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Amanda Warfield
University Relations and Marketing
awarfield@bowiestate.edu
301-860-4311

After Serious Brain Injury, Local Student Reaches Graduation
Bowie State Grad Dior Ginyard Overcame Surgery, Recovery to Earn BS

Video Interview with Dior

Dior Ginyard never thought he would be the same again after suffering a serious brain injury playing football his freshman year of college. He went through brain surgery and a year of rehabilitation before transferring to Bowie State University (BSU) where he graduated Dec. 16 with a Bachelor of Science in public relations.

"The rehab and being in and out of the hospital for a year, it was difficult because I didn't know what I wanted to do. I was really lost. I found public relations and marketing was something I like to do so I focused on that," said Ginyard.

Ginyard says being involved on campus helped keep him on track and motivate him to continue moving forward.  "After my head injury, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. Once I got involved on campus, I started developing hobbies and finding new interests," said Ginyard.

A member of a number of student organizations, Ginyard assisted in the coordination of both the 2010 and 2011 homecoming events and worked with the BSU athletics department to launch its first newsletter.

Ginyard says he has learned how to overcome challenges and look to the future. "Just seeing that you can make mistakes, you can mess up, you can change. The world isn't over, you just have to make a decision and determination that you want to do better. And just work at that."

In addition to working at a local bank and interning with the Washington Redskins Organization, Ginyard plans to pursue his master's in marketing next year.

More than 350 students graduated at Bowie State University's winter commencement ceremony Dec. 16. For more information, click here.

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Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The University places special emphasis on the science, technology, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit the website at http://www.bowiestate.edu/.