John Gears receives a congratulatory handshake from Dr. Freed.

Years ago, John Gears wouldn’t even have considered going to school to earn a college degree and improve his situation.

Today, Gears is one of higher education’s biggest fans, and on Saturday, Dec. 8., he walked across the stage during commencement ceremonies to receive a congratulatory handshake from Dr. DeBow Freed for earning a master of business administration degree. “I never thought it was possible for me to get my master’s. I’ve learned that you can’t put limitations on people,” said Gears.

Gears, 51, was primarily raised at St. Anthony’s Villa, a Catholic orphanage in Toledo, Ohio, where Sister Bea Herman was a house mother who would serve as a source of encouragement to him many years later.

Because college was not a realistic option at the time, Gears graduated from high school and started work in a factory where he remained for 25 years until a work-related accident ended his employment there. Gears lost 80 percent use of his right hand and 20 percent use of his left hand, and he was told he would never work again.

Gears, however, wasn’t willing to settle for that. Following his accident, Gears attended occupational therapy sessions and was impressed by the therapists’ work. After some research, Gears learned that because he was a resident of St. Anthony’s during the 1960s, he was eligible for a scholarship that had been established by donors who had no children but wanted to provide others the opportunity to improve their lives. He submitted an application, and was awarded the scholarship, which benefits only three students at any given time.

Gears smiles standing next to Sister Bea Herman, who influenced him early in life.

He was accepted to Lourdes College, graduated in 1996 and began working as an occupational therapy assistant at the Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay. Gears quickly discovered the value of education and applied for a second scholarship from the Catholic Diocese to attend Bluffton University; he graduated from there in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.

On Saturday, Gears reached another goal with the completion of his master’s degree, with a little more help from a third scholarship and the continued support from Gears’ fiancée. And sitting in the audience at graduation on Saturday was the woman who raised him, 84-year-old Sister Bea Herman, still encouraging Gears in his educational goals.

Gears plans to remain in the Findlay area and utilize his experience and his new knowledge.