Standout scholar-athlete to serve as Auburn Engineering graduate marshal

As if it wasn't already a banner year for Mason Mathias...  

In February, the mechanical engineering senior was named the SEC Men’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. (Five All-American honors in the pool and a 4.00 grade point average will do that.)

His latest distinction? Carrying the literal banner for the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering during summer commencement exercises as graduation marshal.

"I wasn't expecting that," Mathias said. "I know of many incredibly talented and high achieving peers who are just as deserving, so I'm really honored to be selected."

It's the latest in the slew of kudos the Birmingham native has earned in his four years as both an Auburn engineer and a star swimmer.

Multiple College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American honors (2022-2025) and his College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American status in 2024 and 2025 are among his earlier academic and athletic accolades. There's also the three Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll selections (2022-2024) and two CSC Academic All-District Team awards (2023, 2024).

And we may just be getting started.

Pivoting from his initial post-graduation plan to enter industry, Mathias now plans to pursue a master's in mechanical engineering at Auburn with a special interest in controls, robotics and biomechanics.

"Being an athlete, I love studying how the human body works, and how to maximize it," Mathias said. “At Auburn, I felt like I could achieve highly in the pool and in the classroom because of what Auburn Engineering has to offer. I believe that now more than ever."

Commencement will be Saturday, August 9 at 9 a.m. inside Neville Arena. Neil Lamb, president of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and a nationally recognized leader in science education and genomics, will deliver the keynote address.

Additional information is available on the commencement website and will be posted on Facebook and Instagram. All ceremonies will be livestreamed and recordings will be available on the website following the weekend festivities. Graduates and their families are encouraged to use the site for the latest updates.

"Mason Mathias is a name we've heard a lot around here over the past four years, and I'm sure we'll be hearing more of it starting in the fall," said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. "Mason's success both in the classroom and out is beyond impressive. Any engineering school or swimming program in the country would be very fortunate to claim him, but we're extremely proud that the banner he's carrying Saturday says 'the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.'"