old hat, new head

On Fallen Stars and Soldiers

2008-01-23T18:30:00.000-05:00

I think I only saw four of his movies, and enjoyed two of them. Any memory I have of his face, or voice, or mannerisms, are the result of celluloid and paparazzi. He didn't even live in my neighborhood, or attend my alma matter. Couldn't connect him and myself with six degrees, or twelve, or fifty. But last night's breaking news headline announcing his death elicited a genuine emotional response from me.

Which lead my mind to wonder... Why do I care? Why do I care about this stranger's death when I am able to walk by the homeless and hungry feeling only the slightest twinge of guilt and rarely, if ever, reaching into my pocket for change. In cold black and white, those are not words I am proud of, and I can't help but think, is this something about myself that I should be working to change?

It's easy to see, now, what has lead to this. The media and public obsession with actors, musicians, and various other celebrities has somehow made me - and others, I'm sure - feel as though I have some emotional stock invested in complete strangers - people so completely unknown to me that the only tie I have to them is a list of characters they once played, people they pretended to be for a short time, before going home to be themselves and leaving me forever associating their faces with names, words, and actions without even a basis in reality.

Our lives are so inundated with facts and rumors and gossip and news about people we have no real connection to whatsoever, that we go so far as to refer to some of them by their first names, or names we have created especially for them, as though they are our pets. And what's more, this is socially acceptable behavior. This is what leads the 5, 6, 10 and 11 o'clock news casts.

I remember the first time I felt authentic sadness at the death of a celebrity. I was on the school bus, listening to the radio announce Chris Farley's death, and I was in the seventh grade.

That's right, I was only twelve years old, and already a substantial enough part of my general attention was focused on the lives of celebrities that news of one's death impacted my life enough that I remember the exact moment, ten years later.

And I'm not letting myself off the hook by claiming to be extraordinarily compassionate, either. I know that if that was the case, I'd never have change for the subway or for laundry; I would forever be dropping into extended cups. If that was the case, I would have actually volunteered for a non-profit instead of casually researching some options and then losing steam and becoming distracted. I'm not a cold person, I do care about others - I just wish that I cared more about the right ones, so to speak.

How to change this? Stop watching movies, for fear an actor's portrayal of a fictional character influence my mood and memory? And stop listening to music, lest I become too attached to the words of certain songwriters and regard them as unusually important? I've heard my parents and grandparents talk about where they were when they first heard that President Kennedy had been assassinated, I saw the way they shook their heads and still seemed a little shocked, forty years later, remembering the personal loss they experienced when their president was killed. I really don't want my children to see me responding to the memory of a dead actor in the same way, not if I can't even bring myself to respond the same way when remembering how a community member or world leader or social activist lost their life.

Don't get me wrong, I am not arguing that a celebrity's death is less important than anyone else's, or that the loss is not as great to those who truly knew and loved them. I just wonder what it says about me, and my peers, and the world we are living in and creating for ourselves, when the death of a complete stranger is more newsworthy, and deserves more emotional response, than the suffering of someone just outside the door, or down the street, or, for that matter, halfway around the world. Is it just because he was a familiar face? Is that a legitimate reason?

This past weekend, I was at my parent's house when I heard the news that a soldier from my hometown was killed in Iraq. He had been a friend of a good friend of mine, in high school, and was only a year behind me. I was shocked. I hadn't even known he was in the Army, let alone fighting overseas. I wanted to call our mutual friend, but I didn't have her number anymore. I wanted to go to the memorial services, but I was scheduled to be back in Boston by then. It was devastating to hear those words and read the subsequent article in the local paper. It was a huge loss for our tiny community and my heart goes out to his family and friends.

But I didn't know him personally, and I didn't change my plans to stay in New York and mourn him. I didn't even call around to get my friend's number and express my sympathy. When I got back in Massachusetts, I had a lot of trouble finding any news about his funeral or family.

So why was his death only front-page news in one county, of one state, for one day? What are we saying by making the death of a soldier so significantly less worthy of newsprint and broadcast minutes than the death of an actor?

I hardly can bring myself to wonder at the answer.

Somebody, Quick - Have Another YouTube Debate!

2007-12-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

Because I've got my question ready.
According to OpenSecrets.org, as of November 27, 2007 the ten Republican presidential candidates and eight Democratic presidential candidates have spent a total of $265,961,360 campaigning. In total, they have raised or otherwise acquired a total of $419,741,095.

Read: There is over 400 million dollars tied up in the presidential election of 2008. That's money spent, or to be spent, convincing all of us that any one candidate is better than the others and thus more deserving of our votes.

And yet, the election is not decided by any of us. We'd like to think that it is, those of us who make an effort to vote. In most election years, the popular vote at least coincides with the electoral college decision. But the fact remains that the 2008 election, like those before it, will be decided by the electoral college.

So here are 18 politicians who have spent over 260 million dollars on marketing a product to consumers that we're not able to purchase. That's an awful lot of money.

My question for the candidates is, what else can 260 million dollars buy - other than irrelevant publicity and marketing? How about putting your share of that money into actually making the changes you promise you will make after you become president?

There is over 400 million dollars sitting in a pile about to be spent on printing promises outlining all of the exciting future changes each candidate promises. And now - what's getting done now? How much money are these candidates spending now on improving the lives of citizens, and where is that money coming from?

(And why is the mainstream media forcing me to spend hours researching on my own to find these answers when they are being paid to tell me how each candidate prefers their coffee?)

If there aren't any problems now that can be improved by a fraction of that 400 million dollars, if nobody in this country is worthy enough of a piece of that 400 million until after the election - then why do we even need a new president?
Ha.

Life in Boston? I'm Over It.

2007-12-06T19:35:00.000-05:00

I had wanted to live in Boston before I'd even been here for the first time. I imagine when I was younger I must have heard someone say great things about it and decided then, as was (and still is) my stubborn method of decision-making, to live here one day, and to love it. I knew very little, if anything, about the city before I moved here, having had only actually visited twice before we signed a lease, though to be honest if I had known what I've since learned, I probably still would have moved, if only because once my mind is made up even I can't change it.

So, here we are. Irrational childhood goal accomplished! Now what? All the novelty has worn away and I've finally stopped feeling like a tourist, and it turns out this city is kind of boring. Yeah, sure, I'm boring, too, and there is always something to do if you're willing to find it (unless it's after 2 a.m., of course), but I'm just not that into it. Really, I'm pretty much over it.

Don't get me wrong, this is a beautiful city. I feel relatively safe in the majority of places I go, and you can't beat the history of the city itself - the Commons, the Old North Church, etc. But my favorite thing about living here is my mailing address.

I don't know - is it me, or is this city a tourist's dream and a resident's ... well, nightmare is probably too harsh a word, but it isn't far off. Maybe it's the neighborhood I live in - everyone is a student, transient and temporary. Boston is like a stepping stone, a necessary lay-over between childhood and adult life. A city that prides itself on being "compact", a "walking city" - which was great for getting to know my way around, and for seeing all the sights in record time, but which just makes me feel like I have no elbow room, now. And the fact that it's quicker to walk from the waterfront to Fenway than to ride the T says two things - this city is downright tiny, and the public transportation system needs some serious help.

Maybe I'm just not cut out for city living, though that's hard to believe. The things I appreciate and love about Boston tend more to be common urban amenities and less Boston-specific attractions, like late-night food delivery and accessibility to the arts. Unfortunately, the things I dislike about Boston are limited to this city, like the outrageous cost of living for mediocre culture and opportunities, the complete and total obsession with the world of professional sports, and the contempt for all things New York City. Boston, get over yourself. You are an orange, New York is THE apple. Seriously, stop. It's kind of embarrassing.

Boston, you're a nice place. To visit. And maybe when I'm older, and richer, and even more boring, I'll come back and nestle into Beacon Hill so I can feel sophisticated and elite without having to move to Europe. Maybe. But, probably not.

A Fine Line Between 'Open-Minded' and 'Conspiracy Theorist'

2007-12-02T18:53:00.000-05:00

Just two days ago, staff members at Hillary Clinton's Rochester, New Hampshire campaign office were taken hostage by a man who claimed to have a bomb strapped to his chest, and who begged repeatedly to speak to Clinton because he needed help and, apparently, she was the only one who could help him.

There was non-stop coverage on most of the Boston and New England news channels until all of the hostages were freed and the incident was under control. As is the case for all aspects of human behavior, questions remain that may never be answered. But the most interesting take on the whole thing that I have heard so far has been the way that Clinton rose to the opportunity mid-campaign to demonstrate her crisis-handling technique. Well, wasn't that convenient?

I posed a seemingly random, casual question to my fiance:

"So, say you're a guy in a small New Hampshire town with an alcohol problem, and a criminal record, and not much else going for you - and suddenly a presidential candidate offers you some money to take her - er, their - staffers hostage at a campaign office in your town. And they tell you that you won't be in any danger, and that your hostages won't be in any danger, and in the end you'll get some help with your drinking problem and a little bit of fame and ultimately you will have a hand in changing the course of national - no, WORLD history, as it will be your actions that will help decide the outcome of the next presidential election! Would you do it?"

Ok, so it wasn't very well disguised. And he laughed at me. But even he had to admit that it didn't sound all that far-fetched.

The point I want to make is this: how hard is it be to believe that a politician, or anyone with substantial power and money, would be willing to set something like this incident up for publicity? For the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership abilities under pressure, and their commitment to both small-town volunteers and the desperate criminals of America? No one was hurt during the ordeal, and the publicity for Clinton's campaign is undeniable. So what makes that idea so hard to accept? Or, is it that hard to accept?

Sunset at 4pm is Absolutely Ludicrous

2007-11-05T17:51:00.000-05:00

I remember the warnings that seemed to come at me from every angle just before leaving for college, and how everyone seemed to be so intent on preparing me for the temptations and responsibilities that came with the sudden freedom of higher education. But I never had much trouble getting out of bed for classes - the relatively few times I did skip, I spent more time weighing the pros and cons of such a decision than I would have spent sitting through a lecture. Even though I procrastinated nearly every assignment, I was careful to rearrange other aspects of my life to compensate for the night-before-the-deadline rush to research and write a 10-page paper. I rarely studied for a test prior to the 24 hours preceding it, but I had no qualms about missing out on sleep for the sake of cramming. I had as much of a 'good time' as anyone else, but I never failed a class and I am proud of what I accomplished in college.

Which leads me to my current problem. For all the talk of freshman running wild, high on free will and the allure of mistakes to be made, there are still guardrails. Most kids never gain enough momentum to crash through them, they sustain a mere scrape or two before someone steps in to put them back on track. There are still grades, and people responsible for handing them out. Had I chosen differently - to skip more classes, not study at all, drink more and think less - someone would have noticed. And that is a great motivator, and it served me very well, and now I have the degree and the work ethic to prove it.

The thing is, though, if I continue to sit on this couch for the rest of the night, no one will know. If I choose to turn the TV back on, and watch Antique Roadshow all night rather than research possible employers and distribute resumees, not one single person, (aside from myself and the neighbor who keeps peering through the window), will know. No one is grading my performance, literally for the first time in my life. And there are no guardrails, so much as a sudden stop to greet me if I send myself off the road.

And when I go home for Thanksgiving, and still have no job, it will be solely my decision to reveal just how much of my unemployed status is the result of a competitive job market, and how much is due to my lack of motivation.

It's strange to think that maybe my success at school has led to my struggle in the real world, because we're taught that the world does not work that way. We are taught, from age 5 or 6, or even younger, these days, till about 21 or 22 years old, that working hard at school will pay off. That good grades and high recommendations from teachers and professors are the key to success not only in your chosen career, but in all aspects of life.

And yet, here I sit - with no assignments to complete, and no report cards to maintain appearances for, and a nearly total contentment sitting on the sofa, writing blog entries when I should be typing up cover letters.

That's not to say I don't want to start working - I really can't wait to. But I can't help see irony in the fact that my chosen career will involve taking daily assignments from an editor, and writing condensed research papers for a living. Sounds a lot like college to me.

And I think to myself - but, that's what I'm good at. I'm good at following leads, digging up information, working long and irregular hours, asking questions and finding answers, then delivering information. Of course it's what I'm good at, I've been successfully leading a career in that field for the last, oh, give or take 18 years.

I succeeded in school because I knew how to do what people were asking of me. And that made me 'smart'. But I'm not in school anymore, and I have nobody asking anything of me. I have become an expert supplier of answers, in a world that asks no questions of me.

So, of course, because I tend to get bored when left to my own devices and because the rent must be paid regardless of my being the product of a flawed educational system, I will research job opportunities and prepare cover letters and writing samples, and even place follow-up telephone calls to managing editors who I know will never hire me. But I'm for damn sure going to do it from the comfort of my couch, while Antique Roadshow plays in the background.

2007-11-04T15:58:00.000-05:00

So, about that "getting paid" thing...

I have no idea how much longer I'll be living in Boston. Our lease is up at the end of May, but the way things are going my fiance will have outgrown his current position as a personal trainer by February. And as much as I love this city, living here at this point in our lives in incredibly impractical, living expenses and our career goals being what they are. The point is, we may be relocating, or at least beginning to make concrete plans and preparations, as early as February - only three months from now. That certain uncertainty - we are leaving... at some point - combined with the sense that we are suspended, in a temporarily sustainable comfort zone, lead me to thinking about freelancing.

My intention, naieve though it may be, could pass as logical: I'll have the chance to beef up my portfolio with post-college pieces, without wasting precious time finding, vying for, and landing a "real" job. I'll be doing enough of that in a few months, I figure.

The only problem is, I have no idea what I'm doing.

Sure, there are some websites - mediabistro.com, journalismjobs.com - with freelance job databases. Turns out, though, that you generally need to know something about something for these job listings to be useful. So my approach to freelance writing, I've decided, will be a modified version of my approach to finding my first job, (which worked remarkably well at the upstate NY papers I contacted - too bad the commute would be a killer). I'll simply gather my current portfolio and resume, send copies to any and all news publications within reach of the commuter rail, and cross my fingers.

I don't care if I'm covering AYSO games in the suburbs - I just want to get writing. Plus, I figure a sense of how the freelance world works will be great to have in my back pocket.

And also, I think I'll learn Spanish in the meantime.

Acceptance By Rejection

2007-10-12T19:38:00.000-04:00

I must have looked a little foolish; naieve, for sure. My fiance opened the mailbox and as the letters tumbled past the door and onto the linoleum floor in the lobby of our apartment building, I saw the logo of one of the first newspapers I had applied to staring back at me. I gasped - I actually gasped, right out loud - and had it torn open in record time.

Even before I could process the circumstances: Why would a newspaper send mail to an applicant, if they could simply telephone or e-mail said applicant? What kind of job interview is set up through the mail?

The kind that never takes place. I should have come to this logical, reasonable conclusion before I'd even reached down to retrieve the envelope, but I didn't. At the very least, this should have come to my attention before I stood, eyes wide and breath suspended, unfolding the thick off-white paper. But, I didn't. I even let my eyes jump half-way down the letter, like a high school senior waiting to hear from their first-choice college, ignoring whether they mispelled my name and the initial generic greeting.

Ah, the first rejection letter of my adult life. I knew they would pour in some day, and I know it won't be the last - far from it, I imagine, especially in the next few months. The hardest part about this stage in my life, I've decided, is not the process of finding a job, apply to job, wait for reply, and be rejected. The hardest part is slowing down.

I still find myself feeling anxious on Sunday afternoons, the way I did when I suddenly realized as the sun was going down on the weekend that I had a research paper due the next day, or a book to be read for a morning discussion. Sometimes I feel like I'm procrastinating, though I know there is nothing I could be putting off. Even keeping track of the bills is simpler than juggling five or six classes-worth of readings, writings, and thought processes.

When I was five, on the second day of kindergarten, I clamped my arms and legs around a leg of the dining room table, just as the bus was pulling up in front of the house. I had absolutely no intention of going back to school - I had no desire to permantently alter my routine, to start spending my days somewhere other than at my house, with my mother and younger sister. I don't remember how they got me out from under that table, but they must have. I spent the next 17 years in school, and the end of every summer vacation since, for a fleeting but intense moment, I'd find myself frantically searching for a table leg to cling to.

Then I graduated college, and I moved to Boston with my fiance. Graduate school was to be my table leg. But the closer it got to the end of summer, the more logic and reason prevailed, and I saved the money I didn't have and decided to start my career rather than extend another routine. I crawled out from under the table and realized I could never go back, and although the process of developing a new daily normalcy is terrifying and bittersweet, I have to keep reminding myself that just as school became the center of my life, so will a new routine.

Only this time, I'll be getting paid.

Court Injunction Quiets Boston News Station

2007-10-04T13:03:00.000-04:00

Boston's WHDH-TV Channel 7 News has been court ordered not to report information obtained from several confidential sources regarding the autopsy reports of two Boston firefighters who died battling an August blaze. As a result, the story is not the findings of the autopsy report, but the fact that only one of several Boston news outlets has been singled out in court and prevented from reporting the story, while other publications and broadcast news stations have gone on to freely discuss the same findings.

It is called prior restraint, and it is what suffocates the First Amendment. It is justified, in the eyes of the law, in situations where national security is at stake, where "clear and present danger" will surely result if information is released by the press. The grounds on which the Boston firefighter's union sought the injunction, however, was an invasion of privacy. The court decided that, since autopsy reports can only be released to the victim's next of kin, the informant had not obtained the report through legal means, and thus the press had no right to report the information.

What is interesting, though, is that the other local news outlets have not hesitated to report the same story for which Channel 7 is being silenced, clear evidence that this court order has had no chilling affect on other Boston news media. And, as the controversial information has been released for hours now with no threat to national security arising, I would say the foundation for Channel 7's appeal is firm.

Autopsy findings allegedly reported that one of the fallen firefighters was legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .27, while the other had traces of cocaine and marijuana in his system. While these men were hailed as heroes after they lost their lives in August fighting a fire at a Chinese restaurant, such information could certainly tarnish their reputations, as well as that of all firefighters in Boston, and cause unnecessary grief to their families.

But is that grounds for stomping on the freedom of the press? While it is unfortunate, certainly, that these men lost their lives, it is crucial that this information be brought to light. What problem exists that makes it possible for two men to be under the influence of drugs while they are fighting fires? And how will it be solved?

The Boston Globe article...
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/10/sources_autopsi.html

Internet, Interrupted

2007-10-03T21:17:00.000-04:00

The Myanmar government has eliminated one of their biggest enemies with the flip of a switch, by simply cutting off the nation's internet access, according to The New York Times. The result of an all-too-conveniently timed virus, Myanmar's two internet service providers have been crippled, ending a recent flood of images showing the world the government's brutality against protestors and Buddhist monks.

When I have a question - about a recipe, or a geographical location, job openings, the reliability of the T on any given day, whatever - I don't call my mom, or consult an atlas, or the classifieds, or the MBTA. I Google it. I communicated to my internship supervisor for three months this summer without ever dialing the telephone - our correspondence relied solely on e-mails. I don't pay for newspapers, I read all of my print news online.

And someone has the power to turn that off. We would like to believe in the United States, and in other free countries around the world, that power lies less in one person than in countries like Myanmar and Nepal, where the then-government took similar actions in 2005. But what happened in Myanmar is not only a hand over the mouth of it's citizens, it's cotton in the ears of the world. What they cannot tell us, we cannot hear, and though I still have full access to the internet, there is nothing I can do, with all of my government-granted rights and freedoms, to gain access to the reality of what is happening in Myanmar.

It's a beautiful country that many Americans know nothing, or very little, about. There is a great video by an American who lived in Myanmar that shows a little of Rangoon and the culture there...watch it here or learn more about U Jon Gyi here.

Peace.

American Society for Microbiology Gives Prestigious Carski Award to Aaronson

2007-05-07T23:37:00.000-04:00

By Ami Olson ’07, PR Intern

Lawrence Aaronson, professor of biology and dean of arts and sciences division, has been selected to receive this year’s Carski Foundation Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award from the American Society for Microbiology. The award recognizes Aaronson’s commitment to teaching and mentoring, highlighting his use of traditional and contemporary techniques, including web-based tools and popular fiction, in his quest to teach students about microbiology.

The Carski award is presented annually to one educator for the outstanding teaching of undergraduates in the field of microbiology. Aaronson will receive the award at the ASM general meeting in Toronto in May, where he will also be a keynote speaker. The award will include a cash prize and commemorative piece.

Aaronson was nominated for the Carski award by UC biology student Ewa Szymanska ‘08. “Students are the number one priority in Dr. Aaronson’s life,” says Szymanska in her nomination letter.

Affectionately known by many students as “Doc,” Aaronson welcomes students into his office, lab, and even his home. Aaronson’s long list of research, publications, and presentations on which he collaborated with students spans nearly 20 years; many of his former students have been nationally recognized and now hold doctorates of their own.

Aaronson holds a bachelor’s degree in biological science from Florida State University, Tallahassee, and a Ph.D. in microbiology from Rutgers University. At Yale University School of Medicine, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship. Aaronson joined the UC faculty in 1987 as assistant professor of biology. He became the dean of the arts and sciences division in 2000, though he remains devoted to teaching and facilitating student research.

“It has been a great experience serving my division and the college in this capacity, but I’ve missed the daily contact with my students, and there are still a lot of things I would like to accomplish as a teacher,” Aaronson says. He will leave his position as dean in June and return to teaching full time. Aaronson says he is very much looking forward to returning to the classroom and research lab. Teaching is, after all, his passion.

The ASM is the oldest and largest life science membership organization in the world. ASM members represent 26 different microbiological disciplines, and range from undergraduate students to post-doctoral scientists and microbiology educators. The ASM has awarded the prestigious Carski award to one educator annually since 1968.

Article appeared in Inside UC, April 2007, p.1

Resume

2007-05-07T22:54:00.000-04:00

Ami Olson

95 Gordon Street #10
Brighton, MA 02135
315.269.7042
AmiMOlson@gmail.com

AmiOlson.blogspot.com

EDUCATION

May 2007
B.S. in Liberal Studies, Minor in Journalism Studies
Utica College of Syracuse University, Utica, NY
Magna cum laude.

EXPERIENCE

2007 Public Relations / Marketing Intern, Grazier Photography Studio
Organized submission and contest calendar, created vendor and marketing databases for fine photography studio specializing in wedding, special event photography and portraiture.

2007 Public Relations Intern, Utica College
Semester-long position. Responsibilities included writing news releases and articles for various institution publications and local media outlets, composing and shooting photographs, photo editing, seeking and interviewing sources, researching stories and articles, and basic filing and office tasks. Paid internship, 10-25 hours per week.

2007 Assistant Photo Editor / Staff Writer, The Tangerine
Worked closely with Photo Editor and Editor-in-Chief to make, edit and select photos, pursue leads and submit weekly articles for student-run weekly newspaper at Utica College.

2006 Project Coordinator / Presenter, Freedom Guide Dogs
Compiled still photographs and music track to create audio-visual presentation for non-profit agency, specifically for use during organization fundraiser and future educational programs.

EMPLOYMENT

2006-07 Marketing Associate, Sears Retail Store
Part-time position on marketing/in-store support team. Tasks included signing merchandise, setting up and rearranging displays units, re-pricing merchandise, and providing customer service which could create “customers for life.”

2006 Media Center Assistant, Utica College Media Center
Summer position entailing booking equipment reservations, delivering and retrieving equipment, troubleshooting, and organization of electronic resources and equipment.

SKILLS
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with Adobe Photoshop, Bridge and Dreamweaver, Quark Xpress, Windows Movie Maker and Microsoft Office software programs
• Page and layout design
• Basic HTML and website design
• Photography, photo and digital video editing
• Creative problem-solving abilities
• Experience with firm deadlines and shifting priorities
• Excellent interview skills

REFERENCES

Christine Leogrande, M.S. 315.223.2519
Coordinator Media Relations, Utica College cleogrande@utica.edu

Kim Landon, M.A. 315.792.3093
Associate Professor PR/Journalism, Utica College klandon@utica.edu

OT/Health Studies Adjunct Makes "Marc" in Wheelchair Athletics

2007-05-07T15:55:00.000-04:00

By Ami Olson '07, PR Intern

Marc DePerno ’00, adjunct lecturer of health studies, has been named co-chair of the United States Curling Association Adaptive Curling Committee. DePerno will be responsible for developing wheelchair curling programs throughout the country, working to improve and educate existing programs, and developing a long-term plan to ensure the success of the program on a national scale.

DePerno is an occupational therapist and director of the Success Through Adaptive and Recreational Sports (STARS) program at the Sitrin Health Center. All the national team members are also members of the STARS program.

Not only does DePerno coach the wheelchair curling team, he can also be seen running alongside wheelchair athletes training for the Boilermaker Road Race, coaching wheelchair basketball, as well as teaching adaptive paddling, downhill skiing, golf, and billiards. DePerno holds a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from UC and has taught several courses, including Adapted Sports, a curriculum he developed.

"Not only does participating in adapted sports promote physical wellness for individuals with disabilities, it also enhances self esteem and socialization," DePerno says.

STARS athlete and three-time Boilermaker participant Jimmy Joseph says DePerno has been the catalyst for many wheelchair athletes.

"Marc sees the ability, not the disability, in people. Getting involved with these sports means there are mote things in life for people with disabilities," Joseph says.

DePerno was also selected as the Wheelchair Curling team teader and will serve as the coordinator for the national team. DePerno managed team operations for the 2007 World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Solleftea, Sweden, where Team USA placed fifth.

For more information about wheelchair curling, visit Eric Eales' site here.

Article and photos originally appeared in Inside UC, April 2007, p.8