Bartlett Planned Gift is a Touching Tribute

For Selma and Troy Bartlett, giving back to their community is a way of life.  Whether it is through their involvement in civic organizations, or through their support of education-centered initiatives, the Bartletts' generosity has left an imprint in Southern Nevada that will benefit our region and its residents for generations. As Selma explained, helping young people to fulfill their academic and career aspirations is very rewarding to her and Troy. “I believe education is the key to a better life for the individual, and to brighter possibilities for our society,” said Selma. 

One of the most touching ways in which Selma and Troy’s spirit of giving back will enrich more lives is through the establishment of the Tobias Mishel Scholarship Fund for students majoring in music. Tobias, known to family and friends as “Tobi,” was the son of Jack Mishel, a family friend of the Bartletts who works closely with Selma as Bank of Nevada Executive Vice President and Regional Chief Lending Officer. Tobi served as a teller in the bank’s Northwest office. His loss last October was heart-breaking for his family and for everyone who knew him.  As Selma describes him, Tobi was a rare kind of person with a deeply kind heart and generous spirit.  “He was a wonderful young man,” she said.

Jack and his wife, Louise, wanted to honor their son and pay tribute to his life. “When your child passes, you seek to somehow keep his name alive, and this scholarship is one way for us to do that,” said Jack. “Selma and Troy offered to fund a scholarship in Tobi’s name,” he explained.  “We are truly very grateful to them for helping us to keep our son’s memory alive,” he added. Deeply passionate about music, Tobi was a gifted composer and played several instruments.

In 2007, the Bartletts designated a significant bequest from the Bartlett Family Trust to the Selma and Troy Bartlett Scholarship Fund, to be awarded to students pursuing degrees in nursing, business, and education. Last fall, inspired by their love for Tobi and his family, they notified UNLV their trust would also fund the Tobias Mishel Scholarship. “I want to know that, when I leave this earth, I did something to leave it a better place,” said Selma. “Tobi’s scholarship will help students prepare themselves to make it better through their music.”