Adam Blank | Star Student Recognized

50 star students from southern, western suburbs

Peters Township High School senior Adam Blank, 19 is congratulated by his vision teacher Jenny Barney of Peters Township who works for Intermediate Unit 1. Barney has been Blank’s vision teacher since he was three-years-old. Blank won the Outstanding Young Citizens $5,000 scholarship at the annual banquet at the Embassy Suites Pittsburgh Airport in Moon Township Thursday, April 10, 2014.

By Matthew Santoni

Published: Thursday, April 10, 2014, 11:21 p.m.

Adam Blank knows he wouldn’t be an accomplished student without help, and he hopes to emphasize the value of helping others as a motivational speaker.

A panel of judges selected Blank, a senior at Peters High School who has albinism, vision impairment and a mild form of autism, as the winner of a $5,000 college scholarship announced on Thursday at the Trib Total Media Outstanding Young Citizen Awards banquet at Embassy Suites in Moon.

“I’m just shocked. I’m blown away by this honor,” Blank said after receiving the award. “I started crying because I felt so honored. I was like, ‘What just happened?’”

Blank has spoken to the Fayette-Greene-Washington Intermediate Unit and Peters Township School District to highlight the work of therapists, aides, support teachers, social workers and staff whose services have made a difference in his life and others.

Their support enabled him to earn a spot on the honor roll at Peters for five quarters, win election as senior class vice president and volunteer with Calvary Full Gospel Church and the Home Orientation and Mobility Experience at School program.

Blank, 19, said he wants to become a professional public speaker on topics such as bullying, personal empowerment and overcoming disabilities. He is undecided on a college.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/5849724-74/blank-trib-attend#ixzz31T5MwJxN
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