| Sources |
- [S86] McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, (http://www.mccammonammonsclick.com/), 27 Feb 2007.
William Newman Koontz obituary
- [S27] The Daily Times, http://www.thedailytimes.com/, (Blount County, Tennessee), 11 May 2008.
'Ultimate vindication': One student's quest to reach his dreams
By Matthew Stewart
of The Daily Times Staff
Many say the only way to ensure a student's greatness is to recognize and appreciate his or her uniqueness.
Adam Koontz, a 2003 graduate of Maryville High School, had been told his whole life that he would never be able to succeed in an upper -- level math course. Now as he gets ready to complete his final semester at Maryville College, he is on the verge of his "ultimate vindication."
Adam was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in his youth and he now uses a wheelchair. His mother, Robin, helps him get to his classes, and the college's disability service office has provided Adam with student note-takers and has arranged for him to take his exams orally.
"People have thought for most of my career in schooling that I wouldn't be able to take high-level (math courses) -- I had to take on the challenge of proving them wrong," he said.
Two Maryville College teachers have had a particularly big impact on his college career, Adam said. Dr. Mary Kay Sullivan, his advisor and the Joe D. Eakes chair of business, took him under her wing and taught him the ropes, he said. Dr. Sharon May, his microeconomics teacher, made lessons easier for him to understand and allowed him to live to his potential, Adam said.
"Our teacher and learning styles fit together perfectly," he said.
"Both teachers had a tremendous impact on my success," he said. "If you allow someone to do something to their potential, they are going to do the best they can. Obstacles prevent (people) from reaching their full potential. (Dr. May) and Dr. Sullivan made sure there were no obstacles to my success."
His life has been marked by his endless quest to prove himself not only to others but himself -- which has sometimes left him feeling isolated and alone.
"I feel like it's me against the world -- I feel like I'm doing it on my own, I'm on my own," Adam said. "(My parents) know they support me, but in the end I'm on my own."
His family members, however, are the only people who understand his true capabilities, he said.
"I am the hardest person on myself," Adam said. "I'm always thinking 'How could I have done it better?' -- I don't know if I've proved myself to other people -- I keep doing it every day.
"When I'm in (a) math class, it's the most fun I have," he said.
Adam likes the challenge of using a formula to find an answer and his love of math has taken him on a journey. Adam lived in Alabama until he was in the eighth grade. Teachers tried to keep him out of mainstream math classes because they did not think he would be able to keep up, he said.
"Even in third grade, they made things very difficult for him and I never knew why," Robin said.
He has had several conceptual math difficulties along the way, his mother said. They were easily corrected with simple techniques, such as highlighting individual numerals in a multiplication set to distinguish digits for him, Robin Koontz said.
Adam's parents made numerous trips to their son's schools throughout the years to have him placed in classes that met his needs and challenged him, Robin said. Adam always wanted the four-year college experience, and "(teachers) were setting him up for failure," she said.
Adam was placed on the university track in his junior year at Maryville High School, and he sailed through high school afterwards.
"That's the reason I'm here, because I had the opportunity to learn and make good grades," Adam said. "I want to make the best grades with my (abilities) and the proper adaptations. If I get a B and that's the best I can get that's fine. It's awful to know you're capable of so much (more) and not be getting the proper attention."
Adam has completed enough courses to participate with his class in graduation exercises on May 18 and will finish his degree in December. His full concentration until December will be directed toward making the best grades possible, Adam said.
"I haven't had enough challenges -- my ultimate vindication will come when I make the best possible grade in calculus (this upcoming semester)," he said. "It's what I really want to do, it's the one thing left to do (in college).
"I know I have the ability, I don't doubt myself," he said. "I'm in the midst of my best semester, as far as grades, since I've been going to Maryville College."
Adam currently has a 3.1 college GPA, and his dream is finish college with a 3.0 GPA or higher, he said.
"If you believe it, it can be done."
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