Relentless Ohio River training and state titles propel Mason A. Francis into the Luce Foundation’s global network of young leaders. Recognized for discipline, self‑direction, and service to Appalachian youth, the Ohio State University sprinter joins the 2025 Luce 24 Under 24 as a model of resilience and ethical leadership.
New York, N.Y.– The Board of Directors of the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation has named Mason A. Francis, a first‑year student at The Ohio State University, to its 2025 cohort of Luce 24 Under 24 Young Global Leaders, honoring an all‑state sprinter whose training ground has ranged from championship pools to the fast‑moving waters of the Ohio River.
The recognition places Francis in an international network of more than 300 emerging changemakers cultivated by the J. Luce Foundation to advance ethical, globally engaged leadership.
Rising from Ohio River Currents
Growing up near Marietta, Ohio, Francis refused to let limited facilities derail ambitious goals, often driving nearly an hour each way to open swim sessions after local club programs closed. When consistent coaching disappeared, the Warren Local High School standout designed self‑directed workouts, studied elite sprint technique online, and analyzed race videos to refine starts, turns, and tempo.
That improvisational approach led Francis to train in the Ohio River, braving current, debris, and unpredictable conditions to simulate resistance and mental stress that most high school swimmers never encounter. The unconventional regimen built a reputation for fearlessness and grit, qualities that impressed Luce Foundation leaders seeking honorees who demonstrate initiative under real‑world constraints.
Mason’s journey to national prominence was guided by a unique and powerful partnership with veteran coach Bill Bauer. Bauer, now at the prestigious Punahou Aquatic Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, provided the tutelage that sharpened Mason’s raw talent into national-caliber skill.
“Under my tutelage, he got to be a national caliber swimmer,” says Bauer. “He became nationally ranked, which is a testament to his work ethic and our shared commitment.” Punahou’s head swim coach, Sam Harquail, echoed the sentiment, noting, “Against all odds, Mason persevered. The other swimmers looked up to him.”
State Records and Collegiate Ascent
By senior year, Francis translated river‑hardened stamina into dominance at Ohio’s Division II state championships, defending titles in both the 50‑ and 100‑yard freestyle and lowering the state record in the 100. His performances, which helped place Warren among the top programs in the state standings despite limited roster depth, earned him All‑America recognition and the attention of major collegiate recruiters.
Now a Division I sprint specialist for The Ohio State University Swim & Dive Team, Francis competes on scholarship while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the Max M. Fisher College of Business, specializing in real estate.
Balancing early‑morning training, travel for dual meets, and demanding coursework, he exemplifies the Luce cohort’s emphasis on discipline, time management, and long‑term goal setting across athletics and academics.
Leadership in and beyond the Pool
At Warren, Francis served as swimming team captain from 2021 to 2025, effectively doubling as athlete and coach by writing practice sets, organizing dry‑land conditioning, and mentoring younger sprinters after formal club structures disappeared.
His peers credit that collaborative leadership for sustaining a competitive program in a rural district with limited aquatic resources
Off the pool deck, Francis expanded leadership through the iBelieve Foundation, where he was selected as a delegate to regional conferences focused on empowering Appalachian youth with communication, collaboration, and community‑building skills.
Participation in regional high school leadership summits and service as a counselor at Washington County 4‑H Camp further honed an ability to facilitate group dynamics, mediate conflict, and create inclusive spaces for younger participants navigating the pressures of adolescence.
The Luce Foundation’s Leadership Ecosystem
The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation, founded in 2008, operates a distinctive ecosystem for cultivating “Young Global Leaders Uplifting Humanity,” combining media training, global immersion, and recognition platforms.
Its programs, including The Stewardship Report, Luce Leadership Experience, Luce 24 Under 24, Luce Young Global Leadership Initiative, and Luce Fellows and Scholars, are designed to incubate ethical, globally literate leaders with practical skills in storytelling, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship.
Luce 24 Under 24 honorees join a global network expected ultimately to steward the Foundation’s mission, serving on advisory boards, contributing to digital publications, and co‑designing future leadership programs with universities and civil‑society partners.
For Francis, that means integrating lessons from high‑performance sport—process discipline, incremental improvement, and team cohesion—into broader conversations about youth development and regional equity in Appalachia.
From Appalachian Roots to Global Outlook
Although his competitive focus remains sprint freestyle, Francis increasingly frames swimming as a platform rather than an endpoint, emphasizing the way sport can model resilience and collective effort for younger athletes in under‑resourced communities.
As a business student with an interest in real estate, he has also begun exploring how infrastructure—such as community pools and recreation centers—shapes health outcomes and opportunity in rural regions like southeastern Ohio.
Within the Luce network, Francis will have access to global immersion opportunities and editorial platforms that encourage awardees to analyze systemic inequality and propose concrete interventions, from youth programming to philanthropic initiatives.
The Foundation anticipates that his combination of competitive excellence, Appalachian perspective, and practical creativity will contribute meaningfully to dialogues on how sport, education, and community investment intersect to expand life chances for marginalized youth.
“Mason Francis brings a sense of discipline and determination to this year’s leadership cohort,” states J. Luce Foundation V.P. Dr. Bill Bauer, himself a former varsity swimmer. “His commitment to teamwork is extraordinary.”
Summary
Ohio River sprinter Mason Francis has been named to the 2025 Luce 24 Under 24 cohort, recognizing his record‑setting high school career, self‑directed training in the Ohio River, and leadership roles with Appalachian youth initiatives. As a scholarship athlete and business student at The Ohio State University, Francis now joins the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation’s global network of emerging leaders dedicated to ethical, community‑centered change.
Social Media
Ohio River training runs through every lap Mason Francis swims. From self‑directed workouts after local club closures to record‑shattering performances at Ohio’s state championships, the Warren Local graduate has turned adversity into a platform for leadership. Now a scholarship sprinter at The Ohio State University, Mason has been named to the 2025 Luce 24 Under 24 list, joining the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation’s global network of young leaders uplifting humanity.
From the currents of the Ohio River to the bright lights of Division I competition, Mason Francis embodies relentless drive. The Warren Local alum and Ohio state record holder is now a 2025 Luce 24 Under 24 honoree, recognized by the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation for combining elite sprinting with service to Appalachian youth and a future in business leadership at Ohio State.
The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation has named Mason A. Francis, an Ohio River‑trained sprinter and business student at The Ohio State University, to its 2025 Luce 24 Under 24 cohort. Mason’s profile blends record‑setting state championships, self‑designed training in a resource‑constrained environment, and leadership with Appalachian youth through programs such as the iBelieve Foundation and regional high school leadership summits.
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Ohio River currents. State records. Global leadership.
Warren Local alum and Ohio State sprinter Mason Francis has been named to the 2025 Luce 24 Under 24 by the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation, recognizing both his sprint speed and his commitment to uplifting Appalachian youth.
BlueSky
“Hard work pays off.” Warren Local’s Mason Francis proved it in the Ohio River, on the state podium, and now in the 2025 Luce 24 Under 24 cohort. As a scholarship athlete and business student at Ohio State, he joins the J. Luce Foundation’s global network of young leaders focused on ethical, community‑driven change.