2015
Rachel H. Barcellona is from Palm Harbor, Fl and will be attending St. Petersburg College to pursue a degree in Psychology. Rachel was first diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at the age of 3. "I believe that Autism is not an excuse for anything. Everyone has a mountain to climb and Autism has been my mountain; it has been my opportunity for victory. I have become involved with several organizations by giving back to the community, one them being C.A.R.D.(Center for Autism and Related Disorders).
Julia C. Dursi is from Balwin Place, NY and will be attending Johns Hopkins University to pursue a business or Pre-Med degrree. The beginning of Julie's 9th grade, she could no longer understand most of what people spoke to her about, barely muster enough energy to get out of bed or go to school; she has Chronic Lyme disease. "I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but this experience has most definitely shaped who I am as a person. I have even more passion for the little things, because for a long time I could not do the little things."
Angela M. Horvatin is from Williston Park, NY and will be attending Dowling College to pursue a career in Social work/Psychology. Angela has Auditory Processing Disorder, ADD, and Congenital Ureteral Duplication. "Growing up I had to overcome many obstacles to achieve my goals. The greatest battle was to acknowledge my struggles and failures with dyslexia and attention deficit disorder and to me use them as lessons that shaped me as the person I am today, and not to let excuses be greater than my willingness to succeed."
Matthew T. Lidonnici is from East Moriches, NY and will be attending Bucknell University to pursue a degree in Bio-chemistry. Matthew was afflicted with severe Crohn's Disease when he was 8 years old that ultimately required a colostomy. "Initially, I found it quite hard to adjust to life with a radically changed body. Over time I realized that these issues, however big, were not insurmountable . For every problem encountered, I found a way to overcome it. For everything lost, I replaced it with something just as good."
Hunter T. Sanchez is from Nassau, NY and will be attending RPI to pursue a degree in Management/Law. Hunter has severe bilateral Legg Calve Perthes Disease which is a degenerative disease that affects the hips and required many surgeries and hospitalizations for Hunter. "If the time I spent in Baltimore offered me a single lesson, it would be perspective. It's truly invaluable to look at your life from outside your circumstances, because when you have this ideal embedded in your brain it gives you the motivation, the courage and the reasons to fight, try, succeed and live."
Benjamin T. Schragger is from Titusville, NJ and will be attending Rice University to pursue a degree in Sports Managengement and Statistices. Benjamin has Crohn's Disease and while being treated and hospitalized his viewpoint changed dramatically to help others. "Seeing hundreds of much younger kids who needed wheelchairs, chemotherapy, and oxygen wrenched my heart. A sense of purpose took over my free time, and I became determined to share the profits of my extensive sports card collection called Cards2Kids."