The Hearing Loss Association of New Jersey awarded a scholarship to Hamilton resident Ryan Fink.
Fink overcame moderate-to-severe hearing loss of graduate from Steinert High School. He plans to study athletic training at Temple University in the fall. His goal is to become a physical therapist.
According to school counselor Amiee Turnball, Fink maintained a 4.1302 GPA and was inducted to the National Honor Society.
In addition to academics, Fink participated in several extracurricular activities including Hamilton Lads basketball and student council. He also volunteers with Special Olympics NJ, where he organized a softball team and assisted with the Olympic Games.
Fink was diagnosed with hearing loss at an early age and is aided by a hearing aid. HLAA-NJ president Linda Shaab said attending school while using a hearing aide is a challenge.
“It is difficult for people with normal hearing to realize how hard it is to do what Ryan has succeeded in doing,” Schaab said in a statement. “Ryan had to adjust to relying on a hearing aid, and other assistive listening devices and technology, to help augment sound and help him understand speech. He has also mastered lip reading. But, nothing can make hearing loss go away, or give him what would be regarded as “normal” hearing.”
“From the classroom to the basketball court and his other activities, Ryan has faced a daily struggle to understand teachers, coaches and classmates and to overcome the stigma that is too often attached to serious hearing loss,” Schaab continued.
HLAA-NJ works to create awareness of hearing loss issues in the state of New Jersey. It is dedicated to developing a statewide network to address outreach, advocacy legislative and equal access issues that impact people with hearing loss.
More information is online at hearingloss-nj.org.
