VIDEO: Casey Smith receives $3,000 Caption Seth Mitchell Memorial Scholarship

Goes to a graduating senior who embodies the same qualities as Seth, those of service and determination

Loveland, Ohio – This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is from the annual Senior Awards Ceremony held at Loveland High School on May 14.

CAPTAIN SETH MITCHELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

A 1997 graduate of Loveland High School, Captain David Seth Mitchell embodied the ideals of loyalty, friendship and selflessness. After graduation Seth attended Virginia Tech and ultimately attained his dream of becoming a pilot in the United States Marine Corps. He died serving his country in Afghanistan in October, 2009.

Many of his classmates and friends in Loveland have established this scholarship in his memory. It goes to a graduating senior who embodies the same qualities as Seth, those of service and determination.

This years’ $3,000 Scholarships winner was Casey Smith.

Damien Cook, Marisa Sobb and Mollie Emerick, the scholarship committee, made the presentation along with Seth’s father, Steven Mitchell who flew in from North Carolina to make the presentation.

The money raised to support the scholarship fund is aimed at the annual Seth Mitchell HERO 5K held each September in Loveland.

About SETH MITCHELL

Seth Mitchell was born in Charlotte NC and lived in that area until he was 11 years old. As a child, Seth participated in sports and school activities and loved water sports such as skiing and tubing. As a young boy Seth wanted to be a pilot. Seth had a huge collection of planes. He even had them hanging from the ceiling in his room. Seth was usually seen with some sort of plane or helicopter on his shirts.[quote_left]Seth had a huge collection of planes. He even had them hanging from the ceiling in his room.[/quote_left]

When Seth and his family moved to Loveland, he continued his dream of flying by taking his first “solo” flight at the Waynesville, OH air field. Seth flew in a glider plane for his 12th birthday. The instructor let Seth take the controls as the glider sailed through the air. He was Hooked! At Loveland Middle School, Seth got his first taste of organized football. Seth graduated from Loveland High School where he played football; pole vaulted for the track team, was a member of the student council and elected class president for 1997. Seth called Loveland home because that is where he developed lifelong friendships and the skills, talent and character traits that guided his life. One turning point in Seth’s life was getting involved with Student Venture, the high school ministry of the Campus Crusade for Christ. Seth found his spiritual compass and developed leadership skills that would serve him well in future endeavors.

After high school Seth enrolled at Virginia Tech and the ROTC program. Seth was a member of Echo Company. He earned a ROTC scholarship after his freshman year and became the executive officer of Golf Company during his senior year. He was a member of the German Club, Ring Design Committee and member at large for the Class of 2001. After graduation, Seth entered the Marine Corp Office Candidate School.

[quote_right]Captain Mitchell beat long odds and was awarded a Marine Aviation training spot after four years in the Corp.[/quote_right]Graduation from OCS, 2nd Lt Mitchell was assigned to Camp Lejuene, NC. While at Camp Lejuene he served tours in Okinawa, Haiti and Iraq as part of an infantry unit. Seth was promoted to 1st Lt. and on November 1st 2005 he achieved the rank of Captain. Growing up he had dreamed of becoming a pilot but did not qualify for the military aviation program due to his eyesight. After corrective eye surgery and while stationed at Camp Lejuene Captain Mitchell achieved his private pilot’s license. Due to his determination, Captain Mitchell beat long odds and was awarded a Marine Aviation training spot after four years in the Corp. Captain Mitchell began flight training in Pensacola FL, earning his wings in May 2007. He later qualified to fly the AH-1 Super Cobra Helicopter. Captain Mitchell had achieved and was living his dream of serving his country as a Marine aviator. Captain Mitchell loved to fly and did so during his second tour in Iraq in 2008. In very typical fashion, Captain Mitchell volunteered to report early to duty in Afghanistan to assist a unit short on manpower.

Captain Seth Mitchell, 30, was killed October 26, 2009 when two helicopters collided while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Captain Mitchell was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.