Senior Mason Woods placed Bronze in the Presidential Volunteer Service Award due to his extensive work ethic of helping others. Woods received the award after registering a staggering 102 hours of community service in less than one year, allowing him to exert a positive impact in the community at Cypress Ranch High School.

Woods created an organization called “Color for Cancer”, which was a coloring book drive for children at MD Anderson Hospital who have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Woods took the initiative to not only collect the books, but also travel to the hospital to deliver the coloring books to the nurses for children and their families.

“When it comes to helping other people, I have only had one major shake up in my life versus other people that have a lot worse than what I have,” Woods said. “So I just want to help them.”

Over the summer, Woods continued to participate in community service. During a drive known as “Smiles for Soldiers,” Woods hand wrote 1,051 thank you letters and mailed them to members of the U.S. Military. Due to Woods’s diligent work for those in the community, he received recognition from the company Johnson & Johnson. The company proudly selected him as their eleventh finalist which granted Woods an all expense paid trip to San Diego that will take place in November. At the Johnson & Johnson event Woods will get the chance to meet the other finalists and receive an award for his service to the Cypress community.

As a member of the Cypress Ranch Band Woods volunteers at Top Dog Fireworks where part of the percentage of firework revenue goes towards the band program. Additionally, his contribution to the community ranges from coat drives and book drives to canned food drives, however Woods states that most of his charity work is through the Cy-Fair Helping Hands organization and the Cy-Hope foundation.

As a senior who is beginning to apply to universities Woods plans to continue his passion for helping those around him. Woods has already researched the community service organizations offered to students at the multiple universities he has applied to, wanting to continue to make a positive impact wherever he is.

Woods stated that his first influence on making a difference in a person’s life was when he made a basket for a Cypress Ranch student’s mother who passed away. “It all started from there,” Woods said.

Since the beginning of his journey, Woods has extended his kindness to those near and far. In fact, Woods has such a positive impact that he was recognized by the United States President, Barack Obama, for the shining light he sheds on all the hearts he comes in contact with.