He can be seen motoring through the streets of Summit Hill on his power-driven wheelchair on any given day. Quietly, he goes about his business, participating in fire company matters, attending borough meetings, visiting friends or on his own personal mission to see someone.

Nobody knows, however, the challenges Bobby O'Gurek has overcome since birth, when he was afflicted with Cerebral Palsy, thus triggering an atypical but productive lifestyle.O'Gurek is a great success story that should be a model for anyone facing a variety of adversities in their lives. Despite his handicap, he is a high school and college graduate, a business owner, and a familiar and valuable contributor to the daily lifeline of the Panther Valley region.His courage and example of striving for success despite what others would consider to be difficult hurdles, will be recognized on St. Patrick's Day, Monday, March 17, when the Panther Valley Irish-American Association holds its 67th Annual Banquet in the Grand Ballroom of Kelly's Irish Pub and Restaurant, Lansford, where O'Gurek, 33, will receive the association's Shamrock Award as the Panther Valley region's Irishman of the Year.O'Gurek will be the youngest recipient of a long list of men and women whose involvement in community and civic concerns rose to public attention. When association members Billy O'Gurek and Tim Hoben asked Bobby O'Gurek to accept the award, he said he "was numb," saying, "I didn't know what to say because it really caught me off guard. There are many of worthy and wonderful people in this valley who should be considered for the honor and for them to nominate me, it means the world to me. I am so honored and thankful to everyone."The Summit Hill resident was born on St. Patrick's Day, 1980, to Robert and Patricia "Billie" (O'Donnell) O'Gurek."I am very proud of my Irish," O'Gurek said. "With me, being Irish does not stop at my family background. I feel I am lucky, because God could not have picked a more perfect day for me to be born on then St. Patrick's Day. Having my birthday on St. Patrick's Day means so much to me. I get to celebrate my birthday on the greatest day for the Irish, which makes my birthday even better."O'Gurek graduated from Panther Valley High School and Lehigh Carbon Community College, where he was named the school's "Most Persistent Student Award" recipient and, in 2006, received an associate degree in computer specialist: web development.He initially worked designing websites for S & O Computers, working with two of his many best friends, David Ogozalek and John Shemansik. In 2010, he opened a website design business (www.bobbyogurek.com).O'Gurek joined the Diligence Fire Company No. 1, Summit Hill, in 1994. Now a senior member, auditor and trustee, he worked with Ogozalek in designing DFC's first website, assembled a sponsor slide show for the annual golf tournament and is a former Volunteer of the Year.Although his disabilities don't allow him to talk and walk, there is no stopping the young man from being a shining example of persistence. He became an ambassador for the Prentke Romich Company, traveling to assistive technology expositions across the state to speak about the communication device he uses to communicate with others.In 1998, he started speaking at the Pittsburgh Employment Conference, hosted for speech pathologists and individuals with all kinds of disabilities, who use augmentative communication technologies. Among his topics were: Owning and Running My Own Business, Living with Cerebral Palsy Day To Day, the SHOUT Web Site and Attending College Using Augmentative Communication.O'Gurek was selected in 2007 to receive the Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture Award in Boston, presented annually to an individual who uses a communication device and is involved in the community. He spoke there on the title "My Life With Assistive Technology And Community Interactions.""I don't see myself as being disabled because I try to live my life as if I didn't have a disability. I do have struggles and disadvantages of my everyday life; however, I work hard to get through them," said O'Gurek."Since the time I was born, I have the best support system that I can ever ask for. No words can describe how thankful I am for everyone's support. From my Dad and Mom, to my brothers and sister, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, teachers and instructional assistants, personal care attendants, my brothers in the fire department, and friends, they all play a very huge role in my life for me to be successful. I know they all will continue to be on my side in the future too. I am really thankful for everyone's support."The young man is a staunch fan of Notre Dame football and the Baltimore Orioles, often displaying the two teams colors as he rides his wheelchair around the hilltop community.He is one of four siblings, having two brothers, Justin and Ryan, and a sister Trish.The banquet will open with a social from 5:30-6:30, followed by the dinner and program, where O'Gurek will receive the Shamrock Award from PVIAA president Ben Walker.Entertainment for the evening will be provided by the father-and-son folk duo of Pat and Shane McGeehan. Tickets to the dinner can be obtained from the following association members: Summit Hill, Bob Crampsie and Billy O'Gurek; Lansford, Emmett McCall; Coaldale, Robert Ames and Tim Hoben; and Tamaqua, Tom McCarroll and John Tracy.