Photo Courtesy of Twitter (@DebertCook)
Carter Bonas is an autistic 11-year-old golfer and entrepreneur who received a full-ride scholarship to Florida Memorial University (FMU) at the South Florida HBCU Golf Classic on Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, Fox 4 reported.
“Not only did I place 2nd place! I was awarded a 4-year scholarship to attend college,” Bonas posted on Instagram. “See you in 6 years (or less) to get that business degree to take Spectrum Golf to the next level!”
FMU awarded the prodigy the full-ride scholarship to commemorate the 11-year-old’s outstanding golf skills, academic success and successful golf apparel business despite having autism.
According to his company Spectrum Golf’s site, doctors diagnosed 10-month-old Bonas with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
After extensive therapy for four years, Bonas was no longer required to continue therapy sessions. However, the school made things difficult to cope with his disorder, causing him to become violent at school and struggle academically. His mother, Dr. Thelma Teenie, decided to listen to the doctor’s recommendations to put him on medication (something she didn’t want) and to continue with therapy. Eventually, Bonas improved mentally, academically, emotionally, and physically.
Bonas got involved with golf because it didn’t require physical contact but allowed him to socialize.
“We began to see positive change, and him heal! The use of non-contact sports, 1-on-1 activities, traditional psychotherapy sessions, and non-traditional therapies proved to be [e]ffective in Carter’s social-emotional developmental progression,” Dr. Teenie said Spectrum’s site.
Bonas created Spectrum Golf after fearing that his condition would hinder his chances of having a career in the future. With his full ride to FMU, he can attain his business degree and learn to expand Spectrum Golf without worrying whether or not someone will hire him.