Key facts
- Ryan Martino began chemotherapy for stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma before starting high school.
- He is graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
- Martino earned the $125,000 Chick Evans Scholarship for golf caddies.
- He plans to attend the University of Delaware.
- Martino found golf to be a distraction from his cancer treatment.
Ryan Martino, a Long Island teenager, is graduating high school with a perfect 4.0 GPA and has been awarded a $125,000 Chick Evans Scholarship. His academic achievements come after undergoing chemotherapy for stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma just before starting high school. Martino described his experience as difficult, with some days making it hard to get out of bed due to the treatment's side effects. During his recovery, he turned to golf as an outlet and a distraction from his illness, eventually becoming a caddie. This passion for golf led him to the Chick Evans Scholarship, which is specifically for high-achieving golf caddies. He plans to continue his education at the University of Delaware. Martino shared that his journey taught him the importance of perseverance and hopes his story inspires others facing hardships, emphasizing that there is 'light at the end of the tunnel.'