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After life rebuilt, she wants to help others
Nearly 12 years ago, a terrible car crash left Sandee Rodriguez with no memory, a broken body and the challenge of rebuilding her life. Now Rodriguez, 36, who graduated from Eastern Michigan University last spring, wants to help other students with disabilities as they navigate their distinct challenges in college. She has set up a scholarship in her name, the first such program created through EMU's Access Services Office. "It's amazing follow-through to actually make this happen,'' said Don Anderson, director of Access Services. Those who've worked with Rodriguez, formerly named Sandee Rager, say she's engaging, determined and smart. They say she's not only surviving but thriving after her ordeal. "She is one of the success stories of the southeastern Michigan community,'' said Milt Jackson, major gifts officer for EMU.
Exchange is step to becoming ambassador
Sergey Kononenko, 16, of Magaden, Russia, arrived in the United States on Aug. 17, after having won an English competition in his homeland for the scholarship abroad. "I wanted to investigate new cultures," said Kononenko, who now attends high school at Altmar-Parish-Williamstown. "I wanted to see how people live, learn about their traditions and habits, tell them about my country, my lifestyle and maybe break some stereotypes." He hopes it will be good training for what he hopes will be a future an ambassador. Arriving with a working knowledge of English helped, but "the first few days I was here, I didn't really know what I was doing or where I was going. People are so friendly, and I'm very thankful to them for that." And thanks was abundant in late November when he celebrated his first Thanksgiving, a holiday Russians don't have.
A Kayne becomes a Cane
Carrie Pearson will try to hold back her tears amid cheers and celebration this afternoon when she watches her son complete a long journey and achieve his dream. Today, her son, Kayne, will finally become a Cane. ''I've waited for this day for so long,'' said Kayne Farquharson, 22, a 6-2, 195-pound receiver out of El Camino (Calif.) Junior College and a four-star recruit by Rivals.com. ``I've always wanted to be a Hurricane. I had to wait and wait and wait. But I believe I'm a good reason why people always say the best things come to those who wait.'' Farquharson will become the first player to sign with the University of Miami as part of its 2007 class. Today is the first day junior college players and early high school graduates can officially sign letters-of-intent.
Former NU kicker's dreams come true
Chris Ulinksi was hardly thinking much about football when he returned to the University of Nevada campus in Reno this fall.
The 2005 Nevada Union graduate was too busy hitting the books, the dining hall and, eventually, the rugby field.
"I guess I'd gained my freshman 15," Ulinski said. "I had grown up my whole life playing sports and now I'm not. So rugby gives me something to do three days a week. And it gives me a core group of friends."
Splitting the uprights with the football couldn't have been much further from his mind. He hadn't kicked in a game since NU's 2004 section-runner-up season. And that season was his only year of football, having been recruited from the school's soccer squad.
"I thought my kicking days were over," Ulinski said.
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