Verbena student recognized for overcoming cerebral palsy
Published 5:28 pm Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Verbena senior Stephen Bryant has little use of his left hand as a result of cerebral palsy, but he has not let it slow him down.
Bryant’s latest accomplishment is being named a regional winner of the Bryant-Jordan Student Achievement award.
On the field: Bryant has limited use of his left hand as a result of cerebral palsy but still enjoyed successful athletic and academic careers at Verbena. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall)
The award is meant to recognize students who have overcome obstacles on their way to success. For Bryant, that includes successful athletic careers, a 3.5 GPA and plans to attend Auburn University Montgomery after graduating in May.
What can Bryant not do?
“The only things I can’t do are tie shoes and cut a steak,” Bryant said with a laugh. “It has never kept me from doing what I wanted to do.”
Sometimes, he has to just go about those things in a different way.
The condition left Bryant with an underdeveloped left arm and left leg.
Bryant learned to play baseball while in the third grade. He holds his glove in his right hand to catch the ball, tosses the ball up in air while he pins the glove between his left upper arm and torso, catches the ball with his now bare right hand and throws.
That is impressive enough when Bryant is playing first base or right field, but consider that he also pitches, where reaction time can be at a premium because of the proximity to the batter.
Bryant uses both hands when batting and said he has little trouble running despite his left leg being shorter.
Award winner: Stephen Bryant was a recipient of the Bryant-Jordan Student Achievement Award, which recognizes students who have overcome obstacles on their way to success. (Contributed photo)
“My left foot is actually a size 9 and my right is a size 12, but I just buy the bigger size,” he said. “I just go with it.”
Bryant also enjoyed a successful football career at Verbena, though he was not able to play his senior season because of work commitments.
He plans to walk-on for the AUM baseball team while studying kinesiology and sports medicine.
While on a school visit to the college, Bryant said he was impressed by the facilities and friendliness of the staff.
Plus, Montgomery is not too far away from home—geographically or culturally.
“Since I come from a small school, I didn’t really want to go somewhere big,” Bryant said.
Bryant is the son of Paul and Retha Bryant.
Stephen Bryant was recognized with the Bryant-Jordan award on April 11 at Sheraton in Birmingham. He will receive a $2,500 scholarship along with the award.
