Ninth annual Move for Mason event held on Mesa campus
Posted: April 24, 2024
A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences’ (ATSU-ASHS) physical therapy department hosted the ninth annual Move for Mason event April 4, 2024, where approximately 50 students participated in yoga on the front lawn to support the Mason P. Vig Endowed scholarship program.
Mason Vig was a 26-year-old ATSU-ASHS Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program student with a dream to make a difference in the lives of his patients. Slated to graduate in 2013, Mason unfortunately passed away in February 2012. Despite being diagnosed with cancer during his junior year at Augustana College, Mason played college baseball, while fighting and winning his battle with cancer.
Funds from this event help fund the scholarship, which is awarded annually to an exceptional student in the DPT program. Mason’s parents, Patti and Joe Vig, attended the event to meet this year’s scholarship recipient, Emily Lemke, DPT, ’25.
Additionally, event co-chairs Anna Kautzman, DPT, ’25, and Ashley Johnson, DPT, ’25, organized a months-long fundraising effort to raise money for the scholarship leading up to the event, raising a total of $751.
The pair organized a cornhole tournament and made “Mason Jars,” recycled jars containing strawberries and blackberries or a mix of cheddar, caramel, and kettle corn, with a sticker on the front of the jar explaining who Mason was and the purpose of the fundraiser. They then sold these jars at the recent West Coast Premier baseball tournament in Mesa and on campus.
Lastly, the first- and second-year students collaborated in creating a photo album to present to Mason’s parents. All students were asked to send in a photo of them doing an act of kindness or community service, and these photos were then printed off and placed inside of baseball cards in the album, along with a description of the good deed and the student’s name.
Want to help support the Mason P. Vig Endowed scholarship program? Donate today.
