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Kevin M. Degnan ’92: Born to Run
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evin M. Degnan ’92 was born to run but his journey has not been easy.
The former cross country star was forced to put his career on hold after he was hit by a car freshman year at Canisius. Degnan suffered two decades of long-standing injuries until he opted to have his left leg amputated last year. Ironically, that surgery put Degnan back on his feet. With the aid of an artificial limb, Degnan is running again. He choose the Canisius College-sponsored Shoes for Shelter 5K race for his comeback. “To run again, let alone to be associated once more with Canisius College, really put my drive into high gear,” he relates. “I finished in 29 minutes, 30 seconds – that is a personal victory for me.” Degnan was a high school cross country star who earned a four-year scholarship to run at Canisius.
“From the get-go, Kevin had a distinct passion and was a tenacious runner,” recalls W. Daniel McNaughton MS ’80, former Canisius cross country coach. “That year the team finished second in the Mid-American Conference finals and I believe if Kevin had not been injured, we would have taken first place.” Degnan was struck and nearly killed by a car while training at home in West Seneca. He was in a coma for more than a month and had to learn how to walk again. One year later, McNaughton invited Degnan to run with the cross country team during practice. “I knew I would not be able to run as I once did but that day gave me the confidence to run in some way,” Degnan explains. “I felt I was part of the team and that gave me more energy to move forward.” Returning to classes was also a challenge and Degnan credits the late Melvin Schroeder, associate professor of English, and Candalene J. McCombs, PhD, associate professor of sociology, anthropology and criminal justice, with helping him through. “Professor Schroeder helped me develop a sense of humor and Dr. McCombs took me under her wing, with a lot of guidance,” says Degnan. He earned a bachelor's degree in communications. Today, Degnan works for a market research firm and plans to keep running. He leads an effort to create an amputee support group with the help of Kenmore Mercy Hospital's AthletiCare, where he underwent rehabilitation. “I want to set an example and help others surpass their challenges,” he concludes. “My Jesuit education at Canisius taught me that even after losing a leg, I can still be a leader.”
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COLLEGE M AGA ZINE • SUMMER 2011
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