Structure has made the difference for St. John’s Prep’s Richard

(The third in a series of profiles on local Agganis Foundation scholarship winners.)Structure in a young mans life is the difference.Its hard to believe that structured scheduling for a high school student can be taken as a positive. But for St. John’s Prep football all-star Ryan Richard it was.The 2011 graduate has spent his whole life with structure. His Parents raised him that way right from the get-go. Richard’s family has always pushed him to do as well as he can and never have any regrets with his work. He made academics his No. 1 priority from fifth grade all the way to today.Sports became the second priority in Richard’s life but a very important one at that.”Playing sports is a huge reason for my academic success,” he said. “Without sports I would not have nearly the same structure as I would with just school. Sports helped mold me to become the person I am today. It has also always kept me on the right track of what is right and wrong in life,” Richard said.Richard actually started off playing hockey and lacrosse all of his life until high school started.”My family and friends always wanted me to play football at an early age. It took me a long time to get into it but I am glad I finally listened Richard said.”Richard has now only played football for the past two years. His most memorable moment of his football career was his last game where his team played in Gillette Stadium – in the Division 1 Super Bowl.”Playing in Gillette is something I will never forget,” he said. “It was an unbelievable feeling stepping on a field where so many football greats have stepped before. I am just thankful I got the chance to experience that,” Richard said.Not only has Richard achieved success on the field, but off the field he has been an all-star as well. Richard has been in science club for all four years of high school. He has always excelled in the class room and will keep that trend up at RPI this fall. Richard is one of the 15 Agganis Foundation Scholarship winners. He will be playing offensive tackle for RPI this fall. One of the biggest reason’ s why Richard is where he is today is because of his grandfather.”I would definitely say my Grandfather is one of the biggest reasons why I am where I am today,” he said “He has always pushed me to do my best and also help convince me to play football as well. He has always helped me keep a positive outlook of everything in my life and I thank him for that.”The structured life never ends for Richard. He has to be at RPI Aug. 17 for football camp. Before cwamp, Richard will enjoy his summer with his friends on the beach and continuing to life his life. If there is one word that could describe Richard it would be happy.”I am just a happy person and I was raised to be happy. My family has always been happy so I figured that is the way to go,” Richard said.Since its inception in 1955, the Agganis Foundation has awarded $1,436,525 in scholarships to 845 student-athletes.