Leaving a Legacy

THE MORGAN A. GILBERT MEMORIAL FUND

In memory of our talented mechanic, Morgan Alister Gilbert
June 1997 – January 2024

This fund has been established to award an annual scholarship for the Yavapai College certified automotive technician program. The scholarship will be awarded to one recipient each year. The award will be in the amount of $2,500 and will be applied to the recipient’s account at Yavapai College. One hundred percent of all donation funds will be used for scholarship awards. Any administration fees or taxes will be paid for by the trustees, separately from the fund.

A Treasured Soul

MORGAN

Morgan was born in California. He arrived to meet an eager big brother, Joshua, and young parents living in their first home. The family relocated to Sedona, Arizona in 2003. Morgan attended West Sedona Elementary and Red Rock High.

Creativity and a sense of humor were two of his strongest characteristics. He was always teaching himself things, rather than waiting to be taught. He loved Lego bricks from a young age and put his first model together – by himself – at only three-years-old. He also enjoyed designing and building 3D cars with nothing more than paper, tape, and scissors.

Morgan traveled to Fiji at the age of seven to assist an educational charity, Peru and the Amazon at 13 on a small science exploration trip, and Germany at 15 with a close friend.

His love of cars led him to buy his first vehicle, a 1972 Ford Custom 500, at age 12. He paid $450 for the car and earned every penny himself. The car was one of his most loved possessions. Over the years, he made multiple modifications to the Ford and amassed many additional project cars. He loved muscle cars and was determined to save them all from the junkyard.

He attended the Yavapai College automotive program for one year before joining the Army. He completed basic training and then went to AIT to become a helicopter mechanic, eventually earning a commendation for his work in the battalion tool room. He was stationed at Ft. Hood in Texas and also served in Latvia.

Morgan returned to Sedona in 2021 and enjoyed two years of intense mechanic work at Rainbow Adventures. His stories of jeep rescues and the friendships he created with co-workers always brought a smile to our faces. He pioneered a program to convert the company’s Hummers to propane vehicles.

He remains a treasured soul — to us all.

Scholarship

The Grease Monkey and Gear Head Scholarship

Title of Scholarship: The Grease Monkey and Gear Head Scholarship (view/print PDF) provided by the Morgan A. Gilbert Memorial Fund

Contact: MUHS Counseling Office (928)-634-7531

Description: One $2500 scholarship award each year

Awarded to a student interested in pursuing Automotive Technology training at Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ. The monies will be paid directly to the recipient’s Yavapai College account.

Eligibilities: You must be a MUHS student and have completed a minimum of one semester of the MUHS automotive program. Scholarship must be used the Fall semester following high school graduation. (i.e. if you graduate in Spring 2024, the scholarship must be used in Fall 2024)

Criteria

PREFERENCE

Preference will be given to students demonstrating a sincere interest in automotive technology training, as evidenced by activities referenced in their application essay and information provided in letters of recommendation.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Achievements: Minimum 2.5 GPA, strong work and/or extra-curricular activities to include Mingus Union High School automotive program.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Letters of recommendation from: 1) high school teacher; and 2) a representative from the organization where the student engages in work/internship/club.

To Apply

  • Submit Scholarship Application (click to view/print, complete all sections)
  • Letters of recommendation from:
    1. high school teacher
    2. a representative from the organization where the student engages in work/internship/club

Deadline: Completed application due by or before March 29th

Friends

CIRCLE OF SUPPORT

Morgan was fortunate to have a tight circle of friends. He connected with folks from all walks of life and wasn’t afraid to embrace other souls who were also “works in progress.”

Here are a few of the wonderful stories that created the patchwork of Morgan’s short life:

“To this day, I continue to use an analogy about Morgan in Peru as part of a lesson on how this wall is like knowledge.

Ends up being a pretty lengthy conversation once we get into it. And students remember it years later, it’s one of those lessons that “sticks.” Near the end of our conversation, I always discuss how Morgan was so inquisitive and interested. He was trying to get a piece of paper in between the rocks at Machu Picchu because one of the world’s experts said that legend had it you couldn’t do it. So naturally, Morgan reached in his pack and ripped out a piece of paper and tested what he was being told. It’s a great example of how people need to learn for themselves, we can’t tell them what to think. It’s a powerful example in my circles of science education of what it means to know and learn and discover for oneself. By the way, Morgan was always very proud he got the paper in about a quarter of an inch. In any event, it’s one more little way his memory will live on, and actually play a role in informing the instruction in many, many classrooms. I’ll keep sharing wonderful stories about him.”

“I’m a driver for Rainbow Adventures and I always take my bird on tours. Pippin is my emotional support, with wings.

On a tour near Devil’s Sinkhole, Pippin got spooked and jumped off my shoulder. Unfortunately, he veered away from me and floated down into the sinkhole. My precious bird has clipped wings and couldn’t return to me. Animal Control, Police, and Park Services would not lend a hand. I was desperate! I called Morgan, told him I was about to throw myself into the sinkhole to create a human-centered emergency — and he immediately took action. He arrived with a 100-foot extension cord and a dream. Persistence won the day! Mo snagged a branch of the tree at the bottom of the sinkhole and coaxed Pippin onto the cord. My special friend was returned to me and Morgan was my hero.”

“Back in high school, Morgan and I took Digital Media together. I wasn’t really into movies, but he totally was.

He wrote a great script for a movie called Basements and Zombies and we filmed all over Sedona. In one of the key scenes, we had to kick in a front door and search a house for supplies, in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. We shot this scene at his actual house. After a good practice, we set up the camera and I kicked in the door. Little did we know — the wind had pushed the door completely shut. So, when I kicked in the door, the door jam splintered and wood flew everywhere. His parents came running, but after we explained, they said, “Did you get the shot?” We did! All was forgiven.”

“The 70s may be in the past, but not for junior Morgan Gilbert. Gilbert dresses up every Wednesday as a 70s disco man.

It all started when he was in 8th grade, when West Sedona School hosted Spirit Week. … Ever since that fateful day, every Wednesday became “Retro Wednesday” — just for Morgan. …Gilbert feels that his style helps define his personality. “It encompasses most of the things I enjoy in one simple statement. It describes the music, the car interests, and the kind of clothing I like.”
(Excerpted from SRRHS The Sting October 2013)