The Boston Section of the American Society for Quality has established a scholarship program to:

• promote education in Quality
• encourage consideration of the Quality profession as a career
• apply quality principles/ concepts to their chosen field of study

The scholarship is an award of $2,000 to be used in a course of study in any undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited college or university.

The scholarship committee will determine the applicability of any course of

study to the scholarship award criteria based on the applicant's understanding of and commitment to Quality as it applies the their select field of study.

George Mason was one of the earliest members of ASQ (then ASQC). The earliest record of George’s activity is his editing of the Boston Section Newsletter from 1953 to 1957. George was active in Section affairs continuously from the time he joined ASQ until he became incapacitated in 1991. He served as Section Treasurer 1959-60, Secretary 1960-61, Vice Chair 1961-62, and as Section Chairman 1962-63. He served again as Section Newsletter Editor in 1963-67 and as Saddoris Competition Chair 1967-69 (The Saddoris Competition was the precursor to the Section Management Program we have today. All Sections in the Society with more than 200 members could compete on an annual basis. There was only one winner each year. Smaller Sections competed for the Robert Berg Award.) George Chaired the Section Nominating Committee from 1969 to 1971, the Section Examining Committee from 1971 to 1980, and the Section Long-Range Planning Committee from 1980 to 1989.

At the Regional level, George represented the Boston Section at the Northeast Quality Council from 1963 to 1989, when he retired due to health reasons. After having chaired a very successful Annual NEQC Conference in 1968 he became the sixth recipient of the R. Shaw Goldthwait Award for his outstanding contributions to the Profession and to the Society. He continued to be active in Council affairs and served as Treasurer from 1969 to 1971, as Secretary from 1971 to 1973, as Vice Chair from 1973 to 1975, and as Council Chair from 1975 to 1976.

The ASQ Board of Directors recognized George for his dedication and leadership abilities on a number of occasions. He was the recipient of ASQ Testimonial Awards in 1971, 1974, 1981 and 1989. The citation for his latest award reads:

"George Mason exemplifies the highest ideals of service to his professional society and to his colleagues. His unselfish devotion to ASQC at the Section, Regional and National levels for more than twenty seven years has been an inspiration to those privileged to have known and worked with him. In his thirty two years at Hersey Products he provided motivation and training for the younger people engaged in quality control work, and built a department based on the highest standards of good quality management."

In 1987, the Boston Section created the George F. Mason Scholarship Program in his honor. Annually the Section presents a scholarship to a worthy student to be used toward any college degree program that will further that student’s career goals that incorporates quality theory. George presented the first scholarship award to Mr. Joseph Gerrity, an industrial business management major in the class of 1988 at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. At the time Mr. Gerrity was serving as President of the Student Chapter of ASQC at the University.

George Mason was born in Arlington, MA, and spent his early years in Quincy, graduating from Quincy High School. He got his first exposure to formal Quality training at the Northeastern University Quality Institute. He worked in the Boston Navy Yard from 1936 to 1947 where he was Foreman of welding operations. Following that he worked for Hersey Products, Inc, in Dedham, MA, from 1947 until he retired in 1979 as Manager of Quality Assurance. In his later years he lived in Woburn, MA, with his wife, Catherine. Even in his retirement he continued to serve as a resource and guide to the officers of the Boston Section, attending and participating in the work of the Section as his health permitted. George F. Mason passed away quietly, in Woburn, in January 1992 at the age of 77.

To qualify, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

• Be an ASQ Boston section member in good standing.  A section member’s family members are also eligible, including, but not limited to, spouses, children and grandchildren are also eligible.
• Be at least a high school senior entering an accredited college degree program. This includes any undergraduate degree program (Associates or Bachelor’s) or any advanced graduate degree program.

The George Mason Scholarship application will be required for each applicant and include and/or be accompanied by the following information:

This Application Form may be downloaded by clicking on the link below:

Download the G.M. Scholarship forms

or by contacting the Scholarship Committee Chairperson or Boston Section Chairperson at: ASQ Boston, Box 241, Burlington, MA 01803.

All completed applications must be received by the Chairperson of the Boston Section Scholarship Committee no later than May 30 of each year to be considered for the fall semester of that year. The successful applicant will be notified by the Chairman of the Boston Section by August 1.

The award will be made by the Scholarship Committee of the Boston Section of ASQ. The committee’s recommendation will be submitted to the leadership team for approval. The decision of the committee and Leadership Team is final.

The criteria for evaluation and selection include the following:

The winner must present proof of enrollment to receive the award. The award will be deposited to the winners account with the business office of the institute designated.

The winner will be invited to attend a section dinner meeting to be recognized.

©ASQ Boston 2004