Family and Children’s Association, a health and human services nonprofit organization, held its 39th Annual Scholarship Breakfast last month at Nassau County Community College in Garden City.
The event celebrated the shared accomplishments of its 46 scholarship recipients, who drew inspiration from two guest speakers.
This included past scholarship winner Andrea Gomez and motivational speaker Anthony Robles, the 2011 NCAA individual wrestling national champion in the 125-pound weight class and 3-time All-America wrestler.
Born with only one leg, Robles is the author of the book, “Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion.”
Nassau County Community College student Andrea Gomez opened the program, speaking of her journey to college; the challenges she faced immigrating from Honduras, her time in foster care and especially her determination to succeed.
“Unstoppable” Anthony Robles gave the keynote address, holding the audience in rapt attention as he chronicled his astounding journey to achieve his wrestling titles and life goals.
Both speakers touched upon their successes and their setbacks, stressing the importance of persistence, accepting help, guidance, and belief in oneself. As Robles put it, “Never let your challenges be your excuse.
The scholarship breakfast celebrates the generosity of scholarship donors, the achievements of the scholarship winners, and the staff who administer the program.
