Yes I Can! Awards Ceremony

Brandon Jacob Drucker
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Brandon, 20, has become an active member of his community. Once unable to communicate effectively, Brandon now proudly talks about his artwork, engages with new people, and doesn’t shy away from public speaking engagements, which he does in two languages. Read more about Brandon's accomplishments.

Tyler Mason Maldonado Bloodgood
El Paso, Texas

Tyler, 8, has increased his academic performance to a straight-A average. Though he once had trouble focusing, communicating with others, and using his fine motor skills, Tyler, is now reading above grade level, can work with his peers, and is working more independently in the classroom. Read more about Tyler's accomplishments.

Patrick Hunter McGowan
North Huntington, Pa.

Hunter, 15, excels as a student, athlete, and advocate. During his first year at a new high school, Hunter, who has Usher’s Syndrome Type II,  not only made the honor roll consistently, but is a member of the school’s swim team and is open to speaking about his disabilities with others. Read more about Hunter's accomplishments.

Leonardo Reyna Navarrete
Powerview, Manitoba, Canada

Leonardo’s drive to succeed academically has not been hindered the cultural challenges of living in a new country. Leonardo, 18, came from Mexico with no formal education and limited communication skills because of his disabilities. Today, he not only takes part in the classroom with a new confidence, but volunteers throughout his community. Read more about Leonardo's accomplishments.

Alexander D. Staarmann
Simpsonville, S.C.

Alex, 17, has a superior work ethic and determination that have helped him conquer social and academic hurdles. Despite multiple learning disabilities, Alex is excelling at school while taking honors and advanced placement courses, as well as being a model employee at his local grocery store job. Read more about Alex's accomplishments.

Abagail "Abbey" Nicole Venable
Independence, La.

Abbey, 14, has a willingness to help others and shines as a star student at her school. With the help of her teachers, Abbey, who always has a smile on her face, has learned techniques to help calm and refocus herself, and has overcome the challenges of autism to be more outgoing. Read more about Abbey's accomplishments.

Sarah Fitzgerald
Ketchikan, Alaska

Sarah, 17, recently became student council secretary and took on the role as the school’s morning announcement host. Her true passion, however, is singing. Sarah, who has overcome challenges from osteopetrosis, has taken part in statewide competitions and has sung the National Anthem at several sporting events. Read more about Sarah's accomplishments.

Brandon Gruber
Aptos, Calif.

Brandon, 15, is an artist, actor, and model. While he is successful academically, Brandon’s true accomplishments are in the arts. In elementary school, he discovered his love of painting and has been an artist ever since. Brandon has also acted in 10 plays; most recently playing one of the T-birds in “Grease.” Read more about Brandon's accomplishments.

Amre Dawn Haskell
Caldwell, Idaho

Amre, 18, tackles everything life gives her and shines as an actress and artist in her school. Amre’s ataxia, which was caused by a traumatic brain injury, makes it difficult to hold writing utensils, but drawing calms her and makes her “happy and free from everything, even from my shakes and my struggles of life.” Read more about Amre's accomplishments.

Anthony Vetere
Sayville, N.Y.

Anthony, 14, is an accomplished musician. As a young child, he had severe language and social/emotional deficits, which made it difficult for him to socialize with peers and work independently in school. Anthony, who has autism, began to play the piano in elementary school and has become more interactive with others. Read more about Anthony's accomplishments.

Casey Armour
Wheat Ridge, Colo.

Casey, 17, thrives at his school athletically and academically. When Casey began high school, he was determined to try every sport he could.  Casey, who has multiple learning disabilities, received a three-sport letter while maintaining his school’s academic participation standard and receiving academic awards. Read more about Casey's accomplishments.

Evan Howarth
Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

In 2004, Evan, 18, began taking Tae Kwon Do classes at a local club. Since then, Evan has received a black belt, an extremely high honor, and passed a teen instructor’s course. Today, Evan, kicks down the barriers of autism, and gives back to his community by teaching younger students at the Kootenay Christian Martial Arts Centre. Read more about Evan's accomplishments.

Paige Norton
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Paige, 18, is an accomplished international athlete who inspires her community. Despite the health problems associated with Down syndrome, Paige has found a love of many sports. She has competed in the Special Olympics, winning gold medals in most of her events, which include bowling, swimming, speed skating, soccer, and track and field. Read more about Pagie's accomplishments.

Ryan Matthew Bent
Minot, N.D.

Ryan, 14, has a solid leadership role in his school. You’ll find Ryan, who has a hearing impairment, frequently volunteering to help others. Of his motivation to help, Ryan says, “What makes me the happiest is to know at the end of every day I have done my best and worked hard to make the day successful for myself and others.” Read more about Ryan's accomplishments.

Kristina Halstead
Evergreen, Colo.

Kristina, 19, has left a lasting impression on Colorado as a community activist. Always the first to volunteer, Kristina has raised funds for numerous events, including the Polar Plunge to raise money for DriveSmart and the Evergreen Parks and Recreation District Special Needs Program. Read more about Kristina's accomplishments.

India Renea Scott
Ebensburg, Pa.

India, 14, has succeeded in the classroom, as well as in extracurricular activities and has always faced her challenges with determination and fearlessness. She is a member of the marching band, where she plays clarinet, piano, snare drum, and cymbals; the forensics team; the drama club; and is captain of the reading competition team. Read more about India's accomplishments.

Braden Stankewich
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Braden, 15, has overcome great adversity to become a successful student. In his two years at Acadia School, he has taken on a new sense of motivation to succeed and become involved. Once a withdrawn student who avoided social interactions, Braden has grown into a self-confident mentor within his peer group. Read more about Braden's accomplishments.

Jennifer Utendale
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Jennifer, 18, loves to participate in extracurricular activities at school and in her community. Throughout high school, she was too nervous to compete in sports. By grade 12, she was regularly competing in the Special Olympics, and Jennifer now feels comfortable interacting with peers and taking on leadership roles. Read more about Jennifer's accomplishments.

Joshua Villanueva
Montgomery Village, Md.

Joshua, 15, is a remarkable leader in his school and in his community. Joshua, who has a speech impairment, was shy but now teaches younger children how to play piano, tutors peers in geometry, and started a Rubik’s Cube club at his school. One of his biggest accomplishments was organizing a piano recital that raised $1,200 for a family in need. Read more about Joshua's accomplishments.

Cade Gardner
Lebanon, Pa.

Cade, 11, maintains a can-do attitude about life and has become an advocate for himself and other students with cleft lip and palate.  Cade says: “When I think about myself, I don’t feel any different than any other child.” He is an excellent public speaker and has shared his messages with peers, future teachers, and even his local Kiwanis Club. Read more about Cade's accomplishments.

Joshua Jones
Geneva, Ill.

Joshua, 21, is a strong advocate for himself and others. He is a positive role model and will share his story with anyone who asks. Josh is involved in the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, taking part in commercials, organizing teams for walk-a-thons, and creating artwork for display at their banquets. Read more about Joshua's accomplishments.

Nathaniel Ray
Orlando, Fla.

Nathaniel, 16, is trained as a Tourette Syndrome Association Youth Ambassador, and visits schools, community functions, and support groups to educate others about Tourette syndrome. Nathaniel continues his advocacy work by participating in interviews with the media and even visited his local congressmen’s office. Read more about Nathaniel's accomplishments.

Emei Jia Thompson
Minnetonka, Minn.

Emei, 16, is an advocate for herself for others with learning disabilities. In 2007, Emei testified before the Minnesota Senate Education Committee about her struggles with reading, ultimately helping to pass a law that requires new teachers to gain knowledge and practicum skills on teaching reading to Minnesota’s youngest students. Read more about Emei's accomplishments.

Chanel Torres
St. Petersburg, Fla.

Chanel, 21, not only advocates for others affected by fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), she strives to eliminate FAS by bringing awareness to her community. Overcoming her speech difficulties, Chanel makes presentations about FAS throughout her community at child development classes, teen parent programs, and advocacy groups. Read more about Chanel's accomplishments.

Averey Blanchard
Alexandria, La.

Averey, 13, is a mentor to both peers and teachers in technology at his school. He has shown great proficiency in school technology, from computers to scanners to a Promethean Board and Cricut software and machinery. Averey has overcome multiple disabilities to win numerous state and local prizes for his use of technology. Read more about Averey's accomplishments.

James McNeil “Mac” Livingston Starnes
Longwood, Fla.

Mac, 16, is an expert with assistive technology, which has allowed him to participate in the classroom, socialize with peers, and march in his high school marching band. Mac has spoken at a community forum, as well as two university classes, on the positive impact of technology in his life. Read more about Mac's accomplishments.

Vander Cherry
Washington, D.C.

Vander, 19, is a model employee at the U.S. Department of Education. During high school, he participated in a vocational training program where he learned how to be a professional in the workplace—managing his time, dressing for the work environment, and speaking with coworkers—as well as becoming more independent. Read more about Vander's accomplishments.

Thomas Drum
Williamsville, N.Y.

Thomas, 20, has become an independent, contributing member of his community. He began participating in special education classes to receive his General Education Diploma. The program also provides support for work readiness through multiple internships to help Thomas learn work skills and choose a career path. Read more about Thomas' accomplishments.

James Parker
Houston, Texas

James, 20, has shredded the boundaries of Allen Herndon syndrome. With graduation approaching, James and his family called a “Person Centered Plan” meeting to help determine a plan for James’s future after high school. Their plan: James has started a document shredding business, something that he really enjoys. Read more about James' accomplishments.