MIHL Announces 2018 David Mannino Scholarship Recipient

The Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League (MIHL) is pleased to announce Brendan Olepa from Plymouth High School as the 2018 recipient of the David Mannino College Scholarship associated with the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase.  The $2,000 college scholarship is awarded to a student-athlete who participated in the 2018 MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase and met all of the selection criteria. Brendan was selected by a random draw of qualifying senior players and the award was presented to him on Saturday, February 3, 2018.  The scholarship will be applied to Brendan’s tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).

Brendan commented on winning the award, “I’m honored to be the recipient of the David Mannino Scholarship Award for 2018 and I want to thank both the Mannino Family and the MIHL for the award.  To be associated with a scholarship that honors the memory of such an accomplished individual is truly humbling.  I would to thank my coaches for nominating me for the award and my parents, especially my mom, who have always pushed me in school to do my best.”

Brendan, the son of Barb and Ed Olepa maintains a 4.00 GPA at Plymouth High School.   Next year he will attend Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and then plans to transfer to the University of Tennessee after two years to pursue a career in forensic science and crime scene investigation.   Brendan fulfilled the community service requirement for the award by volunteering at the Plymouth United Way, Ann Arbor Veteran’s Hospital and Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Plymouth High School Head Coach Gerry Vento talked about Brendan and the Mannino Scholarship, I couldn't be happier for Brendan and his family for being awarded the scholarship. His character and work ethic makes this a well-deserved opportunity for Brendan. In addition, myself and the entire Plymouth Wildcat hockey family would like to thank Dr. Mannino and the MIHL for making this a possibility and for the work both do to help high school players both on and off the ice.

The winning of the award just added to the great time Brendan and his teammates had at the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase, “Our entire team had a great experience at the Showcase.  We went into a shootout in both games against two great teams - Hancock and Trenton.  I think the weekend brought us closer together as a team and prepared us to do well against better competition come playoffs.”

To honor the life of David Mannino, the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League (MIHL) renamed the MIHL Showcase Scholarship – It is now the David Mannino Scholarship and is awarded annually during the MIHL Prep Hockey Showcase.  The decision to rename the scholarships in David’s name came easily, “David’s life exemplified the goals and objectives of the scholarship – he was a student athlete and a young man with great moral character”, explained MIHL President Andy Weidenbach.