Rising Stars: Michael O’Connell Keeps the Dream Alive

After 30 years at the helm of the Rising Stars Youth Foundation, founder Paul Savramis is never at a loss when asked what areas stand out most to him.

Today, he focused on how being part of a team and having opportunities to learn through sports helps individuals grow. It allows young people to set goals, focus on achieving those goals, and most of all, to have a dream.

Savramis himself has seen dreams become reality, not only for the boys and girls in Rising Stars, but also for himself in building the Rising Stars Athletic Complex. This interview focused on one special Rising Stars dreamer and how the dreams he set early in life continue today.

Q: Michael O’Connell. What a ride and what a journey this kid has had. What can you tell us about that?

Paul Savramis: What can’t I tell you about Michael? He’s done it all, and what he’s done has always defied the odds. Cinderella doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Q: You have said in the past that Michael O’Connell was always a special kid. Can you hone in more on why?

Paul Savramis: An above-average athlete with an incredible work ethic is a good starting point, but what Michael did with those two qualities to grow and achieve success was incredible.

Q: What exactly has Michael done that is so different from other student athletes who are good at a sport?

Paul Savramis: My answer is found in your question, “Good at a sport.” Michael O’Connell was very good at three sports and was captain of his basketball, football, and lacrosse teams while maintaining high honor roll status.

Consider that he achieved all of this at Long Island’s Chaminade High School. Chaminade is one of the most competitive schools in the country, both on and off the court, where making any team is a big deal.

Q: That’s incredible. But you have said there was something even more significant than all of that.

Paul Savramis: Yes, and it continues to stand out in my mind as one of the most amazing stories in Rising Stars. Michael was offered a scholarship to attend Maryland to play lacrosse.

Q: Lacrosse? We thought it would have been basketball.

Paul Savramis: Once again, it could have been football. Michael was a very special athlete, and Chaminade had a national lacrosse program. Even more amazing is that Michael’s older brother, Thomas, was also captain of three sports and was offered a scholarship to Maryland. Thomas accepted and then became captain of Maryland’s championship team.

Q: Talk about lightning hitting twice. You’re talking about it as if you still can’t believe it.

Paul Savramis: I definitely get ahead of myself telling Michael’s story. First, because it’s hard to believe, and second, because it just goes on and on.

Q: Michael’s story is pretty well known after high school, but are there areas you can highlight here?

Paul Savramis: I like to emphasize his academics. He earned an economics degree from Stanford and then his MBA from NC State, all while helping NC State reach the Final Four.

Q: Michael O’Connell sounds like the epitome of everything you’ve said you like to see in a Rising Star. And you’re saying that continued after NC State?

Paul Savramis: It continued, and it is ongoing as we speak. Michael went on to play professionally in Puerto Rico, and this year he was selected to play on the Golden State Warriors’ G League team, where he is playing over 30 minutes a game and having an exceptionally good season so far.

Q: Michael’s story shows that dreams can come true. How does that help when you’re telling this story to younger Rising Stars just entering the program?

Paul Savramis: It helps all of us to tell kids that it’s great to have dreams. They can and do come true, but only if you’re willing to make that happen by putting in the work and never giving up.

Michael O’Connell tells his story to the kids every year, and he includes a powerful message. He lets every kid know that he once sat in their spot in the gym and heard the same stories. He wasn’t anything special, but he was willing to work hard at becoming special.

His message is a great one. It’s fine to dream, but it’s better to work at making your dream a reality.