Carl Ryanen-Grant
Encyclopedia
Carl Winslow Ryanen-Grant (November 7, 1975 – February 28, 2000) was the 1997 University Medalist at the University of California, Berkeley
. He received national media
attention that year for academic successes realized while battling malignant melanoma
.
Born in San Francisco
, California
, Ryanen-Grant was raised in the suburb of Concord
. While pursuing a degree in History at UC Berkeley, Ryanen-Grant was diagnosed with the deadly skin cancer
in early 1996, at the age of 20. Despite the seriousness of the disease and ensuing treatment regimens, Ryanen-Grant continued to maintain a perfect grade point average
while directing the university's intern
ship program. He was also elected for early initiation to the Phi Beta Kappa Society
.
In 1997, Ryanen-Grant was awarded the University Medal, UC Berkeley's highest academic honor, given annually to the most distinguished graduating senior
. While the award committee insisted that Ryanen-Grant was selected strictly on the basis of his academic achievements, Carl's story of success in the face of illness garnered a flurry of media attention, both locally and nationally.
That year, Ryanen-Grant was selected as the ABC News "Person of the Week," and was also profiled in People
magazine. He addressed Berkeley's 1997 graduating class
, jokingly acknowledging his status as the "opening act" for keynote speaker
Bill Cosby
.
Ryanen-Grant went on to work full-time at the Oakland Museum, and later at UC Berkeley's Bancroft Library
. Although Ryanen-Grant had been declared cancer-free after surgery in late 1996, the aggressive melanoma returned a few months later. After an extended battle with the disease, he succumbed in 2000, at the age of 24.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He received national media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
attention that year for academic successes realized while battling malignant melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
.
Born in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Ryanen-Grant was raised in the suburb of Concord
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
. While pursuing a degree in History at UC Berkeley, Ryanen-Grant was diagnosed with the deadly skin cancer
Skin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
in early 1996, at the age of 20. Despite the seriousness of the disease and ensuing treatment regimens, Ryanen-Grant continued to maintain a perfect grade point average
Grade (education)
Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...
while directing the university's intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
ship program. He was also elected for early initiation to the Phi Beta Kappa Society
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
.
In 1997, Ryanen-Grant was awarded the University Medal, UC Berkeley's highest academic honor, given annually to the most distinguished graduating senior
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
. While the award committee insisted that Ryanen-Grant was selected strictly on the basis of his academic achievements, Carl's story of success in the face of illness garnered a flurry of media attention, both locally and nationally.
That year, Ryanen-Grant was selected as the ABC News "Person of the Week," and was also profiled in People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine. He addressed Berkeley's 1997 graduating class
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
, jokingly acknowledging his status as the "opening act" for keynote speaker
Keynote
A keynote in literature, music, or public speaking establishes the principal underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address...
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
.
Ryanen-Grant went on to work full-time at the Oakland Museum, and later at UC Berkeley's Bancroft Library
Bancroft Library
The Bancroft Library is the primary special collections library of the University of California, Berkeley. It was acquired as a gift/purchase from its founder, Hubert Howe Bancroft, with the proviso that it retain the name Bancroft Library in perpetuity...
. Although Ryanen-Grant had been declared cancer-free after surgery in late 1996, the aggressive melanoma returned a few months later. After an extended battle with the disease, he succumbed in 2000, at the age of 24.