By Richard Burnett Since her days at Beacon College, Sarah Pozzi’s journey has run the gamut, from the coasts of the Florida Keys and plains of the Midwest to the heights of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She’s been an animal rescue educator, a college instructor, and a veterinary technician. Now, boosted by this wealth of […]
Daniel Maya was supposed to be in Hawaii, running his first marathon with a landscape of beautiful beaches behind him. But this was 2020. The pandemic trashed plans for anyone who had vacations or big goals. Instead of running in Hawaii, Maya’s race became a virtual one. The then-Beacon College student ran 26.2 miles in his neighborhood back in his hometown of Westport, Connecticut. He completed the same four-mile loop over and over while his parents cheered him on and passed out Gatorade.
Out of the angst and struggle of her younger years, Samantha Diamond has emerged as a confident professional who knows who she is, where she’s going, and what she wants to do in life.
To be sure, the path has not been an easy one. As a child, she was diagnosed with autism, ADHD and general anxiety disorder. Bullied in high school, she withdrew from others, felt alone and isolated. At Beacon College, however, life gradually came together for her.
Emily Marra, ’22, finished as a finalist in the abstract art category in the Art Show International Gallery 2022 International Juried Art Competition.
Six months after he capped off his Beacon College career with graduation in 2019, Thomas Minor III stepped into his first real world job, sorting, packing and doing other entry-level work for an e-commerce shipping firm.
At the Santa Barbara Dojo — a center for martial arts instruction — they know Shanie Healy for her dedication and inspirational expertise in teaching karate to people of all ages with special needs. She’s come a long way since her Beacon College days more than two decades ago when she was still searching for her place in the world.
In the waters of the Florida Keys, Sarah Pozzi’s team gently lowered Sparb the sea turtle back into his habitat, three months after a shark had nearly killed him. For Beacon College alum Pozzi, it was a dream moment in her dream job as a sea life educator for The Turtle Hospital and rehab center in Marathon, Florida, about one hour east of Key West.
Like a shy troubadour in the royal court, Sam Finelli mustered up his courage to audition for “American Idol” two weeks ago. With soaring, heartfelt tones, he belted out “Rainbow,” by Grammy-winning artist Kacey Musgraves, prompting a standing ovation by judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.
As a little girl, Kelly Hurley knew both the heartbreak of loss and the unwavering love of family. It would be no easy road for Hurley as she navigated the trauma of loss. Early on, she experienced a cluster of baffling learning problems in school. Aided by her grandmother’s steady advocacy, she was eventually diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, auditory processing disorder and dysgraphia (the inability to write and express thoughts).
By Richard Burnett Through the years, many Beacon College students have found love in all the right places. The same common ground that brought them to Beacon in the first place has opened new pathways to romance, often for the first time. “For many of our students, this is the first place where they feel […]
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