any questions they wanted. Mason said, however, his interview focused mostly on his policy and concept of leadership.

‘You just have to be yourself,’ he said.

In addition to being SA president, Mason is a student in the Rene Crown University Honors Program at SU, a member of the University Senate, serves on the North East National Collegiate Honors Conference Executive Board, co-founder and executive director of the Orange Seeds program, president of the African American Male Congress and a representative to SU’s National Alumni Association Board.

‘A lot of the things I have accomplished can’t be recognized without bringing up my mentors,’ Mason said. ‘Juggling everything becomes a lot easier when you have a support system.’

Walker said when she advises Mason on anything, she feels he really takes her opinion to heart.

‘He takes into consideration what other people say,’ she said. ‘He thinks of the best solution for all involved. But he also knows how to take control.’

Coplin said Mason was a quiet student who had a lot of confidence and his own opinions and views in his freshman honors section of Intro to the Analysis of Public Policy.

‘He’s not typical,’ Coplin said. ‘He’s more mature and focused and he has broad visions, which is something you don’t usually see.’

Walker said Mason is genuinely concerned about doing things for others- something she said is very rare.

‘He has a good heart,’ she said.

Coplin shared a similar feeling about Mason’s motivations behind being in politics.

‘I never felt like he was just in it for the power,’ he said.

Mason said while the Truman foundation tends to award the scholarship to students involved in student government, but it was Mason’s overall leadership qualities that made him stand out.

‘He doesn’t get defensive or hostile,’ Coplin said. ‘He’s definitely stubborn. You don’t say no to Travis.’

Coplin said one of the key qualities of being a good leader is being able to build coalitions, something he sees as one of Mason’s strengths.

‘He’s different from the rest of them,’ he said. ‘He knows how to compromise.’

Coplin also said Mason has a nice personality, is a very good public speaker, is very well organized, has a lot of energy, a good sense of judgment and knows how to cut corners to do what is necessary without going overboard.

‘He has a million-dollar smile,’ Coplin said. ‘He’s a winner.’

Mason is also in the process of starting the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Leadership, Scholarship and Service, a high school summer leadership academy in Prince Georges County, Md. The academy will focus on technology and skill-based education. Mason said he hopes to have the program up and running by summer 2006.

Coplin said he could see Mason eventually running for office or starting a non-profit organization.

‘Whatever he does, he’s going to have a huge impact,’ Coplin said.

Mason said after graduating from SU, he plans to attend graduate school for other public policy or public affairs.

‘What I do I hope I’ll be able to make an impact on someone else’s life,’ he said.

Published on April 5, 2005 at 12:00 pm