Madison Reporter

As the sun sets on an August evening, Emma Mason strides onto a glowing pasture on her family’s farm near Mineral Point, Wisconsin. She shouts to her three younger siblings, “Who’s bangin’ buckets tonight?” Ben, 14, jumps off his four-wheeler and starts bashing two five-gallon pails together.

“That’s the dinner bell for cows,” Mason says. Dozens of black Angus purebred cattle saunter in, including Belle, whom Mason purchased in 2017 — her first heifer.

The farm is just an hour southwest of Madison but far from her other life at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There she’s a freshman agricultural business management major in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Mason always wanted to attend UW–Madison, but finances made it feel out of reach.

“The joke was that the only way she could ever go to Madison would be if she got a full-ride scholarship,” says her mom, Rose Mason-Gould.

Consider it done. Mason is one of about 1,150 new freshmen and transfer students this fall benefiting from Bucky’s Pell Pathway. Through the initiative, UW–Madison pledges to meet the full financial need for four years for all first-year students who are Wisconsin residents and qualify for Federal Pell Grants. The grants play a critical role in expanding college access for students in low-income households. The UW–Madison initiative goes even further — covering not just full tuition and fees but also housing, meals, books and most other educational expenses.

“This is going to make college so much easier for me,” Mason says. “I can focus on school now. It will allow me to be more present and make more memories.”

Mason graduated with distinguished honors from Belmont High School. She participated in Future Farmers of America, took Advanced Placement classes, served as president of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter, and sat first chair in the trumpet section of the concert band and orchestra. She was a five-sport athlete and captained the girls’ wrestling squad.

At Scholarship Awards Night at her high school last spring, Mason’s name was called 25 times. It was an emotional moment for the entire family given what they’d been through.

When Mason was seven years old, her father died suddenly and unexpectedly of a genetic blood disorder. As the oldest child, Mason basically became a second mom to her siblings.

“I sometimes have to remind her that she’s not their mom and that she needs to think of herself,” Mason-Gould says, “because she would do anything for her brother and sisters.”

Mason-Gould remarried four years ago; the couple purchased the farm where they now live with their blended family of six. Both parents work off-farm jobs to augment their income but money remains tight. Bucky’s Pell Pathway lifts a huge burden according to Mason-Gould.

“I was going to have to tell Emma the same thing my mom told me when I left home: Don’t call home for money because there is none," she says." The reality is that our money goes to raising children and raising cattle.”

The program has provided similar relief both financially and emotionally to thousands of other students across Wisconsin.

Bucky’s Pell Pathway has so far been awarded to about 3,750 UW–Madison students.

“When I learned that I got it I cried,” says recipient Quincy Nesgoda a transfer student this fall from Barron County campus of UW–Eau Claire.

A first-generation college student Nesgoda describes his life as having had “a lot of ups and downs.” He lived with his grandmother through much high school time; since age 17 he has been on his own.

“This will help with housing with food putting gas in my car,” says Nesgoda who majors astronomy physics.“Finally there’s part my life some security.”

Nesgoda threw himself into academics early realizing higher education would lead toward better life opportunities.

“This what I’ve fighting since ten” he says

For freshman Hugo Flores microbiology major North Freedom Bucky's Pell Pathway means living residence hall instead commuting classes hour away.

For freshman Ava Roessler national-caliber curler Trempealeau means experiencing college without worry debt.

“I’ve saving college long remember aware parents wouldn’t help financially” Roessler agroecology major.“This huge gift never take lightly.”

All these students benefited making experience possible beginning stories.

Mason intends use major become ag loan officer career keeping close farm allowing give back rural community raised.

“She saw process acquiring farm wants easier others” mom explains

Mason campus month reports doing well despite little homesickness attended meetings three organizations plans join Association Women Agriculture Collegiate Farm Bureau Saddle Sirloin livestock shows returning weekends check cows.

Mom difficult adjustment proud daughter step forward

“Miss time move bigger better things find people place world”