2020 Recipient

After my mom passed away when I was 14 years old, I leaned on friends to help keep my spirits high and keep me on the right path. Within a year or two I found a core group of friends that changed my life for the better, one of those amazing friends was Ryan. Ryan was someone who I was immediately attracted to because of his charisma and passion for everything he put his mind to. I was somewhat reserved but always liked to be where everyone was, and this worked out perfectly because Ryan was always the life of the party. He pushed me to be a better person and helped me understand that success and happiness comes when you push outside of your comfort zone. Over the years we had discussions about politics on the golf course, we worked together at lululemon; I heard Ryan’s plans to graduate college and find a way to retire early, and I knew of his desire to build an organization bigger than himself in order to help others. He always had a plan, and whether or not everything went according to that plan, he always had lofty goals that helped me find the drive to set and accomplish my goals. 

Ryan knew about my plans for physical therapy school, and that I was willing to go anywhere in the country to pursue my goal of becoming a physical therapist. We always discussed that one day we would be back in the same city living together and of course, golfing regularly. Two months before getting my acceptance into a physical therapy program I lost my best friend. Even though I did not have him there in person to share my excitement, I know his guidance and passion for setting the bar high helped me find my way into Duke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Graduate programs these days are extremely rigorous and expensive, and I am extremely thankful for The Ryan Lipparelli Trust. This trust makes the expenses of tuition more bearable, and more than anything it is a great reminder of my best friend who would challenge me to continue my education, set the bar high, and follow my dreams. I am eternally grateful for this trust, and all of the donors who made it possible. This means more to me than any words could ever express, thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

With love,

Andrew