First grader receives $27,000 in donations for scholarship fund after school portrait with face mask goes viral

A Virginia student now has a nice cushion for his higher education.

On Friday, GoFundMe tweeted a heartwarming news update about Mason, 6, who wore a face mask in his school portrait, noting that strangers raised over $20,000 toward his college education.

"Adorable news alert: the internet has raised $27,000 for 6-year-old Mason's college fund after his school photo went viral for all the right reasons," the tweet read.

Last month, Mason's mom, Nicole Peoples, shared the photo on her Facebook page and humorously explained the adorable exchange the first grader had with the photographer in a now-viral post.

"Photographer: Ok, take your mask off.

Mason: My mom said to keep it on all the time unless I'm eating and far away from everybody.

Photographer: I'm sure it's ok to take it off for your pictures.

Mason: No, my mom seriously told me to make sure to keep it on.

Photographer: Are you sure you don't want to take it off for 2 seconds?

Mason: No Thank you, I always listen to my mom!

Photographer: Ok, say cheese!

I'm so proud of him for sticking to his word but I should have been more clear about my rules on this day," Peoples wrote.

As of Friday, the post was shared over 16,000 times, with people flooding the comments

"I love it! What an incredible keepsake from this crazy era we're living through," a commenter said.

"This is hilariously cute!! Lol," another person wrote.

"Great job !!!! ALWAYS LISTEN TO MOMMY," someone noted.

"That's hilarious! I wish some of my students were that committed to wearing their masks," a user added.

Peoples went on to update the post to thank everyone for their support and said that through the urging of the countless people inspired by his story, she would be creating a GoFundMe to raise money for the Mason's college education.

"Many of you have reached out to ask how you can send money for gifts, ice cream, or Mason's college. scholarship fund so I have created this GoFundMe account to do just that," she wrote in part. "Thank you again for your kind words and support showing him that following directions can make a BIG" difference.