Joven inspira comunidad latina y más
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Cox Communications organizó los premios anuales Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards en el condado de Escambia, reconociendo a 53 estudiantes que han superado extremas dificultades en sus vidas. Los Héroes fueron reconocidos en una ceremonia el lunes 2 de mayo en la Universidad de West Florida.
Entre los destinatarios se encontraba Martín Bucio, de 18 años, hijo de Raquel Bucio, propietaria de Tienda El Gallo en Pensacola.
Este no es el primer premio de Bucio. De hecho, esta es la segunda vez que recibe este premio y ha ganado el premio Estudiante del Año en todas las escuelas a las que ha asistido. Eso es porque Bucio ha sido una inspiración toda su vida.
Bucio tiene parálisis cerebral, una condición que dice afecta sus huesos y músculos.
“No me deja controlar los movimientos. Lucho con eso a veces. También afecta mi habla,” dijo Bucio. “Y no hay cura para eso, pero hay cosas que puedo hacer como terapia física y del habla. Esto me ayuda a tener un mejor control. Ahora que soy mayor, me siento mucho más fuerte.
Dice que la terapia también le da la esperanza de convertirse en un adulto independiente.
“No afecta mi forma de pensar,” dijo. “Solo la forma en que camino y hablo.”
No es solo la forma en que Bucio maneja la vida con parálisis cerebral lo que lo hace especial, sino su actitud positiva y cómo parece sobresalir en todo lo que hace.
Bucio dice que aprendió por sí mismo a hablar inglés cuando estaba en la escuela primaria sin haber tomado nunca una clase de ESOL. Dijo que aprendió escuchando y repitiendo a sus maestros.
“Nunca deja de sorprenderme,” dijo Raquel Bucio. “Desde que tenía cuatro años. Nunca lo ayudaba con su tarea porque no podía. No hablo ni leo inglés. Ha aprendido a usar las computadoras por su cuenta. Todo tipo de cosas que no tengo ni idea de cómo hacer.
Mamá anuncia que Martin la ayuda a mantenerse organizada. Con la ajetreada vida que lleva entre el cuidado de su familia y la gestión de un negocio exitoso, su hijo se asegura de recordarle cosas como las citas.
“No sé cómo ponerlo en palabras,” dijo. “Es muy generoso. Es muy valiente. Todos lo aman.”
Ahora, preparándose para graduarse de la escuela secundaria Booker T Washington este mes, Bucio se dirige a la universidad. Se ha postulado a la Universidad de West Florida con planes de estudiar ciencias de la computación. Está esperando saber si será aceptado. Martin también comenzó a prepararse para solicitar una beca Bright Futures trabajando horas comunitarias como voluntario, lo que incluye enseñar español a niños educados en el hogar y hacer un trabajo remoto para el restaurante Joe’s Caribe que también le dará algo de experiencia laboral.
El es muy inteligente. Va a ser muy independiente, un gran ciudadano y siempre hará lo mejor que pueda,” dijo Raquel Bucio. “Está mejorando físicamente. Va a llegar lejos.”
Martin dice que está orgulloso de sus logros y reconocimientos. Dice que le recuerdan que siga adelante.
“Se van a dar oportunidades, solo hay que intentarlo. La gente admirará cualquier cosa que hagas,” dijo. “No importa en qué situación te encuentres. Mi discapacidad no tiene límites para detenerme.
Bucio dijo que quiere alentar a las personas con discapacidad a que nunca se rindan.
“Los animo a trabajar duro, porque el trabajo duro siempre da sus frutos,” dijo.
Todos los estudiantes que recibieron un premio fueron elegidos por un comité de líderes en su escuela, debido a su resiliencia ante la adversidad. Ya sea que hayan superado la pérdida de un familiar, un problema médico, una situación familiar difícil u otras dificultades, lo hicieron con una actitud positiva y continuaron alentando e inspirando a quienes los rodeaban.
El programa Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards ha reconocido a casi 4500 estudiantes desde que comenzó hace casi 30 años en Nueva Orleans, Luisiana. Desde entonces, el programa se ha extendido a otros mercados de Cox desde Lafayette, Luisiana, hasta Gainesville, Florida. Los estudiantes reciben un medallón grabado personalizado y certificados de honor.
La lista completa de Inspirational Student Heroes para 2022 se encuentra abajo.
Young man inspires Latino community and more
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Cox Communications hosted the annual Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards in Escambia County, recognizing 53 students who have overcome extreme hardships in their lives. The Heroes were recognized at a ceremony on Monday, May 2 at the University of West Florida.
Among the recipients was 18-year-old Martin Bucio, son of Raquel Bucio, owner of Tienda El Gallo in Pensacola.
This is not Bucio’s first award. In fact, this is the second time he has been given this award and has won Student of the Year award at every school he has attended. That is because Bucio has been an inspiration his entire life.
Bucio has cerebral palsy, a condition he says affects his bones and muscles.
“It doesn’t let me the control movements. I struggle with it at times. It also affects my speech,” Bucio said. “And there is no cure for that, but there are things I can do like physical and speech therapy. This helps me have better control. Now that I am older, I feel much stronger.
He says the therapy also gives him hope that to become an independent adult.
“It does not impair the way I think,” he said. “Only the way I walk and talk.”
It’s not only how Bucio manages life with cerebral palsy that makes him special, but his positive attitude and how he seems to excel at everything he does.
Bucio says he taught himself to speak English when he was in elementary school without ever taking an ESOL class. He said he learned by listening and repeating his teachers.
“He never ceases to amaze me,” Raquel Bucio said. “Since he was four years old. I never helped him with his homework because I couldn’t. I don’t speak or read English. He has learned to use computers all on his own. All kinds of things I have no idea how do.
Mom ads that Martin helps keep her organized. With the busy life she leads between caring for her family and running a successful business, her son makes sure to remind her of things like appointments.
“I don’t know how to put into words,” she said. “He is very generous. He is very brave. Everyone loves him.”
Now, preparing to graduate from Booker T Washington High School this month, Bucio is headed for college. He has applied to the University of West Florida with plans to study computer science. He is waiting to hear whether he will be accepted. Martin has also started preparing to apply for a Bright Futures scholarship by working volunteer community hours including teaching homeschooled children Spanish and doing some remote work for Joe’s Caribe restaurant that will also give him some work experience.
He is very intelligent. He is going to be very independent, great citizen and will always try the best he can,” Raquel Bucio said. “He is getting better physically. He is going to go far.”
Martin says he is proud of his accomplishments and recognitions. He says they remind him to keep moving forward.
“Opportunities will be given, you just have to try. People will admire whatever you do,” he said. “No matter in what situation you are in. My disability knows no limits to hold me back.
Bucio said he wants to encourage people with disability to never to give up.
“I encourage them to give hard work, because the hard work always pays off,” he said.
All of the students that received an award were chosen by a committee of leaders at their school, due to their resilience in the face of adversity. Whether they have overcome a loss of a family member, medical issue, difficult family situation or other hardship, they did so with a positive attitude and continued to encourage and inspire others around them.
The Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards program has recognized nearly 4,500 students since it began nearly 30 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. The program has since spread to other Cox markets from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Gainesville, Florida. Students are presented with a personalized engraved medallion and certificates of honor.
The full list of Inspirational Student Heroes for 2022 is listed below.
AK Suter Elementary School – Luca Grasso
Bellview Elementary School – Monique Daniels
Bellview Middle School – Cornell Hewitt
Beulah Elementary School – Dae’lyn Grace
Beulah Middle School – Kay-leigh Smith
Blue Angels Elementary School – Eric Moudy
Bratt Elementary School – Gaberiel Dunsford
Brentwood Elementary School – Christian Funderburk
Brown Barge Middle School – Austin Jackson
Byrneville Elementary School – Allison Grant
CA Weis Elementary School – Malik Lovette
Cordova Park Elementary School – Nigel Goromo
Ensley Elementary School – Said Rodriguez-Izaguirre
Ernest Ward Middle School – Jessica Williams
Escambia High School – Tyanna Hosea
Escambia Westgate Center – Joseph Dull
Ferry Pass Elementary School – Ka’Nyla Stanley
Ferry Pass Middle School – Tredarius Lewis
Global Learning Academy – Taejohn “TJ” Oliver
Hellen Caro Elementary School – Cayman Nantista
Holm Elementary School – La’Travion Hardy
Hope Horizon (Elementary) – Gavin Lee
Hope Horizon (Secondary) – Marcus Siewert
Jim Allen Elementary School – Uriel Trevizo
Jim Bailey Middle School – Leiland Remo
Kingsfield Elementary School – Enrico Middleton
Lincoln Park Elementary – Liana Blackmon
Lipscomb Elementary School – Emmalyn Young
Longleaf Elementary School – Brynne Reber
McArthur Elementary School – Nicholas Stallworth
Molino Park Elementary – Eli Miller
Myrtle Grove Elementary – Tobiah Faunteroy
N.B. Cook Elementary School – Ava Greene
Navy Point Elementary School – Sophia Escobar
Northview High School – Chevy Bingham
Oakcrest Elementary School – Amyriah Barge
OJ Semmes Elementary School Amelia Jampetro
PACE Center for Girls – Eurshila Ross
Pensacola High School – Tam Nguyen
Pine Forest High School – Jason Le
Pine Meadow Elementary School – Kristiyanah Backus
Pleasant Grove Elementary School – Jaiden Lewis
Ransom Middle School – Bryce Joachimi
Scenic Heights Elementary School – Jamarion Hauser
Sherwood Elementary School – Piper Dujmovic
Success Academy – Zamyhia Turner
Tate High School – Dawson Guy
Warrington Elementary School – Shawntiava Washington
Warrington Middle School – Joey Morrell
Washington High School – Martin Bucio
West Florida High School – Oscar Cano-Gasque
West Pensacola Elementary School – Jeremiah Stevens
Workman Middle School – Melody Garcia
