Awards & Recognition

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Chris Cochran

St. Jacob Triad

Principal: Cathleen Buller

Given Chris Cochran's report cards and list of achievements, you would never guess what he's had to overcome.

"From the time I started school, I struggled in the areas of fine and gross motor skill coordination," Chris tells us. "These learning disabilities were caused by a genetic disease, Neurofibromatosis, which has plagued many members of my family."

But Chris did not let his struggles keep him from what he wanted to achieve. "With the support of my family and great teachers, I was able to work hard and overcome many of my disabilities. This hard work resulted in me achieving Honor Roll status each and every year beginning with my 5th grade year," he says. "At the end of 7th grade I was released from all special services. I have continued to strive for excellence in my education and continue to be on the Honor Roll roster."

Voted "Most Serious" by his classmates, Chris has competed in football and Scholastic Bowl, and he has participated in band, pep band, jazz band, school musicals and student council. He was also chosen for the Madison County Band Festival.

Chris, the 2011 Scholar Attitude Award winner from Board of Directors Division O, works with Project Christmas, providing toys to needy children, and with the Angel Food Ministry. In high school, he hopes to continue playing the tuba in the band, to join Botball, a robot-building competition, and to work behind the scenes of the high school's plays and musicals. He would also like to join ALPHA, a group devoted to raising drug awareness. Someday, Chris would like to study medicine, to help find cures for the diseases that have affected his family and so many others.

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