Sam Nochera, a recent graduate of Old Saybrook High School, turned his senior project into an opportunity to benefit Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center, an organization he came to know four years ago through his love of sports.
For his project, Sam teamed up with the Old Saybrook Parks and Recreation Department and Old Saybrook-Westbrook Football to host youth football Spring Training clinics on May 30th and June 7th. All proceeds from the clinics—nearly $1,400— were donated to Vista and will benefit the Ed Gallant Financial Aid Fund, which provides scholarship opportunities to individuals in Vista’s programs.
“Vista made a big impact on me,” said Sam, who was introduced to Vista students and members in 2011 through basketball. “It’s a great cause and I wanted to give back.”
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For at least two seasons, Sam joined Vista members for casual games of basketball at Daisy Ingraham School in Westbrook. The experience, he said, was rewarding and enjoyable. It also stuck with him over the years. So much so, Sam wrote his senior research paper on individuals with disabilities transitioning out of high school—which led him back to Vista.
Sam, an alumni of the OSW program, has been playing football since he was 8-years-old. The Spring Training clinics, which catered to second through eighth-graders, allowed Sam the perfect opportunity to raise awareness for two programs he cares about.
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This fall, Sam is headed to Tulane University in New Orleans, where he plans to pursue a double major in International Relations and Finance.
Based in Madison and Westbrook, CT, Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center is a 501©3 nonprofit organization. Vista’s mission is to provide services and resources to assist individuals with disabilities achieve personal success.
For more information about Vista, please visit www.vistavocational.org
