Schools

Whiz Kid: Sophomore Fighting Diabetes Chosen to Attend Inauguration

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Rocky Point sophomore Shaun Martinsen chosen to attend Presidential Inauguration, among other accomplishments.

Name: Shaun Martinsen - Age 15

School: Rocky Point High School - 10th Grade

Accomplishments: Shaun will be attending the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama on Jan. 21 in Washington, D.C. He attended the National Junior Leadership Conference three years ago and was invited back for the High School Presidential Inauguration Conference.  

The conference is designed to teach and encourage strong leadership skills among high school students and to build upon and strengthen the leadership skills that Shaun learned at the first conference. He will be attending various events and have the opportunity to listen to keynote speakers Condoleezza Rice and General Wesley Clark.

Shaun was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes four years ago. He is an advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), participating in fundraising and walks for the JDRF sponsored "Walk for a Cure".

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Maintaining a 95.5 average, he has been on the Principal's List for each quarter of his high school career while being enrolled in honors courses and Advanced Placement World History. He was also Vice President of the National Junior Honor Society.

Shaun plays the saxophone in the school's concert band and marching band and has been a member of Mock Trial during both 9th and 10th grades and worked on the stage crew for his high school's production of You Can't Take It with You. He also runs the mile in both winter and spring track.

Overcoming the challenges that come with Type 1 diabetes, his parents call him their greatest hero and a great inspiration to their entire family and their friends.


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