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By Sheri Duff

It only took 15 minutes for this reporter to be inspired by high school student-athlete Sean Keenan. It was more than his athletic abilities that impressed me. It was his overall character and intellect, his positive attitude about life, his interests, and his ability to face challenges and solve problems.

I'm obviously not the only one who feels this way. According to lacrosse head coach Dave Trevithick, "Sean is one of the most creative and curious students I have known. When he comes to practice he brings with him a sense of fun and good humor that rubs off on everyone," adding, "Sean is a wonderful teammate because he genuinely cares about everyone on the team. He will be missed next year."

Keenan has been a Shelburne resident from the day he was born: July 10, 1992. His family includes mom, Lisa, two brothers Brendan and James, 21-years-old and 11-years old respectively, 13-year old sister Molly, and a bunny rabbit named Buddy.

Following in his brother's footsteps, Keenan began recreational lacrosse in sixth grade at the Shelburne Community School. For three years he played on a select travel team before attending CVU. At CVU he played Junior Varsity (JV) as a freshman and was captain of the JV team as a sophomore. A varsity lacrosse player since his junior year at CVU, Keenan also enjoys playing ultimate Frisbee and is a member of the rock climbing club. As far as climbing is concerned, Keenan prefers bouldering. Bouldering is a style of rock climbing without a safety rope emphasizing power, strength, and technique. Bouldering routes are commonly referred to as problems because the nature of the climb is usually short, curious, and involves problem solving. Bouldering problems are typically more difficult than traditional climbing routes; therefore, its focus is on individual moves or sequences of moves as opposed to other climbing disciplines. Keenan describes bouldering as "mentally challenging because to reach the top you have to use your head to solve the problem." Without a safety rope, climbers rarely go higher than 3-5 meters above ground. They also put a crash pad on the ground to break their fall and have at least one spotter who directs the climber's body toward the crash pad and protects the climber's head from hazards.

And Keenan's going to need to protect that head. His current academic schedule includes AP Biology. "I really like science. and I have found a love for biology through the course," he says matter-of-factly. It was his interest in science and a meeting with his guidance counselor, Jane Krasnow, that helped solidify his future plans. "Last year my counselor suggested that I attend MedQuest," Keenan said. MedQuest is a co-ed, residential, week-long (Sunday to Friday) health careers exploration program on the University of Vermont campus designed for students who would like to learn more about opportunities in the health care field. "I spent time at the medical school, shadowed doctors, attended lectures, and traveled to area hospitals," Keenan shared. "It was a real motivator for me."

In fact, it was his attendance at MedQuest that led Keenan to his greatest milestone to date. "I figured out where I wanted to go to college and how to apply all on my own," he said proudly. "I didn't quite understand how getting good grades would impact my future but now I realize the value of a good education."

In addition to athletics and academics, Keenan has been making pizzas at Cucina Antica since last summer. Typically he worked two to three times a week now his challenging class schedule along with lacrosse, only allow him to work one night a week.

Next, Keenan is making a straight shot for the goal line at UVM. After graduation from CVU, Keenan will attend UVM through Continuing Education's Guaranteed Admissions Program, or GAP program as it's commonly known. The GAP program is intended for highly motivated students who have made a commitment to further their education. Students must enter into a contract and are required to take a minimum of six UVM courses, or 18 credit hours, within a three-year period and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Based on Keenan's motivation and dedication to climbing over obstacles and problem solving thus far, it is just a matter of time before he reaches the top.