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Fallsnewspress.com - Deaf KSU student graduates with honors
Nothing says pride like a mother's misty eyes as she talks about her son graduating from college with honors.
Ryan Paul Capron, 27, of Cuyahoga Falls, graduated Aug. 16 from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration in marketing, and as a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Ryan was born with a cleft lip and pallet which prevented the small hairs inside his ears from developing. "He's never really had any hearing," his mother said.
"I was so proud of him. My God, he worked hard," Mrs. Capron said, seated at the kitchen table with her son in their Myrtle Avenue home.
Attending college was not easy for Ryan, a student at Kent five years. "It's harder to learn because you can't learn straight from the teacher," he said through his mother who understands sign language and his form of speech. He couldn't take notes in class, she said, so he had to have a note-taker with him in class. He also came to class with an interpreter.
The note-taker was provided by Student Accessibility Services at Kent, Mrs. Capron said. The interpreter was paid for by the state.
She said his first year was the hardest. He had to get used to looking at his interpreter and looking at his professor and at the screen if a video was being shown. One of the things that helped her son was his lack of fear.
"He wasn't afraid to go right to the professor, hand him his notes and say, 'Can I pass the exam with this?' said Mrs. Capron. "Most of his professors were very helpful." Ryan said Eddie Patuwo, one of his management professors, was especially supportive. Lois Yoder Beier was another one of his favorite professors.
Mrs. Capron credited Marla Knabel for being Ryan's speech therapist, educator, interpreter and "guardian angel" from kindergarten through college. Knabel's husband, Wayne, helped tutor Ryan in college, she added.
Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair, assistant dean, also deserves credit, said Mrs. Capron, for giving him the honor of carrying the College of Business Administration's flag during commencement.
Ryan said he plans to get his master's degree. He said he'd also like to attend Princeton University for his doctorate. Currently working part time with his older brother, Sean, in the family construction business, Ryan said he hasn't thought about where he'd like to work full time. He noted, however, that he's always wanted to own a limousine service.
Ryan said he never felt like giving up during his time at Kent. His mom said she never saw him get discouraged. She said she "drilled" it into him to seek help when he needed it. "He has always believed deaf people can do anything except hear," she said.
He wants other deaf students to know they can do it. They can go to college. They can succeed.
"I am just so proud of him. I really am. Ryan has a fabulous personality, is easy-going, and has a positive outlook on life," she said. "He works hard no matter what he does. I just hope he's successful and has a happy life. That's all you want for your kids."
Nothing says pride like a mother's misty eyes as she talks about her son graduating from college with honors.
Ryan Paul Capron, 27, of Cuyahoga Falls, graduated Aug. 16 from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration in marketing, and as a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Ryan was born with a cleft lip and pallet which prevented the small hairs inside his ears from developing. "He's never really had any hearing," his mother said.
"I was so proud of him. My God, he worked hard," Mrs. Capron said, seated at the kitchen table with her son in their Myrtle Avenue home.
Attending college was not easy for Ryan, a student at Kent five years. "It's harder to learn because you can't learn straight from the teacher," he said through his mother who understands sign language and his form of speech. He couldn't take notes in class, she said, so he had to have a note-taker with him in class. He also came to class with an interpreter.
The note-taker was provided by Student Accessibility Services at Kent, Mrs. Capron said. The interpreter was paid for by the state.
She said his first year was the hardest. He had to get used to looking at his interpreter and looking at his professor and at the screen if a video was being shown. One of the things that helped her son was his lack of fear.
"He wasn't afraid to go right to the professor, hand him his notes and say, 'Can I pass the exam with this?' said Mrs. Capron. "Most of his professors were very helpful." Ryan said Eddie Patuwo, one of his management professors, was especially supportive. Lois Yoder Beier was another one of his favorite professors.
Mrs. Capron credited Marla Knabel for being Ryan's speech therapist, educator, interpreter and "guardian angel" from kindergarten through college. Knabel's husband, Wayne, helped tutor Ryan in college, she added.
Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair, assistant dean, also deserves credit, said Mrs. Capron, for giving him the honor of carrying the College of Business Administration's flag during commencement.
Ryan said he plans to get his master's degree. He said he'd also like to attend Princeton University for his doctorate. Currently working part time with his older brother, Sean, in the family construction business, Ryan said he hasn't thought about where he'd like to work full time. He noted, however, that he's always wanted to own a limousine service.
Ryan said he never felt like giving up during his time at Kent. His mom said she never saw him get discouraged. She said she "drilled" it into him to seek help when he needed it. "He has always believed deaf people can do anything except hear," she said.
He wants other deaf students to know they can do it. They can go to college. They can succeed.
"I am just so proud of him. I really am. Ryan has a fabulous personality, is easy-going, and has a positive outlook on life," she said. "He works hard no matter what he does. I just hope he's successful and has a happy life. That's all you want for your kids."
