Mason Hinkle never expected to win an award. When he was told he’d been chosen for the Northern Kentucky Education Council’s Against All Odds Award, his first reaction was confusion. “I didn’t expect to win this to begin with,” he said. “I didn’t really see my life as hard as people made it out to be. I feel like there are students who have it harder.”
But ask anyone who knows Mason, and they’ll tell you—this recognition was well-earned.
“Mason truly embodies what this award stands for,” wrote Zachary Morris-Dean and Heather Johnson in their nomination letter to the Northern Kentucky Education Council. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
Mason’s story begins with instability. From a young age, his mother was out of the picture. He was later told she suffered from mental disorders, but he was also aware that his father had an impact on the relationship. His dad, in and out of jail more times than he can count, brought chaos and confusion throughout a lot of Mason’s life. “He’s bipolar,” Mason said. “One moment was I’m proud of you, I love you, to rage and anger over tasks I didn’t finish in time. I couldn’t let it keep impacting me. It’s what I was used to.”
By the time he was 8, Mason was living with a friend of his father's, even after their relationship soured. It was an ever-changing relationship that could be good, bad, and everything in between, he said. All of it building to a point, days after he turned 18 this past October, when he told her he planned to move out. She kicked him out that same day, Mason said, feeling hurt and betrayed that he was leaving so soon. “I’m glad I wasn’t homeless,” Mason said. “I had people I could rely on. I still do.”
Through all of it, Mason kept showing up. Literally.
“That kind of commitment says a lot about who he is and what he’s willing to do to reach his goals,” Morris-Dean and Johnson wrote in their nomination letter.
He found a refuge in football, playing all four years of high school and pushing through even during a tough 1–9 senior season. Coach Ben Cooper became a steady figure in his life—“probably the best influence I had,” Mason said. “He made it a point to check on me, talk to me about life. He was always there when I needed someone.”
Throughout most of his life, he had a passion for IT as a whole, which was nothing but amplified going into his senior year. Mason joined the school's co-op program, which is where he met Morris-Dean, director of technology, and Johnson, technology’s administrative assistant. At first, he was shy and unsure of his skills, but that changed over time. “With a little guidance and a lot of encouragement, Mason found his footing,” Morris-Dean and Johnson shared. “He’s grown into a vital part of our team—someone we count on.”
In the office, Mason’s not just a quiet presence—he’s a go-to problem solver. “He’s always asking for additional work or any other jobs that need to be done,” the letter continued. “He balances that with being a committed athlete, showing the same determination on the football field that he brings to everything else.”
Despite everything he’s been through, Mason’s focus is unwavering. “He’s humble, grounded, and always willing to lend a hand,” the letter reads. “He never complains or makes excuses. Instead, he tackles each challenge head-on.”
Graduation is approaching, and Mason admits he’s nervous. But he’s also ready. “I just kept moving. Just did what I had to do,” he said. And that determination? It’s why he was nominated. It’s why he won.
“Mason’s story is one of perseverance and grit,” the nomination concluded. “He’s taken the obstacles life has thrown his way and turned them into motivation to achieve more.”
That same perseverance, grit, and drive are exactly what Carroll County Schools Superintendent Casey Jaynes sees as hallmarks of success.
“Mason has demonstrated all the aspects that we want to see in our CCHS graduates,” Jaynes said. “Perseverance, grit, determination and positive work ethic, along with academic achievement and leadership are key to success in our future workforce. To be one of six students selected for the Northern Kentucky Education Council Against All Odds award is an outstanding accomplishment and well deserved. Congratulations to Mason and his nomination team of Zach Morris-Dean and Heather Johnson.”