By Kevin Deutsch
A Coconut Creek student and disability rights advocate recently won a $1,000 scholarship from Do The Right Thing of Coconut Creek.
Samuel Vogel, who graduated this year from Pompano Beach High School, will attend Florida International Univesity, where he plans to keep up the fight for expanded accessibility for disabled residents in Florida.
Coconut Creek Police said Vogel was given the award for advocating for greater accessibility for students with disabilities at all Broward County public schools.
Among Vogel’s accomplishments was getting school officials to fix a broken elevator at Pompano Beach High School.
Vogel is one of four winners who will receive scholarships from the local Do The Right Thing organization this year, police said.
“I feel amazing; I feel absolutely surprised,” Vogel said after police showed up at his door earlier this month and surprised him with a scholarship check. “I’m just so happy right now, so overjoyed.”
His mother, Kirsten Vogel, said her son “always impresses me and amazes me.”
“I know that he’s going to do big things and be a huge leader and really make a difference.”
Vogel was also recognized for his advocacy work during a March 31 ceremony at the Coconut Creek Government Center.
The soon-to-be college student said he intends to become an attorney.
“What I plan to do is work with [government] and basically amend the Americans With Disabilities Act in order to ensure better equality for all schools,” Vogel said.
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