Editor’s Note: Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend UCCS graduation ceremonies scheduled for 10 a.m. May 18 at the Colorado Springs World Arena. Please call Tom Hutton, (719) 351-6519 for assistance. High-resolution photographs of Garrett are available at http://pressreleases.uccs.edu.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Terry Garrett is competitive. He participates in karate, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, is a triathlete, and received national wide recognition for his video game Achievements.
His squat build is like a coiled spring, always ready for the next challenge.
But what separates Garrett from the more than 1,200 students expected to graduate from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs May 18 is his first-place finish in a six-year quest to earn a bachelor’s degree. Garrett, 24, will become the first blind person to earn a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at UCCS, a step toward his goal of becoming the first blind astronaut.
Commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 10 a.m. May 18 at the Colorado Springs World Arena. There are a record 1,258 students who will graduate. About 870 are expected to participate in ceremonies.
The Fort Lupton native who lost his sight in one eye at 5 and both eyes at 10 was a fixture on campus along with his German Shepherd guide dog, Clover. For four years, he lived in a campus residence hall, worked part-time at an engineering laboratory and continually impressed faculty, students and campus supporters with his positive outlook and “can do” spirit. He addressed groups such as the University Club and the CU Foundation Board of Trustees to explain the challenges that today’s students face. A former CU Foundation Trustee, Clancy Herbst, was so impressed that he covered the last five years of Garret’s college expenses.
Earlier this month, Garrett was honored with the UCCS Ron Wisner Human Spirit and Leadership Award in recognition of his attitude and accomplishments. Wisner, a former dean of students, was known for his positive outlook and encouragement of others.
“Mechanical engineering is a lot about understanding charts and graphs,” Garrett said. ‘I’m grateful to my faculty members who took the time to learn how to translate those for me and to accommodate a different style of learning.”
While Garrett uses an audio translator of computer screen images, he relies on his senses as well as a few low-tech solutions. He reads charts and graphs with his fingers after instructors trace them onto aluminum foil. Garrett also uses his talents to bring the unseeing world into focus in his free time. Although he’s never seen it, Garrett was a top scorer on “Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus” after memorizing the video game’s sound patterns.
Garrett singled out Peter Gorder, associate professor, College of Engineering and Applied Science, and Julie Albertson, senior instructor, College of Engineering and Applied Science, for their patience and willingness to learn a different style of teaching.
“They went through a whole lot of foil,” Garrett said. “It must have been a really big roll.”
Garrett will continue what he calls baby steps toward his goal of becoming the first blind astronaut, an idea that began when his high school science teacher at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, Ben Wentworth, introduced him to astronomy. He attended space camps while still in high school and completed NASA internships as a UCCS student, seizing every opportunity to explore uncharted territory.
Garrett is quick to praise educators at the School for the Deaf and Blind where he was a residential student for eight years after leaving his family’s dairy farm. The school not only prepared him academically but helped him work through anger he felt about losing his sight.
Garrett considers graduation from UCCS a step toward his goal of space exploration. The next step will be a job with Government Defense contractor giant Northrop Grumman which begins in August. He’s aware of NASA’s funding problems but isn’t focusing on them. Instead, he wants to celebrate graduation with his parents, Patric and Leslie Garrett, and brothers, Timothy and Anthony. But his future plans can’t be put aside any more than his competitive nature.
“I need to work on my swimming times,” Garrett says, “so I can do better in my next triathlon.”
To see a video of Garrett with Clancy Herbst:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmaeqRi8K6M
UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs, is one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The University offers 36 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s degrees, and five doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 9,300 students annually.