Isabel Perez Rios Bravo Isabel was born in 1994 in Mexico and lived there until she was 20. At that age, she took the big step of enrolling in a college in Miami, Florida, moving to a different country without knowing anyone, which was a major challenge. Isabel studied environmental engineering, and once she qualified, she…
Petty Officer Thomas (Tom) Goerler, US Navy When Tom was in high school, the Army National Guard was offering full college tuition, so during his junior year, he signed up and even took in his first training between his junior and senior years. By the time he graduated, the offer for tuition was off the table, so Tom decided he’d stay the…
Michael Fattaruso Michael has dedicated his life to making a difference in both land and sea. Working at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as an animal and conservation educator, Michael braves the Florida heat to spread his enthusiasm for wildlife conservation with park guests. His role involves educating guests observing the animal habitats about the importance of connecting with nature…
Michael Whittaker Michael Whittaker, a U.S. Navy Electronics Technician, has spent his life seeking adventure, pushing boundaries, and serving others. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1982, setting out on a path that would take him worldwide. He often parachuted as a radio communicator to establish secure communications. Ensuring his team could…
John Martinson John has always had a love and appreciation for sports and the outdoors. He can often be found riding his motorcycle, hunting, fishing, or swimming. After an injury, a little over 20 years ago, that appreciation has only expanded. 21 years ago while painting his shop ceiling at home, John fell 12 feet…
Bobby Russell is a man on the move. Whether traveling around the US, camping, skateboarding, or hunting, Bobby is always sure to fill his time with something active. In 2007, at 27 years old, the unthinkable happened. While driving to an A/C repair job, Bobby was in a horrible car accident. His memory of the…
Ali-Zia Kerawala Since he was young, Zia has been fascinated with the ocean and scuba diving. He grew up watching documentaries about oceanography and dreamed of one day being able to explore the vast ocean himself. However, a diagnosis in early childhood threatened to keep this dream from ever coming true. At just 6 years old, Zia…
Deaken Ailshire To summarize Deaken Ailshire, his mom Megan would choose the phrase “old soul.” At 15 years old, Deaken has the maturity and can-do attitude that far surpasses many of his peers. He was born with a condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenital (AMC) which causes stiffening of muscles and joints, but he has never…
Todd is an athlete, pure and simple. He has enjoyed many sports throughout his life, and that drive continues today, though now it is all adaptive. His athleticism and his training as a chiropractor have been true assets as he now navigates life in a wheelchair. Todd was just enjoying a cup of coffee one…
Staff Sgt. Andrew Carpenter, US Army After high school Drew was drawn to the military, determined to be what he calls a net positive, with a goal to support others who can’t support themselves. In aviation operations, he was in a black hawk unit during his service from 2004 to 2007. During that time he…