Alumni Spotlight: Dan Mason

Alumni Spotlight: Dan Mason

In celebration of our 25th anniversary of Ambleside School, each month we’ll be featuring a short spotlight article about graduates of our school and what they’re doing now.

Dan Mason attended Ambleside School from kindergarten through eighth grade, graduating in 2013 back when the school was located in Dranesville United Methodist Church. 

Looking back on his time at Ambleside, one thing Dan fondly remembers was sledding down the “big hill” every winter with his classmates. That hill is a favorite memory for many students of that era.

But, he said what stands out to him most were the Veterans Day Chapels. Meeting the veterans and hearing them tell their stories of heroism and selfless sacrifice inspired him to follow in their footsteps.

After graduating from Cedarville University, he did just that. Today he is a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, with the 8th Ordnance Company.

The practical skills he picked up at Ambleside are still with him. “I can't tell you how often I draw on those reading comprehension and narration skills that served as the foundation for my Ambleside education, especially now as a platoon leader.” He is tasked regularly with translating complex orders into actionable tasks for nearly 40 soldiers. 

“I see just how vital those early lessons have become,” he shared.

He also enjoyed woodworking in 7th and 8th grade with Mr. Ayers and Mr. Lyons. Even today he frequently uses the knowledge of hand and power tools he acquired in those classes.

As Dan prepares to deploy to Poland with his wife Katie and dog Oreo in early 2024, he says he carries the Ambleside community with him, and all of the values and skills he learned there.