Sandburg Athlete Surprised with $20,000 Scholarship (Video)

Pat McMahon thought he was in for another day in honors Spanish.

The 18-year-old from Orland Park, and Carl Sandburg High School senior, was led with his classmates to the school’s Little Theater, under the notion that they would be learning about scholarships, when a few minutes into the presentation two men from Foot Locker presented him with a check for $20,000.

Iran Pagan, district manager for Foot Locker, described McMahon’s accomplishments, including holding a 4.0 GPA while also excelling in track and cross country. McMahon ranks second in the state for the mile run, was all state last year in track, qualified four times for state in cross country and was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 2-years-old.

“It’s a beautiful thing that a guy with a respiratory illness can excel in a sport that is cardio vascular,” said John O’Malley, Sandburg boys cross country coach. “It’s an amazing thing. Any challenge he faces, he’s going to respond to it in the same fashion.”

The scholarship is part of the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program, with Dosomething.org, where students submit an essay and a recommendation. McMahon was one of 20 finalists out of 25,915 applicants from across the country.

“My legs were shaking getting up,” McMahon said, when he realized the assembly was actually for Foot Locker to present him with the scholarship. “My cheeks are stinging a bit. I can’t stop smiling.”

McMahon credits his parents, Tom and Jeanne McMahon, for encouraging him early on to take up sports to help with the cystic fibrosis symptoms.

“Keeping my lungs clear was the biggest thing,” McMahon said, about adapting early to his condition. “My parents said it doesn’t matter what sport I play, I have to do something. As long as I’m out the door running around, doing anything.”

Tom and Jeanne, along with their younger son Brian McMahon, attended the presentation without Pat knowing.

“As proud parents it’s been a very tough secret to keep,” Tom McMahon said. “This isn’t just about Pat. It’s about Sandburg too. The faculty is tremendous.”

Pat McMahon described cystic fibrosis as his “driving force” to persevere.

“It doesn’t control me, but it’s absolutely what pushes me to be my best,” he said. I want to be a role model for CF patients.”

Pat McMahon will be attending Notre Dame University in fall 2013, and will be working toward a chemical engineering degree, a master’s in business administration degree and plans to continue studying Spanish.

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