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Despite Physical Challenges, LCCC Alum Achieves Dreams And Pursues Own Website Business

Summer 2014

By Sara Hodon

College life has its share of challenges, and for students with physical limitations, those challenges can be overwhelming. Some students get past that overwhelmed feeling and work to their strengths and use those same challenges to their advantage. This is exactly what LCCC graduate Bobby O'Gurek has done.

O'Gurek, a 1999 graduate of Panther Valley High School, is living with cerebral palsy. While he is unable to physically write or speak through traditional means, he hasn't let that stand in his way of attending college or pursuing a career. Instead, he has set attainable goals and found ways to achieve them.  "I chose LCCC because it's local and it was the best option for me to continue my education." He Explains .   "With my disability, I have to have people take care of me daily. I could not live on a college campus unless I traveled four hours away." 

Read more | Summer 2014

 

O'Gurek gets Cougar award

Friday, May 9, 2014

Published on Times News Online (http://www.tnonline.com)

Bobby O'Gurek, 2006 graduate of Lehigh Carbon Community College, accepts the "Spirit of the Cougar" Award from Dr. Ann Bieber, the college's interim president. At left is trustee Randall Smith. Bobby O'Gurek, 2006 graduate of Lehigh Carbon Community College, accepts the "Spirit of the Cougar" Award from Dr. Ann Bieber, the college's interim president. At left is trustee Randall Smith.

Lehigh Carbon Community College held its open house program on Thursday night at its new location in the Jim Thorpe Area High School building, welcoming visitors who wanted to take a look at the college's facilities and holding a program in which 2006 alumnus Bobby O'Gurek of Summit Hill was recognized.

O'Gurek, who lives with cerebral palsy, a debilitating disorder of movement, was presented the "Spirit of the Cougar" Award for his perseverance, commitment and ability to overcome adversity.

Members of the LCCC Board of Trustees were joined by Jim Thorpe Area School District board members and administrators, as well as numerous visitors for the "Meet the Cougars Night" held at the college's new and impressive site in the west wing of Jim Thorpe Area High School, 1100 Center St., Jim Thorpe.

O'Gurek, 34, was just as impressive. After receiving the Cougar award from LCCC interim President Dr. Ann Bieber, the young man, who communicates with assistive technology, delivered a dissertation in which he praised the role of Lehigh Carbon Community College for his development in helping him to become successful.

The story fit perfectly into LCCC's motto "Start Here … Go Anywhere," said Randall Smith of Jim Thorpe, a district representative on the board of trustees who introduced O'Gurek to a sizable crowd in the college's library.

Read more | May 09, 2014

 

Bobby O'Gurek is Shamrock winner

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Summit Hill man doesn't let cerebral palsy stop him

By RON GOWER rgower@tnonline.com

Published on Times News Online (http://www.tnonline.com)

Robert "Bobby" O'Gurek of Summit Hill is handicapped. But don't tell him that.

O'Gurek, who has cerebral palsy, he rides around his town in a motorized wheelchair and talks with a speech output device.

But despite this, the Lehigh Carbon Community College graduate runs his own computer website business, he is an active member of the Diligence Fire Company in Summit Hill, he actively works election polls, and he has given speeches in New York City, Pittsburgh, Boston, and Washington, D.C.

Monday night, O'Gurek received the 2014 "Shamrock Award" from the Irish-American Association of the Panther Valley during a banquet at Kelly's Irish Pub in Lansford.

Read more | March 18, 2014

 

Bobby O'Gurek is PV's Irishman of the Year, receives Shamrock Award from PVIAA


Published on Times News Online (http://www.tnonline.com)

He can be seen motoring through the streets of Summit Hill on his power-driven wheelchair on any given day. Quietly, he goes about his business, participating in fire company matters, attending borough meetings, visiting friends or on his own personal mission to see someone.

Nobody knows, however, the challenges Bobby O'Gurek has overcome since birth, when he was afflicted with Cerebral Palsy, thus triggering an atypical but productive lifestyle.

Bobby is a great success story that should be a model for anyone facing a variety of adversities in their lives. Despite his handicap, he is a high school and college graduate, a business owner, and a familiar and valuable contributor to the daily lifeline of the Panther Valley region.

Read more | March 17, 2014

 

Anything but typical

Summit Hill young man earns national award, will be keynote speaker at annual convention in Boston

By BILL O'GUREK wogurek@tnonline.com
Published on Times News Online (http://www.tnonline.com)

Bobby O'Gurek is not your typical young man. Born with Cerebral Palsy, the Summit Hill resident strives on an everyday basis to live a normal lifestyle. With courage and determination, he communicates with others, possibly better than someone without a disability. He is an inspiring individual who has become a familiar face throughout not only his hometown, but the Panther Valley community as well. His success has not gone unnoticed because, in a true sense, he represents a remarkable story of how a boy with a desire to be just like all other boys, grew to adulthood and became a valuable part of his community.

In November, Bobby will get to tell his story. He has been selected to be the 2007 recipient of the Edwin and Ester Prentke Award during the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Distinguished Lecture in Boston, Mass. There, Bobby will be a keynote speaker at the Annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention, where he will present a dissertation that is likely to be punctuated with courage. It's an opportunity the 27-year-old is anxious to experience.


Read more | Mar 01, 2016

 

Cerebral palsy doesn't stop 'independent' man

Bobby O'Gurek of Summit Hill starts own Web design business

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

By RON GOWER…
Published on Times News Online (http://www.tnonline.com)
 
That may be hard to comprehend by looking at him, but the more you're in his presence the more you see he's right.

Bobby, 30, of Summit Hill, was born with cerebral palsy. He is confined to a wheelchair, has his hands tucked into his lap with a safety belt, and utilizes a stylus attached to a head band with a portable computer to communicate.
 
Despite his setback, O'Gurek is an achiever. He graduated not only from high school, but also from Lehigh Carbon Community College where he earned an associate degree in Computer Specialist: Web Development. At the college, he was given "The Most Persistent Student Award."
 
His newest endeavor is starting his own Web design business. He already has several customers, including a well-established law firm.

"It's very hard to get a job," Bobby said, explaining that he has filled out many applications and has been to several interviews before deciding to try his hand at a business.

Read more | Mar 03, 2016


PV students learn personal details about cerebral palsy

CAROL ZICKLER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Bobby O'Gurek of Summit Hill graduated from Panther Valley High School and came back to PV Elementary School to speak to the fifth graders. They recently studied a story about cerebral palsy and learned first hand from Bobby what it's like to have CP. Greeting Bobby after the program were Taylor Kondash, Raelynn Mahoney, Corey Goss, David Gieniec ( with Thank You card), O'Gurek, Kelsey Rimsky, McKenzie Lazur, and Danielle Hudicka. CAROL ZICKLER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Bobby O'Gurek of Summit Hill graduated from Panther Valley High School and came back to PV Elementary School to speak to the fifth graders. They recently studied a story about cerebral palsy and learned first hand from Bobby what it's like to have CP. Greeting Bobby after the program were Taylor Kondash, Raelynn Mahoney, Corey Goss, David Gieniec ( with Thank You card), O'Gurek, Kelsey Rimsky, McKenzie Lazur, and Danielle Hudicka. By CAROL ZICKLER TN Correspondent tneditor@tnonline.com

By CAROL ZICKLER TN Correspondent tneditor@tnonline.com

Published on Times News Online (http://www.tnonline.com)
 
When the fifth grade students at Panther Valley Elementary School read a story entitled " Stretching Ourselves", the special education teacher Nicole Hajcak contacted Bobby O'Gurek who suffers from cerebral palsy. The story is about children who have CP and how they cope with it.

Bobby was invited to the school to give a personal account of his affliction. He presented a power point program of his school days and answered questionsasked by some of the students.

Read more | February 27, 2010