Student overcomes tragic circumstances

     Martin Bonato will be a junior in the fall; a feat he never thought could happen.

     Bonato is here at CSU-Pueblo on a unique scholarship offered by the Pinnacol Foundation, which was created by Pinnacol Assurance, a company that offers worker’s compensation insurance.

     Bonato, who transferred to CSU-Pueblo in the fall from Trinidad State College, was 14 when his father, an automotive mechanic, was severely injured at work.  Joe Bonato suffered a back injury that ruptured several spinal disks, leaving him nearly paralyzed. Joe went through one and a half to two years of rehabilitation before he began to walk again, Bonato said.  Joe still has trouble walking and must use a cane to get around now. 

     Because of the injury, a lot of financial strain was put on Bonato’s mother, who worked as a nurse at the Trinidad State Nursing Home. To help his family financially, Bonato began working at age 14 to contribute to his household.  He has worked at an auto parts store, a design and screen printing shop, a feed store and a tire shop among other things.

     College was not something Bonato saw as a possibility for himself, mostly because he didn’t want to add to his family’s financial strain.  He has received the scholarship, which allowed him to afford to attend college, since he was a freshman.  He is an engineering technology major and plans to become a land surveyor after he graduates.

     Bonato said he thinks that it’s important for other students in his same circumstances to know about this opportunity, because there are a lot of students who may not think they can afford college because of such a tragedy.  Now Joe is walking and his son is studying and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

     The Pinnacol Foundation scholarship is available to eligible students whose parents have been injured or killed on the job. The application process is now underway for the next school year.

Posted in Features