Paying It Forward
Paying it Forward: Alumni Give Back
LWTech Alumnus Mason Bernardo Supports Bright Futures
When Mason Bernardo first came to Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech), he was looking for a fresh start. “Straight out of high school, I felt the pressure to attend a four-year university,” Mason said. “I gave it the good old college try, pun fully intended, before recognizing that it was not for me.”
After taking time to reflect and work, Mason realized his true passion. “After joining the workforce, I quickly discovered that I loved working with my hands and having a tangible end product to my work,” he said. “Being interested in welding led me here, where I became excited to go to school again.”
In the Welding Technology program, Mason found his stride. He was part of the evening program but was often in the lab hours before class, honing his skills and pushing his creativity. “I often arrived after lunch and spent several hours working on projects before my evening class,” Mason said. “I’m proud to say that I graduated with honors and learned the skills for a long and fruitful career.”
Like many students, Mason has faced financial challenges along the way. Working full time while attending school stretched his resources thin, and that’s where scholarships made the difference. Throughout his time at LWTech, Mason earned several scholarships, including The Connell Family Opportunity Scholarship and The Tjossem Family Endowed Scholarship. “The Tjossem and Connell families’ generous scholarships gave me the peace of mind to focus on my education,” Mason shared. “They funded my tuition and tools, giving me the opportunity to work fewer hours and spend more time in the lab.”
Mason graduated with honors in June 2025 with his Associate of Applied Science in
Welding Technology. He received a job offer soon after, demonstrating the real need
for highly skilled welders in the Northwest. Inspired by the donors who helped make
his education, and now career, possible, Mason took the opportunity to pay it forward.
In the summer of 2025, Mason made his first gift to the LWTech Foundation in support of the 12th Annual Bright Futures Benefit WEEK, requesting that it go directly to support welding students. “I wanted to give back to the program and the people who supported me,” he said. “The generosity I experienced motivated me to make sure future welding students have the same chance I did.”
Now, Mason is taking that commitment one step further by participating in Bright Futures Benefit WEEK, the Foundation’s largest fundraising event of the year. The event raises critical funds for student scholarships, emergency assistance, and program support, resources that made a difference in Mason’s own journey. “Being part of Bright Futures means a lot to me,” Mason said. “It’s a chance to help other students who are in the same place I once was, to show them that the community believes in them.”
For Mason, giving back is about gratitude and growth, because he knows firsthand the impact that generosity can have. “When someone believes in you enough to invest in your education, it changes everything,” he said. “I want to be that person for someone else one day.”
Looking ahead, Mason plans to continue refining his skills and hopes to work in the maritime industry, inspired by childhood experiences on the water with his stepfather. No matter where his career takes him, he knows he’ll always have a connection to LWTech. “This place gave me the confidence to build a future,” Mason said. “Supporting Bright Futures is my way of saying thank you, and making sure others get to experience the same opportunity.”
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