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The Brunswick News - Deaf student, others to graduate
Glynn Academy senior Dylan Spry won't hear the crowd cheering for him when walks across the stage Saturday during the graduation ceremony, but he'll know his family and friends will be there.
Spry's extended family will be in the stands at the Glynn County Stadium when he receives his diploma.
He is one of the 433 success stories - seniors who will be receiving diplomas - at Glynn Academy this year, high school officials say.
Speaking through sign language interpreter Marcie Harper, lead teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing program, Spry recalled the challenges and triumphs he's faced on the way to Saturday's commencement.
"At age 3, I had some kind of sickness and high fever that resulted in me becoming deaf," Spry said.
He began school at Leaps and Bounds in Brunswick before moving to South Carolina, where he was main-streamed with classmates in elementary school. From second grade through seventh grade, he studied at the residential School for the Deaf in Spartanburg, S.C.
"That's where I became very skilled at American sign language," Spry said.
He said he didn't particularly enjoy living in the dormitories or adhering to the strict rules and rigid structure.
Halfway through seventh grade, Spry moved back to Brunswick. Although awkward at first, being around people who could hear again, he found comfort in theater classes.
His passion for theater started when he attended after-school drama classes. That led him to pursue theater elective courses in high school.
He has gone to state conferences, events and competitions for high school drama and won a $2,500 college scholarship in a communications contest where he had to sign in front of an audience and judges. Spry also takes broadcast video courses at the Golden Isles Career Academy.
His education won't stop at Glynn Academy, he said. There will be more challenges ahead.
In the fall, he will attend Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a leading university for deaf and hard of hearing students.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting a lot of new deaf people at Gallaudet," Spry said. "It's really exciting to me. I'm looking forward to the classes there."
Spry said he's interested in acting, broadcast video and international studies.
It was sometimes a struggle, though, to get to where he is now, but he made it. It's been a long journey that has included taking and passing the Georgia High School Graduation Tests.
"I was so happy I was able to accomplish that," Spry said.
So was interpreter Harper, who remembers Spry when he began at Leaps and Bounds.
"It's almost like family when you have a chance to be with someone since they were 3-years-old," Harper said. "I'm really thrilled he's going to Gallaudet. I think that's a fantastic place for his skill set. I think he's going to be fantastic and I can't wait to read more about the adventures of Dylan Spry."
Graduation
Glynn Academy commencement exercises will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Glynn County Stadium.
Glynn Academy senior Dylan Spry won't hear the crowd cheering for him when walks across the stage Saturday during the graduation ceremony, but he'll know his family and friends will be there.
Spry's extended family will be in the stands at the Glynn County Stadium when he receives his diploma.
He is one of the 433 success stories - seniors who will be receiving diplomas - at Glynn Academy this year, high school officials say.
Speaking through sign language interpreter Marcie Harper, lead teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing program, Spry recalled the challenges and triumphs he's faced on the way to Saturday's commencement.
"At age 3, I had some kind of sickness and high fever that resulted in me becoming deaf," Spry said.
He began school at Leaps and Bounds in Brunswick before moving to South Carolina, where he was main-streamed with classmates in elementary school. From second grade through seventh grade, he studied at the residential School for the Deaf in Spartanburg, S.C.
"That's where I became very skilled at American sign language," Spry said.
He said he didn't particularly enjoy living in the dormitories or adhering to the strict rules and rigid structure.
Halfway through seventh grade, Spry moved back to Brunswick. Although awkward at first, being around people who could hear again, he found comfort in theater classes.
His passion for theater started when he attended after-school drama classes. That led him to pursue theater elective courses in high school.
He has gone to state conferences, events and competitions for high school drama and won a $2,500 college scholarship in a communications contest where he had to sign in front of an audience and judges. Spry also takes broadcast video courses at the Golden Isles Career Academy.
His education won't stop at Glynn Academy, he said. There will be more challenges ahead.
In the fall, he will attend Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a leading university for deaf and hard of hearing students.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting a lot of new deaf people at Gallaudet," Spry said. "It's really exciting to me. I'm looking forward to the classes there."
Spry said he's interested in acting, broadcast video and international studies.
It was sometimes a struggle, though, to get to where he is now, but he made it. It's been a long journey that has included taking and passing the Georgia High School Graduation Tests.
"I was so happy I was able to accomplish that," Spry said.
So was interpreter Harper, who remembers Spry when he began at Leaps and Bounds.
"It's almost like family when you have a chance to be with someone since they were 3-years-old," Harper said. "I'm really thrilled he's going to Gallaudet. I think that's a fantastic place for his skill set. I think he's going to be fantastic and I can't wait to read more about the adventures of Dylan Spry."
Graduation
Glynn Academy commencement exercises will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Glynn County Stadium.
