Partners in Wellness: Student and Alumnus Create Face Masks for R-MC Community

There is no masking the excitement about a collaborative project between Max Presley ’22 and David Stone Jr. ’82. The two are working together to create and donate protective face masks for Randolph-Macon College faculty, staff and students. These masks will be available, at no charge, when classes resume on campus on August 24. 

From Idea to Partnership
“I was talking to my parents about how I missed college life (and my freedom!) while doing online classes,” says Presley in explaining how the project took shape. “We realized that everyone will need face masks when classes resume—and the Max Presley Macon Mask Project grew from there.”

Presley, an accounting major and economics minor, contacted Barclay DuPriest, manager of the Campus Store, who put him in touch with David Stone Jr. ’82. Stone’s Martinsville, Virginia company, Solid Stone Fabrics, makes and distributes fabrics for dance outfits, costumes, active apparel, swimwear and other markets. When the pandemic hit, Solid Stone Fabrics began producing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): masks, acrylic protective shields and gowns used by healthcare workers.

Presley and Stone communicated via email and came up with a plan to create two masks for each RMC student and faculty and staff member.

“I had no idea I would get to work with an alumnus,” says Presley, “but that is really special to me. I hope when I am an alumnus, I can help the college and its students in some way.”

“Max embodies the spirit and enthusiasm that RMC cultivates and promotes in its students,” says Stone. “I have enjoyed getting to know his story and background, and I am happy to know that he found a second home in Ashland—like we all found.”

Generous Donors
Presley’s parents, John and Amy Presley, are funding the Max Presley Macon Mask Project  through the John and Amy Presley Charitable Foundation, which also supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma society and Be The Match, an organization that matches patients with bone marrow donors.

“My dad got leukemia when I was a sophomore in high school and had a bone marrow transplant three years ago,” explains Presley. “Wearing a mask can help protect anyone—including cancer patients—whose immune system is compromised; it’s something my family did for years. What people are doing today to ‘stay safe’ is what my family did to protect my dad after his transplant. I thought wearing a Macon mask and showing school pride would be a fun way to protect each other.”   

YJ Pride
Presley, a dedicated member of the RMC tennis team, takes great pride in being a member of the Randolph-Macon community.

“I am profoundly deaf, so I don’t speak,” says Presley. “My first college was not able to support my disability. I transferred to Randolph-Macon, where the disability services are amazing. I feel like my life is finally what I hoped it would be. I have wonderful interpreters and can access all I need to be successful. Last semester made my first all A’s and B’s ever in college. I love it here so much.”