One morning, not too long ago, Michael McCormack—recipient of Talbot Mentors’ $2,000 scholarship—woke up to these words. They came in the form of a text message from his mentor, Brian Cotter, who writes to him daily. The morning motivational texts are in addition to regular get-togethers, church attendance, and evening phone calls. “The most we’ve ever gone without being in touch was when I was at Boy Scout camp, and even then I snuck in a phone call,” says Michael.
Michael and “Mr.” Brian have been a mentor/mentee pair for ten years. To see the two of them together is to immediately appreciate that this is a deeply engaged, respectful, and fun relationship. For Michael, Brian is like a father—especially over the past five years, in light of the death of Michael’s dad. “Michael is family,” says Brian. “That’s just the way it is.”
This year’s Talbot Mentors scholarship is offered in recognition of Michael’s values, sense of purpose, and achievements in and out of school. He graduates from Saint Peters and Paul School —where his mom teaches third grade—at the end of May. His favorite subjects have been religion, history, computers, and gym.
Now, as his high school tenure winds down, Michael is playing a waiting game. The 18-year-old was accepted into all eight schools to which he applied, and now he has to choose. Which school will enjoy the honor of having this thoughtful, mature, dedicated, compassionate, pragmatics, and bright young man as a student depends on which institution will best come through for him with financial assistance.
“I do not want to totally finance school with loans and want to be financially responsible,” Michael says. One of the options he’s considering is Maryland’s 2+2 Transfer Scholarship program—two years at Chesapeake College and then two years at a state university.
What are Michael’s thoughts regarding career? “I am thinking about arts and entertainment management, or maybe something with sports,” he says, adding that he knows he’ll be studying business along the way. As he noted in his Talbot Mentors Scholarship application, “I would attend college in order to fully develop my talents and skills, as well as to grow as a person.”
Michael is an expert in time management. Throughout his student years he has juggled school, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and part-time jobs. Theater—on the stage but primarily behind the scenes—has been a staple in his life. As a veteran of several sports activities, Michael says he enjoys basketball the most. “I like the people, and my dad liked the sport, so there is a connection there,” says Michael. Adding to his fondness for the basketball is that fact that his mentor has coached the Saint Peter and Paul team for more than a decade.
“Michael played for two years and since has managed the team for 10 years,” says Brian, pointing out that in this role Michael touches every aspect of team life, from keeping track of team member stats and releasing this information to the Star Democrat to acting as a liaison between the coaches and the players. “He’s like a junior assistant coach,” says Brian, “doing everything imaginable to help the team.”
Making a difference matters to Michael, who has been an active member of many high school clubs, including Key Club. “We always do something to help people,” he says. Indeed, the club’s activities include a Special Olympics program.
“You are on the 18th hole and you have one putt left. Don’t miss it.” That’s another of Brian’s morning messages to Michael.
For all his involvement, however, Brian doesn’t specifically steer his mentee. “Michael should do what he’s interested in doing. I am there to support him,” says Brian. “My only stipulation is that he works hard at what he does and that he keeps his grades up.”
Michael, whose grade point average is 3.32, has racked up accomplishments beyond the school environment. For more than six years he worked part-time on a farm, doing everything from “mowing the lawn to power washing the dock to grading the driveway,” he explains. Now he’s working at the new car wash in Easton—Gander’s—where you will see him directing the outside area. He directs drivers to the car-detail base, makes sure the customers are happy when the wash is complete, and sees to it that any problems are handled in a timely fashion.
Michael is currently providing technical support for the Tred Avon Players show Lend Me a Tenor, at the Oxford Community Center. He is rehearsing as Shenzi, the lead hyena, in the Chesapeake Children’s Theatre, Lion King, at the Prager Family Auditorium in Easton, June 9th and 10th.
Michael, who is a member of Easton’s Boy Scout Troop 190, has recently received his Eagle Scout. Michael’s project was for Old Saint Joseph’s Church in Cordova in which he painted and repaired two outside buildings as well as planting trees in the cemetry. The church, which is a part of his parish, is special to Michael since his father is buried there and he wanted to spruce up the area, while completing his project.
In the realm of entertainment, NCIS is one of his favorite shows, and Mark Harmon is an actor who has his respect. Why Harmon?
“As a character, you know who he is,” Michael says, adding that “he always keeps the audience wanting more.”
Well, the same can be said for the Talbot Mentors 2017 scholarship recipient. Michael, you leave us wanting more, and clearly there’s lots more to come.
Where does he see himself 10 years from now? “Just enjoying whatever I’m doing.”
Go Michael!
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