By Jennifer Gomori, MAFF Editor
Chloe Mietelka understands the importance of balancing academics, leadership activities and community involvement. For these reasons, the dual-enrolled college and high school student was selected as a 2022 Carl Parsell Scholarship recipient.
“It means a lot because I appreciate they recognized me out of the other people who sent in their applications,” Mietelka said of the $2,500 scholarship. “I’m thankful for having the scholarship to use toward college. It will help me have less debt.”
Mietelka, a Jackson resident, is the daughter of MAPE City of Jackson Maintenance Worker III Steven M. Mietelka and Mary K. Mietelka.
The Grass Lake High School Honors student graduated with a 4.2 GPA and plans to attend Michigan State University (MSU) this fall to study Advertisement Management.
Receiving high honors and perfect attendance throughout high school, Mietelka is Salutatorian of her graduating class. She’s served as Grass Lake High School Student Council Secretary for four years and as a member of National Honor Society.
“I’ve been on student council since freshman year and in National Honor Society since sophomore year,” she wrote in her scholarship application. “In both groups, we value the idea of serving our community and leadership within the school. Ways in which I have honored these values include collaborating with administrators to improve the school atmosphere and arranging community service projects, such as Octoberfest, with the elementary schoolers and a variety of drives.”
A Jackson Early College program participant, she also took Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Mietelka was on the school’s Quiz Bowl team and Yearbook staff. As a freshman, she participated in high school marching, concert and jazz band. “While in band, I had first chair in percussion and keyboard,” she wrote.
“Chloe has followed a college prep schedule and was also dual enrolled at Jackson College, taking psychology, communications and humanities courses,” wrote Grass Lake High School teacher Angelee Kovach Connors in a letter of recommendation. “She is a very conscientious student and her peers value her contributions. She is a respected member of any project group as others are confident that she respects others’ opinions and ideas.”
She is an active volunteer in her community. “Through the Lions Club, I’ve volunteered by helping with the White Cane drive to help the visually impaired, the Salvation Army bell ringer, and serving food in homeless shelters,” she wrote. “One of my most unique opportunities that I was given is when a teacher recommended me to help with the election polls during the Election of 2020. Not only was I able to help with the poll stations, but I was also able to see how our country’s voting system is arranged.”
Kovach Connors touted her blood drive assistance with the American Red Cross through National Honor Society and volunteering as a guide for incoming freshman last year. Some of Mietelka’s ‘smaller volunteer opportunities’ include: helping with a can drive; organizing and cleaning books at Grass Lake Middle School Library and in her English classroom library; and making holiday cards for seniors in retirement homes. “While these activities might seem less impactful compared to the others, they are equally as important – for every small action makes a difference within the community,” Mietelka wrote.
“As a friend of the family, I have known Chloe since her arrival in the United States and have had the pleasure of watching her grow into an amazing young woman,” wrote Karen Van de Water, Michigan Center Junior/Senior High School teacher, librarian and yearbook advisor, in a recommendation letter. “I have been able to experience firsthand her motivation and drive as a student who doesn’t settle for ‘okay’ but strives for the absolute best she can manage. Chloe is also genuine, responsible, dedicated, creative, hard-working and an extremely caring person, which definitely shows in everything she does. The time that she invests into every course and every project, (both personal and academic) is extremely commendable and I believe is representative of the time she will dedicate to her own future success.”
Mietelka has worked part-time at Kohl’s as a sales associate since August 2021. “This being my first job, I’ve gained lots of insight on customer service by learning how to better communicate with others,” she wrote. “Additionally, working has taught me independence by scheduling around my other extracurricular activities as well as saving money.”
In addition to her $2,500 Carl Parsell Scholarship, Mietelka was awarded: a $1,500 annual MSU scholarship; a $1,000 Friends of Grass Lake Township Scholarship; an American Red Cross Blood Drive Scholarship of $750; and a $1,000 Myer and Lois Franklin Scholarship.
“I really appreciate all of them because it shows all my hard work went into something,” she said. “It paid off.”
