Whiz Kid: Improve Self, Others Nearby

Name:

Briona Johnson

Mitchell Gross

• Accomplishment: Named the 2011 recipients of the Tricia Myers Foundation, which earns them each a $250 scholarship. Their scholarship checks are dated on Tricia's birthday, April 30, as a present to her. 
• Key to Success: Briona and Mitchell were chosen based on their ability to not only improve themselves but also their willingness to help others, said Marianne Myers, Tricia's mother and co-founder of the foundation. Tricia Myers was a senior at Grosse Pointe North. She died in her sleep in June 2007, three days before graduation and her parents developed the Foundation in her memory to honor Tricia's helpful, giving and dedicated nature. "We wanted kids who are good kids but had to work harder to achieve," Marianne Myers said. Briona has changed her own circumstances significantly and is now a role model to young kids and Mitchell is the first to step up to help others, Marianne Myers said. 
• Grosse Pointe North Teacher Sheryl Russell selects the students for the scholarship each year. Russell and Tricia Myers were close as Tricia volunteered in Russell's classroom, which is geared for students with learning disabilities. Thus far the foundation has given out two dance scholarships and two singing scholarships and it supports Full Circle retail store in the Park that focuses on helping mentally impaired students to develop work skills. Tim Myers Jr., Tricia's brother, also presented a $2,000 check to North Principal Tim Bearden from the Foundation for Challenge Day, which is a day about breaking down barriers. It involves students and promotes respect for people for who they are and whatever problems they may have. "One of the reasons we give to challenge day is that's the way Tricia would live," she said. "You really knew what she stood for: accept everyone with respect."

Email nominations to Sara.Martin@patch.com. Nominations must include the nominator's name and contact information, the whiz kid's name, age, school, accomplishment and key to awesomeness.