Student to compete in academic bowl for hearing-impaired

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Hannah Feurt is eager to visit Washington, D.C., for the first time.

The 18-year-old junior at Cheyenne’s East High will join three other Wyoming students participating in the Gallaudet University National Academic Bowl in April.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Wyoming team of hearing-impaired students will compete in a Jeopardy-style game against their peers, fostering companionship among students with similar disabilities.

Hannah Feurt was born with Goldenhar syndrome, a rare congenital defect disrupting the development of the ears, nose, soft palate, lip and mandible. She was born with a cleft lip, underdevelopment of the ear and jaw, and significant hearing impairment.

She relies heavily on both auditory and visual assistance, both of which support her as an honor roll student and driven athlete.

She has had countless surgical reconstruction procedures and just recently endured an eight-hour jaw surgery, which left her mouth wired shut for months. During recovery, she competed in the academic bowl’s Midwest Regional event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, earning an invitation to the national competition after placing second.

She was eating through a straw during preparation for regionals.

“I don’t let these disabilities get in my way,” Feurt said. “It doesn’t really define who I am.”

Last year, Feurt and her family visited Casper for a Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing transition workshop to explore post-graduation options. Another attendee recommended she participate in the competition as a way of broadening her comfort zone.

“It was hard at first,” she said. “I just made sure to study and really focus on my weak spots, such as science and English. The biggest challenge is when you know the answers, but your mind goes blank.”

Parents D’Anna and Brett Feurt raised her to be as independent as possible, maintaining an atmosphere of normalcy in her daily life. Alongside the adversity Hannah Feurt has already mastered, her parents hope traveling across the country will better prepare her for future endeavors.

“I think it’s good for her to get away from home and be a little bit further than just Casper without us,” her mother said. “The program has been really nice because she’s getting to interact with students who have a similar disability.”

Because Hannah Feurt is also legally blind, Gallaudet University will make adjustments for her with supplementary visual aids.

“Life is not easy for Hannah, but even when she’s in school, she just goes about her business,” Brett Feurt said.

Outside of school and competitions, Hannah Feurt is a passionate soccer player at East High.

“Her hearing aids come with an FM aspect, so her coach actually wears a microphone to communicate,” Brett Feurt said. “When the wind is blowing, Hannah can’t hear anything.”

Hannah Feurt said relying on her teammates, friends and family for encouragement has strongly influenced her disposition.

“Just don’t let your disability define you,” she said. “You know who you are inside, not just who you are on the outside. Go on with your business and don’t let people bring you down, because the people who bring you down are already below you.”

She plans to participate in next year’s academic bowl as a senior as well.

This year, she will be joined by Ammon Bullinger of Burlington, Desirae Layher of Douglas and Gabriel Heuer of Casper, along with their coaches, Jo Otterholt and Meghan Watt, April 14-18 in Washington, D.C.

___

Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com