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Leonardo Reyes

When Leo was 13, he left the Dominican Republic to come to the United States. Leo's grandmother lived in Boston and had heard of the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. It was perfect for Leo. His first challenge was to learn American Sign Language so he could communicate at school. With a rare determination to succeed, Leo was signing fluently within a few years.

In 2005, when ScanWorks started at Horace Mann, Leo knew he wanted to be a leader in the business. Working with teacher Tom Lally, he learned to repair the computers and scanners. He also learned how to organize incoming jobs - including one for a Boston high school that involved scanning 500 student files containing over 10,000 pieces of paper! Leo led his peers in scanning, double-checked their work, and began learning how to communicate with hearing customers. He also led the business meetings, establishing a serious work ethic and team spirit.

Since graduating in June 2007, Leo has come back once a week to work with ScanWorks, coaching the teens and assisting Tom Lally. He also works full-time at Sir Speedy in Boston, where he recently earned the Employee of the Month Award. This fall Leo will begin a full-time college program at the Gallaudet University Regional Center, a college transition program for talented deaf teens based at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill. Next he will transfer to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he plans to earn his degree in computer science.

When asked what motivated him to take charge at ScanWorks, Leo said the money he earned as a co-owner of the business was a definite incentive, but what he really loved was learning to lead. Running a business taught him the skills he needed to get a good job and inspired him to go on to college. Leo is confident, with good reason, that he will succeed in whatever path he chooses.