Syracuse University Honors Deceased Doctorial Student as King Unsung Hero

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Cheryl Spear passed away before she learned she’d won a Syracuse University Martin Luther King Jr. Unsung Hero award, but her friends, family and colleagues said she’d have been overjoyed at the honor.
“She advocated for people with visual impairment and for people with disabilities in general,” said Kinnari Desai, an SU grad student from India who is visually impaired. Spear, who died in December, took Desai under her wing when she arrived in Syracuse in 2010.
“She helped create a path for others, and showed many of us how to cope,” said Desai, one of a group of students, friends and colleagues who nominated Spear for the award.