Two Lives Committed to a Gold Standard
Staff photo by Ted Reckas Laura Szemenyei, 16, reacts to winning the Nick Scandone Achievement Award for her top scores on lifeguard tests. Scandone, an Olympic gold-medal winner, shares the award and the moment with Szemenyei at the CSP Youth Shelter during a ceremony Saturday. Two people willing to test themselves and take on seemingly insurmountable obstacles met for the first time at Laguna Beach's CSP Youth Shelter for an unusual ceremony.
On Saturday, Laura Szemenyei, 16, of San Juan Capistrano, a top-scorer on a recent lifeguard certification test, joined Olympic athlete Nick Scandone, 42, on a figurative pedestal.
Both are winners.
A month ago, Laura graduated from the CSP program, a shortterm crisis intervention program for youth 11-17 who are going through unimaginable things, said Briana Wetzel, a volunteer coordinator. Laura said she was placed in the facility because of drug problems.
While there, Laura encountered Rod Harron, who has volunteered at the shelter for nearly four years and offered training to selected residents to become certified lifeguards. "This helps the residents in not only enabling them to obtain a job, but it also helps with their self-esteem and life skills," Wetzel said. "He goes through the complete training, including tests, swimming drills, and CPR first aid certifications. He does not go easy on anyone and all who participate are required to put in a lot of work."
On Saturday, Laura lit up when she saw Scandone and glowed with excitement after becoming the first recipient of "The Nick Scandone Achievement Award."
To qualify, the student must complete lifeguard training with an overall score of 95% or better in written and practical skills, said Harron, a Surterre Properties broker and lifeguard trainer who instigated the award to honor an inspirational friend.
Laura scored 96 percent on her lifeguard certification tests, making her an eligible lifeguard job candidate.
"We are truly excited and think this is such a remarkable story," said Wetzel.
An avid sailor, Scandone, of Newport Beach, won a gold medal on the U.S. paralympic sailing team during the Beijing Olympics as well as other sailing awards despite his diagnoses with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a deadly debilitating disease.
The teenager told Scandone she hesitated to pursue lifeguard certification until Harron inspired her with a tale of his accomplishments.
"The two of you inspired the idea," Harron said of the award. He has raised money for the shelter as well as his friend's sailing races by adhering to the principle of being positive.
"Here's a guy who reached gold. And she did say she was going for the lifeguard gold - that it changed her life," he said.
Scandone described feeling honored the teen chose him as a role model. "I'm glad I could be a part of this," he said.
She replied, "thank you for inspiring me to do this."
Laura's family came to support her achievement, explaining she had endured a difficult period experimenting with drugs, but was changing for the better.
"It lit a fire under my little girl's tail. She's been doing unbelievably well, as high as high can go," said her father, Paul Szemenyei.
"I feel special, overwhelmed, ecstatic - I have a lot of feelings right now," said Laura, wearing her hero's Olympic medal around her neck. "It's pretty special. I started for three weeks striving to do the best I can."
While training for the Olympics, Scandone, too, faced adversity. "Some days you might not want to get up. You just try your best out there and come out the next day and do it all over again," he said. With perseverance, you can achieve the goal, he said.
"You never know what might be around the corner. Surround yourself with good people, enjoy life and have fun. That's what it's all about," Scandone said.
