By Sammy Matson
Staff Writer
Costa student Mason Zisette passed away in July in a tragic accident. Costa has taken many measures to make sure the memory of Mason is carried on with honor and pride.
“Mason was a Manhattan Beach kid, through and through,” his mother, Amy Zisette, said. “He loved so many things about this town, his friends, the ocean, the small-town, the community, tennis, his siblings and his schools.”
“We are so proud of the legacy Mason left and would love to honor that by finding special ways to pay tribute to how he lived his life during his short 16 years,” Amy Zisette said.
The most recent effort to celebrate Mason has been through the creation of a new scholarship. Working with the College and Career Center, the Zisette family and Costa have created a way to honor Mason by rewarding one outstanding student a year. Starting this year, there will be a $10,000 scholarship awarded to an exceptional student in the graduating class.
“Our family is planning on celebrating Mason’s amazing life in so many different ways, but a scholarship just seemed like the perfect opportunity to honor both Mason and a deserving Mira Costa Mustang each June,” Amy Zisette said.
“We want to celebrate that one student per year who has made a difference in the lives of Costa students and who will go on to do great things and represent Mira Costa with pride,” Amy Zisette said.
Teachers will select students to nominate, and these chosen individuals will then submit scholarship notebooks for review. A committee will choose the finalists from this pool of eligible students.
“Teachers and the committee are looking for students who embody qualities which Mason held close to his heart,” Amy Zisette said. “These include ambition, academic and athletic distinction, a positive outlook, drive, enthusiasm and confidence.”
The memorial fund created for this scholarship has been set up by friends of Mason and his family. It consists of donations from both family friends of the Zisettes and other members of the Manhattan Beach community.
“This is certainly a really generous and wonderful addition to the plethora of scholarships students have available at Mira Costa,” College and Career Center counselor, Judy Park said. “I think that all the donors donate scholarships for Costa to impact students and to help and reward them for all the hard work they have done here,” Park said.
Mira Costa will announce the student scholarship recipient and present him or her with the scholarship at the Senior Awards Night on June 15.
“Mason was an amazing kid, and his memory will last far beyond his years,” Amy Zisette said. “The Zisette family is grateful to have this opportunity, and we sincerely appreciate all the time and effort that will go into choosing the one special student each year.”
“It is our hope that through these tributes, we can honor the young man that Mason was and, hopefully, keep spreading his love of life and his wonderful memory,” Amy Zisette said.
Awareness of Mason Zisette’s terrible accident has been increasing. Costa students are banding together in support of him and his family, and hope to honor him in ways that are truly worthy.
“I think it’s really admirable of the school to pay tribute to Mason in so many different ways,” Costa senior Eve Le Neveu said. “It shows a lot of character from Mira Costa and its students that they are working so hard to honor Mason Zisette and keep the memory of him alive and well.”
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