Bonner Paddock spent his entire life getting knocked down, suffering broken bones, and being told he was unable to perform certain things. He is the first person ever diagnosed with cerebral palsy to climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro without the assistance of a climbing aid, proving that everyone else is mistaken. It only took him eight days to... read full bio
In 1993, world-famous track sensation Jim Ryun, who was the first high school athlete in the United States to run a mile in under four minutes, was the driving force behind the establishment of Better Hearing and Speech Month by the Council for Better Hearing and Speech. For nine years, Ryun held the world record for the mile with a... read full bio
A former professional ice hockey player from Canada is named James G. Kyte. Kyte played 598 games in the National Hockey League (NHL), becoming the league's first (and only) legally deaf player. Kyte is the son of John Kyte, the Athlete-of-the-Half-Century at St. Francis Xavier University and a former outstanding athlete for Canada's universities. He is also Aynslee Kyte's brother,... read full bio
A journalist and diplomat from the United States, Daniel Benjamin was chosen by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to serve as the Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the Department of State from 2009 to 2012. At Dartmouth College, Benjamin served as the center's director for international understanding. He was elected president of the American Academy in Berlin, a transatlantic nonprofit organization... read full bio
Dr. Stephen Flynn is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable individuals in the field of critical infrastructure protection and homeland security. Flynn details the major man-made and natural perils that will almost certainly confront the United States in his seminal book, "The Edge of Disaster: Rebuilding a Resilient Nation." He also provides a menu of actions that the... read full bio
Deidre Downs, who won the title of Miss America in 2005, is currently working as a national spokesperson for the Better Hearing Institute to raise awareness about the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hearing loss, particularly in children. Her goal is to persuade the 31 million people in the United States who suffer from hearing loss about the importance of... read full bio
Roy Neel has been at the center of some of the most amazing occurrences in the course of history and has assisted in the resolution of some of the most difficult situations that the country has faced over the past three decades. He was the Chief of Staff for Congressman, Senator, and Vice President Al Gore, and he also served... read full bio
Tony Coles oversaw significant programs to improve New York City's quality of life and economic health as Rudolph Giuliani's deputy mayor and advisor. Coles' world altered on 9/11 when he witnessed the WTC attack alongside the Mayor. Coles dealt minute-by-minute with New York City's aftermath. Coles was a crucial member of Giuliani's team for eight years, helping privatize public services, foster... read full bio
Ron Brownstein, who is a combination of journalist and historian as well as a sharp political observer, is capable of elucidating the complexity of American politics with clarity and accuracy. As the political director of Atlantic Media Company, he is responsible for producing insightful contemporary analysis on politics, the media, healthcare, and the entire spectrum of issues. These analyses are... read full bio
Mandy Young receives questions every day. But there isn't a simple solution. She's led a life that most people wouldn't pick. After 33 years of research, spending months at a time in hospitals, and discovering she is the only person in the world with her specific genetic problem (IRAK4). She wouldn't change a single day of the ups and downs... read full bio
In addition to Bob Kahn, who also co-developed TCP/IP, Vinton Gray Cerf is regarded as one of "the fathers of the Internet" and an American Internet pioneer. The National Medal of Technology, the Turing Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Marconi Prize, and membership in the National Academy of Engineering are just a few of the honorary degrees and... read full bio
A drummer who is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and who spent nearly three decades performing with the iconic band Alabama. He is still actively playing, producing music, and recording despite having been a part of the event in which Alabama was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It has been said that... read full bio
Michael A. Choti, MD, MBA, FACS is the Chief of the Handelsman Division of Surgical Oncology and the Jacob C. Handelsman Professor of Abdominal Surgery at the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He also has the title of the Jacob C. Handelsman Professor of Abdominal Surgery. He is either the lead investigator or a co-investigator for a number... read full bio
Laura Baugh formerly enjoyed a life of charm. She was the glitzy golden girl of the LPGA Tour. She won the U.S. Amateur when she was a student at Rockledge High. She continues to hold the record for being the youngest golfer to win that illustrious competition. She became a member of the LPGA Tour and quickly gained international fame.... read full bio
American country singer-songwriter Donna Fargo became well-known in the 1970s for a string of Top 10 country singles. These include the 1972 crossover pop songs "The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A." and "Funny Face," both of which were released. Since making her debut in the late 1960s, Fargo has garnered numerous prestigious honors, including a Grammy Award, five Academy... read full bio
Wayne Muller is a therapist, clergyman, consultant, public speaker, executive leadership coach, bestselling author of numerous books and community advocate. He is a Harvard Divinity School graduate who has worked with victims of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, disease and loss for the past 35 years. When someone is going through a change or transition in their life or career, Wayne works as a private... read full bio
Boyd Matson, a prominent on-air journalist for National Geographic, has the enviable job of traveling to unusual places and participating in exciting excursions. This is one of the perks of his position. Matson has participated in activities such as abseiling into sinkholes, running endurance races that last multiple days through the desert, and being bitten by more snakes than he... read full bio
American television journalist Cynthia McFadden is now NBC News' senior legal and investigative correspondent. She co-anchored Nightline as an anchor for ABC News and occasionally made an appearance on the ABC News special Primetime. McFadden, who was raised in Lewiston, Maine, graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. She then graduated from Columbia Law School in... read full bio
Michael A. Choti, MD, MBA, FACS is the Chief of the Handelsman Division of Surgical Oncology and the Jacob C. Handelsman Professor of Abdominal Surgery at the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He also has the title of the Jacob C. Handelsman Professor of Abdominal Surgery. He is either the lead investigator or a co-investigator for a number... read full bio
One of the greatest offensive tackles of all time, Dan Dierdorf was an All-American at the University of Michigan before joining the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. Dierdorf and his fellow linemen anchored the Cardiac Cardinals, and became one of the best lines in NFL history. They allowed the fewest sacks in the NFC for five straight seasons, and set... read full bio
