“I knew you would flourish here,” Julie Deden said to Marcus at his bell ceremony on February 5. “When you came down from Montana for a tour with your Dad, you were so interested and excited about everything.”
Marcus worked as a journeyman electrician in Montana before becoming blind two years ago. He operated his own business with his Dad Chris after that, making custom furniture. A practical problem-solver, he knew he needed more skills as ablind person and so came to the Center in 2015 on the recommendation of his VR Counselor.
Naturally, he was especially interested in learning nonvisual techniques in the woodshop. In fact, he appeared on 9News in the woodshop for Colorado Gives Day in December where he explained to Gregg Moss how to use the table saw. On live TV that morning, Gregggg made a successful cut on the table saw under Marcus’ tutelage.
Quiet and unassuming by nature, Marcus was a steady role model and friend to other students. He took part in all the required challenge rec activities of course, but also all the extra-curricular fitness offerings as well. His final project was to build and install a bracket for a speed bag in the gym.
Though he’d never been much of a cook, he excelled in the kitchen. To finish up he served 60 guests a meal of baked ziti with garlic and rum cake for dessert. His Dad came from Montana, his step-dad from California, a high school friend from the east coast and her mom from Montana all made the trip for the celebration.
Marcus plans to stay in the Denver area, noting that public transportation in the Metro area gives him independence not available in the small, western Montana town he’s from. He’s currently looking for a shop to rent so he can resume his furniture business.
Basically, the plan is to continue to flourish as an independent blind person, and there’s no doubt in our minds that Marcus will!