Hyundai's Hope on Wheels Scholarship winner

&#8220At age 17, I have never actually thrown up.”
For most, this may not sound like a big deal, but most people are not Scott Genovese, testicular cancer survivor and a winner of Hyundai's Hope on Wheels Scholarship.
&#8220If you had to endure countless rounds of nausea-producing chemotherapy,” he wrote in his winning essay, &#8220you'd offer me a standing ovation and perhaps even a bronze statue.”
Instead of a bronze statue, Genovese, who lives in Woodmere, Long Island, won a $2,500 scholarship toward C.W. Post this fall. Hyundai of Valley Stream, located at 599 West Merrick Road, matched the scholarship dollar-for-dollar bringing the total to $5,000.
Diagnosed in 2003, at the age of 14, the then-freshman at George W. Hewlett High School was pulled from school to undergo treatment, and was &#8220poked, prodded, medicated, inspected, talked to, at and about” over the next few months.
Instead of reveling in his new role as a high school student, Genovese - one of the oldest children in the Cancer Care for kids section of Winthrop Hospital in Mineola - hung out with other &#8220baldies” at the pediatric cancer ward of the local hospital. Humor was his way of getting through his ordeal, and Genovese refused to believe that &#8220things would be anything but okay in the end.”
&#8220He's a very happy kid,” said mother Lorraine, &#8220never down or depressed, always upbeat and fun.”
&#8220He was very positive - he just wanted it done,” she explained. His family and friends gave him a lot of support.”
In May, after six rounds of chemotherapy, after loosing his hair and senses of taste and smell, Genovese left the hospital, convinced that he had beat the cancer. In October of 2004, Genovese received the news that he was cancer free.
He excelled in high school, and even though he participated on the swimming and track teams, his real love is music. A percussionist and keyboardist, Genovese will major in Music Education at C.W. Post, and plans to be very active in the music department.
I knew that I had way too many things to do with my life and that I would not be slowed down or kept from fulfilling my goals,” he said.
&#8220As dedicated as we are to winning the fight against pediatric cancer,” said Zafar Brooks, the director of Community Relations and Government Affairs for Hyundai Motor America, &#8220we are equally dedicated to ensuring that survivors enjoy the rich quality of life they deserve.”