2009 Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards

RFB&D annually awards students in two categories: The Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards to college seniors who are blind or visually impaired; and the Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards to high school seniors with learning disabilities. These rigorously selected student winners are role models of success and inspirational to students across the nation. The top winners will receive their awards in Washington, D.C. in February 2010.

The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards ($6,000 each) are given to RFB&D members who are high school seniors with learning disabilities.

Top Winners:

Scott Bartnick

Home Town: Orlando, Florida (Southeast Region)
School: Edgewater High School

"My dyslexia motivated me to try harder, creating my desire to excel and accomplish what others told me I could not do…RFB&D helped me achieve academic success that prepared me for a challenging school."

Scott Bartnick is a 19-year-old graduate from Edgewater High School with a 4.35 GPA - no easy feat, given his diagnosed disabilities in reading, decoding, fluency and spelling. Scott, however, loves accepting extreme challenges - in fact, they motivate him to try harder and accomplish more.

Scott was diagnosed in first grade with a severe learning disability - so much so that, the psychologist told Scott's family that he might never be able to read.

Scott notes, however, "That may have been true for another person, but not me…Persevering through seven years of demanding after-school study sessions, my hard work and determination led to improvements so dramatic, that I scored a 35 on the reading portion of the ACT." In fact, his elementary school awarded him the "Disney Dreamer and Doer Award," an honor presented to just one student every year for "curiosity, courage, and constancy."

Scott discovered RFB&D in middle school, listening to textbooks at his "preferred speed" while following along with the text. "By the end of sixth grade I was able to read on grade level. In seventh grade I was reading above grade level, and in eighth grade, I was enrolled in classes for gifted students," Scott adds.

Scott kept his high GPA while taking AP courses, fulfilling his Eagle Scout duties, gaining acceptance into the National Honor Society and accruing other honors and awards through varsity wrestling, running, crew, swimming, and the Environmental Club.

Scott's AP instructors describe his exploits in glowing terms. Biology instructor Lucie Dempsey says, "Scott is a team leader who has lifted himself into a position of respect amongst his peers in and out of the classroom…[his] maturity, intellect, academic skills, leadership qualities and attitude…are traits that will lead to his success."

Alyssa A. Lang

Home Town: Jacksonville, Florida (Southeast Region)
School: The Bolles School

"I would not be the person I am without having been 'blessed' with dyslexia…RFB&D has changed my life!"

Even though 18-year-old Alyssa Lang wasn't diagnosed with dyslexia until her junior year in high school, she graduated with a 4.31 GPA, and now attends the University of Notre Dame. This followed years and years of struggling with reading, as well as being ever fearful of reading aloud in class, lest her classmates think she was "dumb."

When a specialist finally diagnosed her challenge, Alyssa had to blink back tears - especially when he also confirmed that Alyssa had an extremely high I.Q. and excellent visual memory. She had compensated all these years by literally memorizing every word she encountered!

Taking just a few days to process the diagnosis and its consequences, Alyssa concluded that she was indeed "blessed" with dyslexia. "The brick wall of dyslexia wasn't there to keep me out; it was there to make me show my determination and prove how much I wanted to achieve my goals."

Immediately afterward, Alyssa's mom discovered RFB&D. Although Alyssa was initially skeptical, she now credits RFB&D's audio textbooks with "lowering my anxiety because it cut my reading time in half."

"Determined" doesn't even begin to describe Alyssa. A Female Scholar Athlete at Bolles - awarded to only one female in the graduating class by the U.S. Army in recognition of athletic and academic achievement - she also received the AP Scholar with Distinction.

Her determination also spills into other aspects of her life. In her age group for butterfly stroke, Alyssa was the fastest swimmer in the country. She also garnered an invitation to the U.S. Rowing's Junior National Development Camp just months after taking up the sport.

In addition, Alyssa serves as a volunteer with the Special Olympics, as well as through her church. One of her teachers, Dr. Danton Kostandrithes, describes Alyssa as "driven, focused, and intense," adding that teaching Alyssa was a rewarding experience.

Ashley Reese

Home Town: Westlake, Ohio (Midwest Region)
School: Lake Ridge Academy

"Combining my life experiences with the many texts available through RFB&D will allow me to achieve all my academic, career and service goals."

18-year-old Ashley Reese graduated with a 3.5 GPA from Lake Ridge Academy, without the benefit of a special program or accommodation for individuals with learning disabilities. At the beginning of her schooling, Ashley hated to read, but loved hearing others read. It all made sense when she was diagnosed with dyslexia in the fourth grade.
She then, however, had to either stay at the private school she loved, or move to a public school with special education programs already in place.

Ashley chose to stay, and then with her usual aplomb, "tracked down…the tools myself and introduced them into my study program." Those tools included RFB&D. Ashley adds that, "Without the books available through RFB&D I would never have been able to keep up with the extensive and complex reading assignments in my various AP and Honors classes. RFB&D introduced me to the concept that 'reading' can occur in a variety of formats."

With Ashley, academics were just the beginning. Performing regularly as a ballet dancer in competitions and theatrical shows, she founded her own nonprofit organization called "DanceXchange," which collects and distributes new and gently used dance clothes, shoes and tools to at-risk children and teens.

Ashley also raised funds through a nonprofit called "Be the Change," and participated in her school's holiday service projects. In the midst of all this activity, Ashley stayed on the Honor Roll and collected awards for English, Spanish and theatre.

One of Ashley's teachers, Dr. Gregory Stone, describes Ashley as "certainly one of the most 'classy' and mature high school students I have run across in my 20 years of teaching."

Ashley credits RFB&D as having been "a critical aspect of my high school education" - one that we expect she will continue to use in crafting her own unique blend of service and academics.

Learn about the 2009 The Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Award Winners.