Mason graduates Kevin Peyton and Maj. Molly O'Connor Locke received the Mason Schools Foundation's 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards during Homecoming weekend.

Peyton, a 1986 graduate who founded the food-assistance nonprofit Joshua's Place, was named Distinguished Alum. Locke, Class of 2012 and a U.S. Air Force information operations officer, was named Distinguished Young Alum. The foundation presented both awards at its annual fall celebration on Friday, Oct. 2.

Superintendent Jonathan Cooper, speaking at the same celebration while presenting the Campbell Family Founder's Award to David Charpentier, described what the evening meant: "It's about investing yourself in a community so deeply that your impact can be felt in the opportunities other people have because you were willing to serve."

Peyton: 'Love is a verb'

Peyton founded Joshua's Place around a simple philosophy he calls "love is a verb." The organization has grown into a network of hundreds of volunteers providing food assistance, mentoring, tutoring and summer camps to families across the Mason, Kings, Lebanon, Little Miami and Deer Park school districts.

Joshua's Place started as a food pantry through Rivers Crossing Community Church in South Lebanon before expanding to Mason. Its flagship program is an adult food cooperative in which members receive $60 in groceries every two weeks. As of a 2021 City Lifestyle profile, the organization drew more than 400 volunteers from more than 30 area churches.

The nonprofit also received the 2026 Waypoint Award from True Charity for launching "Path Builders," a one-to-one mentoring program developed with InnerMission.

Peyton and his wife, Nona, made Homecoming a family affair. The couple met as Mason Middle School students. On Thursday, Oct. 1, Kevin, a former Comet football player, and Nona, a former cheerleader, were guests of honor at the junior/senior pep rally. The next day, lifelong friends joined their children and grandchildren to watch Peyton accept the award.

Locke: Twice named top Air Force IO officer

Locke specializes in information operations for the U.S. Air Force. Her service has included counter-ISIS missions and strategic communications connected to Ukraine, according to the foundation. She has twice been named Air Force Reserve Command Information Operations Officer of the Year.

Outside the military, Locke works as a technical program manager at Coinbase. She holds a psychology degree from Ohio State University.

Locke could not attend the celebration. Her parents, Tom and Dawn O'Connor, accepted the award on her behalf.