Kind Kid Spotlight

Eagle Eyes on Kindness

Meet Mason Willoughby, a Crofton Middle School student in Maryland and two-time Kid Kindness Grant winner, who is helping every student feel valued, welcome, and connected—especially those entering middle school for the first time. To support that goal, he created the “Kindness Table” in the cafeteria, where 6th grade students and staff can connect, build friendships, and enjoy activities together. With help from fellow students known as the “Flight Crew,” Mason invites anyone sitting alone to join them for conversation and games. As a result, new friendships formed, isolation became less common, and more students felt welcomed and valued. To reach even more classmates, Mason also encouraged students to become “Wing Buddies,” leaving the table with a buddy to sit elsewhere in the cafeteria together.

Mason said, “Completing this project made me feel really good because I was helping others. I met new friends and enjoyed having new people at my table every day who wanted to sit with me. I also had the chance to meet Superintendent Dr. Bedell. I was so excited to tell him about my project. He told me he was proud of me, that I was doing great things, and that he would come to my school to see it in action.” More than 200 students benefited from Mason’s creativity and kindness. In recognition of his efforts, he received official citations from Senator Dawn Gile and Delegate Schmidt.

Mason plans to continue working on Eagle Eyes on Kindness because when students help one another spread their wings, the whole school can soar.