WINSLOW – When Sydney Crogan was in the sixth grade, she met adversity face to face and vowed not to let it direct the course of her life.
Her father was dying of lung cancer and, she acknowledges, it was difficult to watch him suffer.
Additional Photos
“Before he passed away, he and I had a conversation about success and how we defined it,” says Crogan, now 17. “And we defined it as being healthy and happy. After he passed away, that gave me an extreme drive to be involved — and be happy and healthy.”
As a Winslow High School senior, Crogan is living the life she resolved to lead, studying hard, taking part in extracurricular activities, volunteering in the community and remembering, always, to enjoy life.
The courage she showed in overcoming personal obstacles to succeed academically, and her exceptional standing as a student, netted her a $20,000 college scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.
Horatio Alger Jr. wrote novels in the 1800s about poor boys who, through hard work, courage and determination, rose above poverty.
Crogan is one of 104 recipients nationwide to receive Alger awards this year. She applied last fall by writing a series of essays that included the story of her talk with her father.
“I was ecstatic,” Crogan said of being notified that she had won. “I called my mom. She’s a teacher at Vassalboro Community School. She was so proud.”
Crogan hopes to enroll at the University of Vermont in the fall and major in public communications, but it depends on the financial aid package she receives for that school, she said.
She also has been accepted at the University of Maine, the University of Southern Maine, St. Joseph’s College and University of New Hampshire — and she’s awaiting word from other schools.
She hasn’t settled on a career path, but is confident that college will help her decide. Those who know Crogan say she is sure to excel in whatever she does.
“She is, if you will, the real deal,” said Tom McNeil, her high school guidance counselor. “She’s my 35-year-old senior in terms of responsibility, foresight, soundness of judgment, leadership and genuine, positive regard for others. She’s got all that.”
Crogan is president of the Student Senate, co-president of the National Honor Society and a field hockey player, and has been a member of the math team and the Renaissance club at her school. She also is a black belt in karate and teaches children field hockey for two hours every Sunday.
She also is an avid runner and hikes with her brother, Keith, who is 19, and their mother, Tracey.
“We hike all over Maine,” she said. “It’s something we really commit to. One of our favorites is Cadillac Mountain.”
Crogan said she is very close to her mother, who is always there to boost her confidence or help bring her down to earth, when circumstances warrant.
Tracey Crogan said her daughter is a delight, to her and to everyone she encounters.
She said she will miss her when she goes off to college in the fall.
As part of her award, Sydney Crogan is to be honored with other recipients in April at the Horatio Alger Awards Ceremonies in Washington, D.C.
Morning Sentinel Staff Writer Amy Calder can be contacted at 861-9247 or at:
acalder@centralmaine.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.