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Thank you for teaching me about Summer Search and what it means to be a mentor! Wishing you the best! 

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Thank you for teaching me about Summer Search and what it means to be a mentor! Wishing you the best! 

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-Bradley

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Mia,
You have been a bedrock of support for me and our entire Summer Search team since the moment I met you. Your unconditional warmth and care for students and staff has been an inspiration. Thank you for everything you've done - for the support and collaboration during summer on-call hours, your diligence developing our program manual, and coaching on the national outreach cohort. Wherever you go next, they will be lucky as hell to have you!!!
Love, Sam

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Our paths didn't cross much but when they did it was always a pleasure.  All the best to you! Take care!
Sylvia

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Sometimes when I'm in a tricky spot professionally or personally I (not kidding here) think, what would Mia do? For almost nine years I have admired the way you so genuinely show up for your family, your colleagues and your countless friends. You have demonstrated how to be both emotionally available and true to your convictions. You've taught me how to make mistakes and how to excel. Thanks for coming to my wedding, donating to my Y campaigns, listening to my birth fears and bringing me meals after Ollie was born. I often hear your mentoring voice inside me, as I work with student and alum, but I will dearly miss hearing live and I know everyone else will, too.
Love, Rebecca

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You dazzled me from a distance and up close too, in the very few times we have connected or worked together during my brief tenure.  Your legacy and love for our kids is luminous and inspiring, and I am just so grateful for the example you leave for me and other leaders who have big shoes to fill -- yours.  I look forward to our paths crossing sometime soon.  With all my very best and a huge hug.

Lindsay Hower

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I recall that you were one of the first voices I heard during onboarding; your laugh, energy and passion are contagious and inspiring. Thank you for the countless ways that you have supported Summer Search staff and students. Wishing you all the best!
Warmly,
Michelle

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We are forever grateful and forever family!  THANK YOU!

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We're so lucky to have had your tremendous heart so close by each step of the way! Love, Melanie

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You have such a warm spunky spark that was immediately apparent when I met you.  I have  much admiration for how many lives you have touched -- it's inspiring.  Wishing you all the best.

liz h

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Mia, You are a mentor to so many more than the founding classes of Summer Search Seattle. Your leadership, strong values, and vision have reached us all. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives. Thank you, Macaria. 

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Mia, You are a mentor to so many more than the founding classes of Summer Search Seattle. Your leadership, strong values, and vision have reached us all. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives. Thank you, Macaria. 

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To the woman with the biggest smile, biggest hugs. 

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To the woman with the biggest smile, biggest hugs. 

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Mia, I hope you enjoy this page we made for you filled with love and celebration of YOU. Your impact here is boundless, and the words on this page are a small reflection of that.

Your fan always,
Lorelei

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Mia, thank you for all your support, leadership and commitment to Summer Search and the CS Team! Thank your sharing with us, your knowledge and overstanding! I wish, I had more time to work with you. Thank you!-Easton

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Mia, thank you for all your support, leadership and commitment to Summer Search and the CS Team! Thank your sharing with us, your knowledge and overstanding! I wish, I had more time to work with you. Thank you!-Easton

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Mia,
Over the years, you have been a guiding light for me and some many others. You always bring the heart, support, and warmth to everyone's day. Upon meeting you over 9 year ago, I knew I met a strong, amazing friend in you and I count myself lucky!

You have been such an important part of Summer Search and we are all forever grateful.

Much love & appreciation,
Amanda Sayre

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Mia,

We didn't work together much, but every time we've interacted you've brought such enthusiasm, warmth, and genuine curiosity to the interaction. I'll also always be grateful for when, at the 25th Anniversary event in NYC, the head of the PwC Foundation asked me a question I couldn't answer and you valiantly stepped in and gave her an incredible response. My hero! Best of luck in your next endeavor and I know you won't be a stranger.

Warmly and with gratitude,
Kenyon

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It is hard to summon the words to express ho w much I admire you and how much I will miss you. Your legacy from the past 14 years runs deep, and your influence is interwoven into the fabric of every good thing about Summer Search. Thank you for being a compassionate and thoughtful leader, a trustworthy role model, a wise advisor, a loyal friend, and a selfless team player. Whenever I grapple with a challenge, I will try to channel some of the hallmark characteristics of Mia Ellis -- warmth, generosity, wisdom, humor, integrity, positivity, and an unwavering devotion to the well-being of students, alumni, and staff, to name just a few things from a very long list!

I’m so grateful to know you and to have had the privilege of working closely  with you all of these years.

With love and admiration always,
Janice

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You were one of the first people I interacted with when I started at SS as you were planning the all-staff retreat. I realized quickly that this is a special organization with special people. Thanks for always bringing a smile and for making me feel like a part of the team from day 1. You'll be missed.

- Will

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You are devoted, wise, authentic, funny and compassionate. You lead by example, inspiring others through your deeds of kindness and generosity. You move through this world with grace, warmth and confidence. Your example, and care, has helped me develop as a person and as a leader. I smile thinking of the hundreds of students, staff members and donors who move through their lives with extra confidence that comes from knowing that they've been cared for, and invested in, by you. With tremendous gratitude, Alex

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I'm so glad I got to work with you more this year than I have ever before.  I'm truly going to miss working with you, even if it's on projects that JUST WON'T DIE END.  (The bright side about those is that I got to spend more time with you!)  I will miss seeing your face (and facial expressions) every Friday and the energy, passion, excitement and contagious laughter your bring to our team.

Love love love ALWAYS,
Rangsiwan

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I am always inspired by your collaborative and humorous spirit. I'm excited to see where life takes you next! - Salem

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You are something special!! I have loved working with you this past year--our check-ins have been so fun whether sharing about life or figuring out how to facilitate a hard conversation. I've grown and learned so much from you, but mostly I am grateful for your warm and genuine heart. Summer Search is lucky to have had you for so long, and the students and staff you've impacted are forever better because of you. Thank you for being such a strong advocate of the CS cohort and amazing Program Manual author, and for everything else you have done. Looking forward to keeping in touch. Much love,
Moneek

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Thank you for ALWAYS being there for Summer Search and for me. Your heart, courage, values and hand prints are felt and valued by this entire organization. The alumni and staff you've mentored and loved are transformed by your grace and joy and now light up the world with theirs. Our friendship and your consistent presence in this Summer Search journey we've shared since 2002 has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.
The Seattle community and the world are better places with you in it. I am counting the days until the next milestone moment we get to share together in person.
With the most profound gratitude, respect appreciation and love for you always,
Emily

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Mia, the few times I've been lucky enough to be in your presence, I've been drawn to your warmth, your contagious smile, your thoughtfulness, and your boundless energy for everything Summer Search. Thank you for all that you give to others and for the warm glow of inspiration and fun you give off! Lots and lots of hugs, Amy Schneider.

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Mia, the few times I've been lucky enough to be in your presence, I've been drawn to your warmth, your contagious smile, your thoughtfulness, and your boundless energy for everything Summer Search. Thank you for all that you give to others and for the warm glow of inspiration and fun you give off! Lots and lots of hugs, Amy Schneider.

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I want to thank you for all your wisdom, patience, and support with the College Access Cohort.  You are truly an inspiration with your work and professionalism.
Gracias,
Nitzya

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Mia, thank you for all your support with CS. Your presence has been incredibly valuable

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Mia, thank you for all your support with CS. Your presence has been incredibly valuable

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-Zuleica

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Mia - thanks for all the support over the years!  Best of luck with your next adventure.

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Mia - thanks for all the support over the years!  Best of luck with your next adventure.

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-Nick

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You're incredible, inspirational, and beyond amazing. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to work with you. There have been many times where you've blown me away with your knowledge. We all love you Mia! -Jamila

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You're incredible, inspirational, and beyond amazing. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to work with you. There have been many times where you've blown me away with your knowledge. We all love you Mia! -Jamila

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♥♥♥Mia♥♥♥ awesome collaborator and wonderful human! –Nathan

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♥♥♥Mia♥♥♥ awesome collaborator and wonderful human! –Nathan

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Work hard, play hard :) SE in the house :)

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Mia, You are beyond inspiring! I deeply value your exceptional leadership, joy-filled laughter, deep care and attention to our students /staff, and legacy that you have NO DOUBT imparted at Summer Search, both nationally and in Seattle. You are truly loved and every year, I look forward to giving out the Mia Ellis Award for Altruism to a student that embodies your compassion, altruism, and service to others. You have, and will NO DOUBT continue to bless the world with all that you are and all that you do! I value you

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Mia, You are beyond inspiring! I deeply value your exceptional leadership, joy-filled laughter, deep care and attention to our students /staff, and legacy that you have NO DOUBT imparted at Summer Search, both nationally and in Seattle. You are truly loved and every year, I look forward to giving out the Mia Ellis Award for Altruism to a student that embodies your compassion, altruism, and service to others. You have, and will NO DOUBT continue to bless the world with all that you are and all that you do! I value you

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- With Great Care, Therese Williams

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Mia is a true Renaissance woman. During her long and dedicated tenure of 14 years at Summer Search, she has held a gamut of critical staff roles -- first as the Founding Executive Director of the Seattle office and then as a valued National Program Team member.  Her impact on our organization is as far-reaching as is her list of accomplishments.  As the Founding Executive Director of the Seattle office, Mia single handedly wore all the hats herself for a good while– including fundraising, board development, community visibility, mentoring, student outreach, event planning, materials production, general admin, and anything and everything else that needed to be done to open a new site.

Once on the National Program Team, Mia’s flexible and broad-reaching expertise provided much needed support to various critical and timely needs – including summer program partnerships and operations, cohort and site support, coordination of all national program materials, and being an essential author of our first program manual. As someone who embodies and lives all of our Summer Search values, Mia was charged with leading a task force to identify and articulate our current organizational values. Everyone who has worked with Mia knows that she exhibits boundless generosity; sincere and deep care for our students, staff, and organization; a measured and also warm perspective; an instinctive gift for working with students and addressing tough situations. She has been selfless and generous in lending her listening ear and sage counsel to staff in countless situations.