Ryan Haggerty of Stamford, CT decided early on that he was not going to let his disability get in the way of his achievement—including his determination to excel at hockey. Arriving at Villa Maria School as a middle-school student with a severe reading and language disability, he took a leading role in student life and on the playing field. Buoyed by his gifts as an athlete and ability to think “outside the box,” he realized that he could accomplish whatever he set his mind to. After two years at Trinity Catholic High School, he was recruited by the U.S. National Developmental Under-17 hockey team, serving as alternate captain when the team won the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in January last year. As the keynote speaker at Villa Maria’s graduation last year, he advised the students not to give up, and to take advantage of the opportunities offered them. Now 17, he will graduate from Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School, where the team is based, and attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on a hockey scholarship next fall.

As an elementary school child in Stamford, CT Ryan Haggerty possessed many strengths: He was bright, motivated, and athletic. But his severe reading and language disability meant that he was pulled out of the classroom frequently for a great deal of extra help—making it tough to be accepted by his classmates.

He was saved, he says, by two things: his ability to think outside the box, and his gifts as an athlete. His mother helped him with schoolwork, while his father helped develop his skills in hockey.

Ryan decided early on that he was not going to let his disability get in the way of his achievement – including his determination to excel at hockey.

Arriving at Villa Maria School for children with learning disabilities as a middle-school student, Ryan discovered there were many other kids like him who learned differently. While gaining the skills needed to succeed in the classroom, he took a leading role in student life, assisting others on the playing field, and through student government and community service. After two years at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford, his work ethic in the classroom and on the ice paid off when he was recruited by the U.S. National Developmental Under-17 hockey team. Ryan served as alternate captain when the team won the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in January last year. Now 17, he will graduate from Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School, where the team is based, and attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on a hockey scholarship next fall.

Ryan’s determination, hard work, and positive attitude have inspired other kids with learning disabilities. As the keynote speaker at Villa Maria’s graduation last year, he advised students not to give up, to take full advantage of the opportunities offered them—and that if they worked hard, they could achieve anything they set their minds to.