Community Corner

Montour Senior Triumphing Over Autism Now Faces Other Life Challenges

Vinnie Castelucci, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old, now faces a challenge that most of his peers are dealing with—graduation. Sponsored by Post Grape-Nuts.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.

Facing the Challenge

Vinnie Castelucci has autism. He was diagnosed when he was 3 years old, and since then, Castelucci has been amazing family and friends with his perseverance and hard work.

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He has been selected as the student of the month at Montour High School and has raised more than $1,000 in collecting aluminum cans to recycle and selling puzzle-piece-shaped cookies to raise awareness for autism. And one of his proudest moments was being selected as the swim team captain at Chartiers Country Club last summer.

But in a couple of months, Vinnie joins many seniors in dealing with a shared challenge—what to do after graduation.

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His plan is to decide where is going to work and get the training to get a job. He would prefer to work at a hospital.

Finding the Inspiration

"Vinnie does not want to further education," said Vinnie's mother, Patti, "but would like to work at a hospital as a patient escort. He is so good with people and is very compassionate."

Vinnie says that his inspiration to work with patients comes from all of the positive encouragement that he gets from folks in his life, the praise that he receives when he accomplishes things and, most importantly, the satisfaction that he feels when he achieves his goals.

"The motivation comes from his desire to be social and to help people," Patti said.

Reaching the Goal

Vinnie is no stranger to accomplishing goals.

When he succeeds after graduation—and he and his family have no doubt that he will—Vinnie will do what he does best.

"Work hard to maintain it and work harder to get even better at it," he said.

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