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SALT LAKE CITY -- You've seen the movies, you know the characters. Monday, "The Force" made its way to a Utah elementary school to introduce a new Jedi knight.
It's been quite a journey for 10-year-old Mitchell Harline. "It was kind of easy and kind of hard sometimes," he said.
Over the past few months, Mitchell has been a Padawan in training.
He's assembled puzzles, Legos, cut out snowflakes, and performed acts of service -- all to test his concentration skills, precision, control, and compassion. Simple tasks for some kids, but Mitchell has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It's a degenerative disease that will become worse as he ages.
"It's a terminal disease, so it's something that's hard to deal with on a day-to-day basis," said Glen Harline, Mitchell's father. "But he's a happy kid and has lots of friends. Things like this really help him get through a lot."
All that training paid off. Fellow Jedi Knights, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and even Darth Vader surprised Mitchell in front of his whole school.
How does any young Jedi celebrate? A trip to Disney World, of course.
"Apparently he worked very hard on his Jedi trials and it was a pleasure to give him a medal and send him on this trip," said C-3PO.
Make-A-Wish volunteers say seeing these dreams come true is what it's all about.
"I'm just excited to make that happen and make the journey as magical as we possibly can," said Tiffany Bloomquist.
"It's fun to be chosen," said Mitchell.
Mitchell and his family will take their magical trip in March.
