Stuart Mazanec Memorial Scholarship
Remembering Stuart
Stuart Mazanec was the son of Leon and Pam Mazanec, who moved to the Larkspur community in 1988. Stuart was born on July 21, 1988, and his sister, Meredith, followed in April 1990. Both attended Larkspur Elementary from kindergarten through sixth grade.
The Mazanec family was deeply involved in the Larkspur Elementary community. Stuart's mother, Pam, served as LES PTO president for two years and helped establish a beloved school tradition, chairing the first five PTO Boot Scootin' Boogies.
In April 2006, during his senior year at Douglas County High School, Stuart attended a rodeo clinic because he wanted to give rodeo a try. After successfully riding his first bucking bronc, Stuart was critically injured while dismounting. He died from complications of his injuries on April 26, 2006. He was 17 years old and just weeks away from graduating from Douglas County High School.
This scholarship was created to honor Stuart by recognizing students who reflect the qualities that made him special.
About Stuart
Stuart was intelligent and a good student, but academics weren't necessarily where he stood out most. He loved being outdoors and preferred hunting, fishing and riding horses to almost anything that kept him inside. One exception was reading. Beginning in late elementary school, Stuart became an avid reader and was rarely without a paperback. He especially loved the work of Louis L'Amour and stories about the American West and early settlers.
Stuart was also, in many ways, a typical teenager. He wasn't perfect, and his family wouldn't want him remembered that way. He tested boundaries, argued with his sister and parents, and sometimes could have put more effort into his schoolwork.
What mattered more was the kind of person he was.
Stuart was affectionate with his family and never outgrew their tradition of hugs, kisses and saying "I love you" when they parted, even when his friends were around. He was active in his church and was confirmed during his junior year. For a time, he even considered entering the priesthood.
He understood the value of hard work. Beginning around age 13, Stuart worked for his father, and the summer before his death he worked manual labor at a building supply warehouse.
He was also a devoted older brother. Stuart regularly drove Meredith to school, volleyball practice and the movies and attended nearly all of her volleyball tournaments, usually with a paperback in his pocket for the downtime. He became well known and liked by her teammates and their families.
Willing to Try
Stuart wrestled in middle and high school and returned to soccer in high school after several years away from the sport. He wasn't usually the athlete in the spotlight. What his family valued was his willingness to participate, work hard and try something even when he wasn't going to be the best at it.
He found greater competitive success through 4-H Shooting Sports, participating in air rifle, shotgun and archery. He qualified for the National Team several years before his death.
After graduation, Stuart planned to attend Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to study wildlife biology. He hoped to build a career as a wildlife biologist or game warden, doing what he loved most: being outside.
The Spirit of the Scholarship
Stuart's family remembers him as a normal kid in many ways and an extraordinary one in others. Before and after his death, they heard repeatedly that Stuart was a good friend, treated adults with respect and was comfortable talking with people of all ages.
That is the spirit behind the Stuart Mazanec Memorial Scholarship.
There are many scholarships that recognize the students with the highest grades, greatest accomplishments or longest lists of awards. This scholarship is intended to recognize a student who, like Stuart, may not stand out academically but stands out because of who they are.
Character matters. Kindness matters. Being a good friend matters. Working hard, trying something new and treating people well matter.
The Mazanec family hopes this scholarship recognizes a former Larkspur Elementary student who carries those qualities forward.
Good luck with your application, and thank you for helping us honor Stuart's memory.
The Mazanec Family
