The following article appeared in the Frederick News Post after the project was complete:
Tournament 2006
THE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT WAS NOT HELD IN 2006 IN LIEU OF JAMIE MISOTTI'S GRADUATION PROJECT
OVER $8,200 WAS RAISED BY THIS PROJECT - PLEASE READ BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.
THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS MAILED AND/OR EMAILED TO OVER 300 PEOPLE IN APRIL OF 2006:
“In 8th grade I made an auto-biography like Jessie did, and because I knew how much she enjoyed the project, I put extra effort into it. It's the same with volleyball. And it was the same with the Confirmation retreat. This retreat changed my life not just in the way that I feel closer and more connected to Jessie, but in the way that I found a part of myself I feel I've been looking for for a very long time. So thank you so much for allowing me to get to know Jessie better through the both of you.”
This is an excerpt from one of many letters we received from an amazing young woman. She was 14 years old when she wrote it - and we had been getting similar ones from her since she was 11 – all with the same depth and insight.
Jamie Misotti is now 18, and getting ready to graduate in June. Frederick County Schools require seniors to complete a semester-long project meeting specific and demanding criteria in order to graduate.
Jamie asked us if she could do her senior project in the form of a fundraiser for Jessie’s scholarship fund held at The Community Foundation of Frederick County. We were honored by this request, but we were not surprised. She has shown such compassion and maturity to us over these past six years. We have not only agreed to mentor her on this project, but have offered to give her our full support.
To that end, we have decided not to host the memorial volleyball tournament this year. Instead, our annual fundraiser will be put in the hands of this very capable person.
Please read Jamie's letter, and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all.
Sincerely,
Sue and Don Murphy
301-607-1132