LEGACY OF BELOVED 2013 MHS ALUM CONTINUES WITH MYLES SMILED ON YOU AWARD

In 2019, the Morris Educational Foundation selected five Morristown High School alumni as the first recipients of the Myles Smiled on You Award for secondary education loan reduction.  The award was created in memory of Myles Mislavsky, Morristown High School graduate class of 2013, and is funded by his family, friends and the Golden Bagel Runners who knew and loved Myles. 

The award in the amount of $5,000 each, was given to deserving MHS alumni who exemplify Myles’ many positive characteristics.  Generosity and kindness are two words immediately associated with Myles and the first recipients exude these traits, who include Katrina Colquhoun ‘13, Sophie Connolly ‘13, Kelly Hall ‘10, Stacey Trackenberg ‘12 and Zaji Zabalerio ‘13. 

The Mislavsky/Martinez family hopes that Myles will “smile on” Morristown High School alumni with this financial award just as he did during his amazing life. With applications open for the second year, classmates and award recipients, Zaji (Zi) Zabalerio and Sophie Connolly, offered their reflections on the award and how they carry on Myles’ legacy.

Sophie Connolly also expressed her journey with the award and how it continues to have an impact on her life.

“I chose to honor Myles through my educational success and my advocacy for all types of invisible illnesses,” said Sophie Connolly. “I feel a connection to this award because I knew Myles for so long and because I am currently going to the same school Myles attended for Occupational Therapy, which makes my educational journey even more special.”

“COVID-19 has turned my life upside down, and the beginning of grad school went nothing like planned,” Sophie explained. “As a result, I had to make some significant changes in my life that triggered my mental state into full gear. It has taken weeks to get back to my baseline to recover as major events and changes can trigger bipolar episodes. Still, now that I finally have overcome that massive hurdle, I am reminded that with support – both medical and emotional – you can succeed. And I intend to move forward successfully for myself and Myles and to show my peers how critical mental illness and invisible illness awareness is. I will never stop being open about my mental and physical illnesses because I believe everyone can learn from them, including myself.”

The award application is open to all Morristown High School alumni – Class of 2009 and after – who have graduated from a 2- or 4-year college, university or trade school and have student loans. MHS graduates are encouraged to submit their application by the November 2 deadline for this year's Myles Smiled on You Award by visiting www.morrisedfoundation.org/what-we-do/scholarships/mylessmiledonyouaward.html.