By Lauren Buelow, student writer, UW-Eau Claire News Bureau
Ryan White
- Eau Claire, Wis.
- Bachelor of business administration in information systems with a business analysis emphasis
- What's next: Employment with Securian Financial Group in St. Paul, Minn.
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UW-Eau Claire photo by Bill Hoepner |
Most graduates feel lucky just to have survived college; Ryan White came in knowing he can survive anything.
White was born with a malignant tumor on his back. The tumor was a type known as a neuroblastoma tumor, which accounts for 6 to 10 percent of all childhood cancers and 15 percent of cancer deaths in children.
At six months old, White underwent chemotherapy. Though the tumor was successfully destroyed, the effects have remained with White throughout his life.
In the past 12 years, White has undergone six surgeries to correct the damage done by the tumor.
At age 8 he had bone taken from his hip and put in each foot to help turn his feet inward. At 10 he developed a disease that caused his hip to grow out of its socket. At 14, White's doctors discovered that his left leg had grown less than his right. A fixator was put on his leg which had to be screwed further apart each day to stretch the leg and his bones.
Though his childhood and teenage years were interrupted by long hospital stays and painful surgeries, White's drive to succeed never weakened.
Throughout his time at UW-Eau Claire, White has used his unique experience to help others. he joined Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) and helped plan Relay for Life, a prominent fundraiser for cancer research, for the last two years. In 2008, White was chosen to speak at Relay for Life.
"I felt honored sharing my story and being a part of the fight against cancer," White said.
In addition to speaking that year, White walked a lap of the relay with his father.
"My dad has always been there for me and he always drove me to the doctor," White said. "Walking around the track with him was such a great memory."
A lifetime of battling the effects of a spinal tumor can leave a person feeling defeated, but White looks forward to the challenges and victories ahead. He perhaps summed it up best in his 2008 Relay for Life speech:
"As I grew older, I came to realize that I did survive a horrible disease and that anything I encountered after that was doable because I had beaten cancer."
More on Ryan White
Future plans: My immediate plans are to move to St. Paul after graduation and start my new job at Securian Financial Group as a programmer analyst. I hope to one day move into a management role and/or do some consulting.
Unique aspects of his UW-Eau Claire experience: I think a unique aspect of any student's UW-Eau Claire experience is getting to know your professors and the fact that they are so easily accessible. I think it says something about a university when you are called by name in class.
What he liked most about his UW-Eau Claire experience:
- The beautiful campus, especially the view from Hilltop Center.
- The friendly people.
- The information systems curriculum, especially working with professionals.
Highlights of his UW-Eau Claire experience and his proudest accomplishments while he was here:
- Involvement with the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP).
- Involvement with Colleges Against Cancer (CAC).
- Building the CAC Web site.
- Helping plan Relay for Life.
- Sharing his story and walking a lap with his father at Relay for Life in 2008.
- Being featured in The Spectator's Student Life section.
- Graduating magna cum laude.
Advice for incoming students: My advice to incoming students is to get involved. There are so many things to do and organizations to get involved with at UW-Eau Claire. Look for opportunities for leadership at any level. If possible, do an internship in your field of study. It helps you make decisions about what path you want to pursue and it validates your education.
Learn about other featured May 2009 graduates
