Awards Day

Another one of those bittersweet days. Today, we attended the Hume Fogg Senior Class Awards, and watched several of these young men and women receive scholarships and awards. We awarded a scholarship in Mitchell's name to his friend, Kyle.

Here's what I said (or tried to say), as I stood on stage in the school auditorium, thankful for stage lighting which meant I couldn't see his friends who were sitting in the front rows:

Mitchell Patrick Mielnik was a talented athlete, a gifted student, and a loyal friend. He was extremely proud to be a member of the Hume Fogg Academic Magnet High School class of 2017. He loved “almost” everything about Hume Fogg, especially Gilman’s lunch bunch. On his desk is a paper that says “Save for Senior Year” – upon which he wrote “Martha Anne Josephine Krick Robinson.” I don’t know exactly why he needed to know that, but he knew.

I don’t have to tell this class the end of Mitchell’s story, but I do want to make sure that you all know that the summer of 2015 was not ALL of Mitchell’s story. His story is a part of each of you, and each of you will carry his memory with you. I hope you will remember him as someone who was not afraid to work hard, to play hard, to seek excellence, to find true friends, and to laugh. Our family congratulates each of you, the members of the class of 2017, and encourage you to reach for your dreams.

Because of the love and generosity of Mitchell’s friends and family, including many of you and your families, we have been able to establish the Mitchell Patrick Mielnik scholarship in his memory, to provide an award to a deserving student athlete who demonstrates integrity in his or her athletic, academic, and personal life.

This year is the first year that this scholarship is presented, and we are thrilled that the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has selected a young man who, like Mitchell, has exemplified these traits throughout his life, and who we know will carry Mitchell’s memory close beside him throughout his life.

It is our family’s honor to present the first annual Mitchell Patrick Mielnik scholarship to his friend, Kyle David Bartels.