'Nametags' Program Visits Region 15 Middle Schools

From Region 15: Chris Waddell, a 13-time Paralympian, from the One Revolution Foundation spoke to students at Rochambeau and Memorial Middle Schools in Region 15 on April 18th, 2017 to present the One Revolution’s Nametags Educational Program, an assembly program that empowers students to choose the labels, or “Nametags,” they wear.

In his presentation, Waddell shared his own personal story. As a college skier at Middlebury College in 1988, he fell, broke two vertebrae, and damaged his spinal cord, paralyzing him from the waist down. He returned to college just two months after the accident, started monoskiing in less than a year and was named to the US Disabled Ski Team a little more than two years later. With 12 Paralympic medals, he became the most decorated male monoskier in history. Also a track athlete, he’s one of a handful of athletes to have won World Championships in both the winter and the summer. He has competed in four Winter Paralympics, winning 12 medals and three Summer Paralympics, winning a silver medal in the 200 meters in Sydney. In World Championship competition, Waddell won 9 total medals.

He has been inducted into the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the Paralympics Hall of Fame. The Dalai Lama honored him as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion,” People Magazine named him one of the “Fifty Most Beautiful People in the World,” Skiing Magazine placed him amongst the “25 Greatest Skiers in North America,” Middlebury College presented him with a Doctorate in Humane Letters. National Public Radio (NPR) called his 2011 commencement address to Middlebury College one of “The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever.”

In September 2009, Waddell became the first nearly unassisted paraplegic to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. The award winning film, 1 Revolution, documenting the climb, has won awards throughout the world.

Chris Waddell has appeared on Dateline, Oprah and 20/20. He is the founder of the One Revolution Foundation whose mission is to “Turn the perception of disability upside down.”

In his visit to the middle schools, he uses his personal story to send a universal message of resilience and asks students/individuals to look at the labels (or Nametags) they put on themselves and others that limit their ability to achieve. His presentation discussed diversity and inclusion, and how we build communities centered around these ideals. His presentation taught students to incorporate tools to boost resilience in their everyday lives, in the hope of leading more productive, mindful and resilient lives.

Waddell’s infamous words, “It’s not what happens to you. It’s what you do with what happens to you,” are shared with and chanted by students throughout the presentation. Waddell said the phrase illustrates that while no one is free of struggle, we have the opportunity to choose how we react to our challenges.

His visit to Region 15 was coordinated by Rochambeau Principal Michael Bernardi, and presented in conjunction with the Rochambeau Middle School PTO and Memorial Middle School PTOs. Mr. Waddell visited the region following his participation in the 2017 Boston Marathon on April 17th.

“Mr. Waddell’s visit is part of our school climate efforts to promote a positive and respectful school of acceptance. Thank you for the incredible support from the PTO and Sherrie Romano (RMS PTO member) for bringing this powerful program and inspiring message to our students,” said Mr. Bernardi.

Photo courtesy of Region 15 (Chris Waddell from the One Revolution Foundation spoke to students at Rochambeau and Memorial Middle Schools on April 18th. He presented One Revolution’s Nametags Educational Program, an assembly program that empowers students to choose the labels, or “Nametags,” they wear. Waddell’s infamous words, “It’s not what happens to you. It’s what you do with what happens to you,” were shared throughout the presentation. )