'Myles Smiled' Grants Awarded To 8 Morristown Graduates

MORRISTOWN, NJ — For the past four years, the Morris Educational Foundation has accepted applications for a student loan reduction award named after a late Morristown High School student.

This week, the recipients of the 2023 grant cycle were announced.

With many graduates concerned about repaying student loans, the Morris Educational Foundation (MEF), a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing educational excellence in the Morris School District, awarded the 2023 Myles Smiled on You Award to eight Morristown High School alumni.

The award was established in memory of Myles Mislavsky, a 2013 Morristown High School alumnus, and is supported by individuals who knew and loved him, including his family, friends, and the Golden Bagel Runners.

"Myles was an amazing human being. Witty, charismatic, giving and loyal…these words merely scratch the surface in describing Myles. He made a lasting impact on the lives of those around him and was committed to helping others," the foundation said.

Mislavsky passed away after falling from a parking deck on Sept. 11, authorities said.

Since its inaugural year in 2019, the MEF has presented 32 alumni with the Myles Smiled on You Award. This year, thanks to the Mislavsky/Martinez family, eight new deserving Morristown alumni will receive the $5,000 award, bringing the recipient total to 40.

The selected recipients are:

• Grace Beston
• Emilie Breslin
• Jackson Campbell
• Catherine Clinton
• Tia Ellzey
• Maggie Jones
• Danielle Powell
• Ashlynn Wolff

In addition to documenting undergraduate debt, the award application required one essay of 500 words or fewer detailing the following topics:

1. How did you or are you dealing with challenging mental, physical, or other situations?
2. Describe how you have demonstrated empathy toward others
3. What do you do to help your family or community?

Each Morristown High School alumnus who received the honor spoke about how they had benefited others in the same way that Mislavsky had done throughout his life.

Several recipients knew Mislavsky and plan to carry on his legacy in the ways he influenced people during his life. Giving back to the community, spreading happiness, and showing people care and kindness are all examples of this.

“I would like to thank the MEF and the Mislavsky family for honoring the legacy of Myles and shining light on the darkness of mental illness. I will be pursuing a residency in clinical psychiatric pharmacy upon completing my doctorate because of my experiences with mental health from high school and beyond. This award is deeply meaningful and appreciated, as it allows me to achieve my dream of destigmatizing the realm of mental disorders and bringing specialized care to individuals in need by relieving financial barriers,” Jones said.

The Mislavsky/Martinez family realizes that the weight of student debt falls hard on many young people today and hopes to motivate others to help address the issue through charity. They also hope that Myles has "smiled on" these Morristown High School alumni with this financial award, just as he did throughout his life.

“I want to express my appreciation for being selected for The Myles Smiled on You Award. I remember Myles very vividly from high school, as I was a year above him. He was such a positive, brilliant light, and although I haven’t kept in touch with most of my peers from high school, he was the kind of person you could never forget,” Wolf said.

For more information about awards and scholarships offered, visit the scholarship page on the Morris Educational Foundation website at www.morrisedfoundation.org.