Burnett wins national award

The Baltimore Sun

The June 25 issue of Sports Illustrated featured the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs on the cover, but that's not why Adrien Burnett bought a copy. The recent Perry Hall High graduate wanted to see what he looked like with a milk mustache.

Burnett, 17, who lives in Nottingham, recently was honored by the milk industry as one of the nation's top student-athletes. He joined 24 other students in receiving the industry's annual SAMMY Award.

This is the 10th year of the Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award, which recognizes students who have excelled in academics and athletics. Included with the award is a trip to Walt Disney World for Burnett and his family, a $7,500 college scholarship and inclusion in the ad in Sports Illustrated - and another in USA Today.

"I couldn't believe I won," said Burnett, who was selected from more than 56,000 applicants. "It was really amazing when I found out. I'm still in shock."

Burnett has the birth defect spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. He carried a 3.5 grade point average and was a member of the National Honor Society, the Future Business Leaders of America and the student council. He also is a standout wheelchair basketball player.

He was popular with classmates and earned high praise from teachers for his determination in overcoming obstacles associated with being in a wheelchair.

"He doesn't let anything stand in his way," said Jennifer Madrid, who taught Burnett in her honors English class when he was a junior. "He goes beyond any expectation that people have of those who have a disability."

Burnett's former science teacher, Matt Budinger, agreed, calling him an exceptional student. "I don't think there was a quarter he didn't get an A," Budinger said. "His maturity is well above most of his peers. Sometimes you forget that he's only 17."

Burnett, who counts Michael Jordan among his sports idols, averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Bennett Blazers in the junior division of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. He recently earned an honorable mention on the NWBA's 2007 All Academic Team.

"From the first day he participated, he showed a great deal of athleticism," said Blazers coach Gerry Herman, who has been involved in wheelchair athletics for more than 30 years. "He's very unique. He usually ends up being the top or close to the top athlete in every sport he participates in."

Burnett was able to walk until age 14, although it was a challenge because one leg was considerably weaker than the other. In 2004, complications from spinal surgery resulted in his having to use a wheelchair.

While some struggle with the transition to a wheelchair, Burnett embraced his condition as a new lease on life that enabled him to go more places - literally and figuratively.

"I didn't feel like I could excel before the surgery," said Burnett, who plans to play wheelchair basketball at the University of Arizona in the fall. "It helped me to buckle down and really focus. I consider it a blessing."

Burnett's mother, Robin Ritch, said being in a wheelchair was a big factor in her son's development.

"It changed him," said the 36-year-old day care provider, who added that Burnett became more positive and mature after the surgery. "He was really interested in what he wanted to do in the future. For some reason, he just woke right up."

That maturity is one reason Burnett's parents agreed to let him go to college 2,300 miles away. His mother struggled with his decision but was sold on the university's disability resource center and the way disabled students are integrated into the student body at Arizona. Her support of her son's choice is one reason Burnett calls his mother his biggest inspiration.

"I've seen how hard it is to for a parent to raise a child with spina bifida," Burnett said. "I salute every mom who is raising a disabled child."

patrick.gutierrez@baltsun.com

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