Schools
MRH Sophomore With Cerebral Palsy: An "Inspiration and Bright Light"
Maplewood Richmond Heights student Marcos Rendon was recognized for erasing notions of students with special needs.
Maplewood Richmond Heights sophomore Marcos Rendon has "single-handedly and unknowingly, started to erase the preconceived notions of a student with special needs," according to his nomination to win the Rosemary Zander Award.
The award goes to students in the St. Louis Special School District who take pride in who they are and what they can accomplish.
His personality draws others in who would otherwise be cautious to interact with a person in a wheelchair, the nomination states.
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Rendon has difficulty speaking clearly, so some people might avoid a conversation with him, but he is determined to communicate. He is patient with anyone who wants to talk with him, and will make many attempts to express his thoughts in order to have a conversation.
When Rendon graduated from seventh grade he was determined to walk across the stage without his wheelchair, and was able to do that.
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Read the complete nomination on the included PDF.
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