Senior project from the heart

Deirdre Newman

You can see it in his eyes.

When Sonny Nasca plays the drums, his eyes sparkle, his smile takes on

an even toothier grin, and he radiates pure joy.

Nasca, a disabled student who graduated from Corona del Mar High

School on Thursday, honed his drumming skills for his senior project.

While most projects focus on student interest, Nasca went above and

beyond the requirement -- dedicating his project to one of the victims of

Flight 93, which crashed into a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11.

Nasca played the drums to the song “Proud to Be an American” and will

send a video of the performance to the family of Thomas E. Burnett Jr.

Burnett, 38, was one of the passengers who is believed to have stormed

the cockpit and attacked the hijackers, causing the plane to crash in a

field instead of its intended target.

The project enabled Nasca to transcend his disability while trying to

make a heartfelt difference in the life of a family marred by tragedy.

“He’s made a true spiritual and human connection, and that’s

empowering,” said Suzy Thatcher, Nasca’s former special education

teacher.

Nasca, 19, was born with cerebral anoxia, which results from a lack of

oxygen.

He had the idea early in the school year to do a project that involved

playing the drums, because music is one of his passions.

Thatcher encourages students to pick projects that have a greater

meaning for the community, and the terrorist attacks provided the

catalyst for Nasca.

The focus of the project took shape when Thatcher took her students to

Build-a-Bear in Fashion Island soon after the attacks. Originally, the

students were going to make bears for themselves. But after Sept. 11,

they unanimously agreed to donate them to survivors and families of the

victims.

Nasca chose to donate his -- which he designed as a cheerleader bear

in honor of his mom, Kathy -- to Burnett’s daughter, Halley.

After receiving a thank-you note from Halley with a colorful picture,

Nasca was inspired to dedicate his project to the Burnetts.

After checking out a few patriotic songs, Nasca chose the rousing

“Proud to Be an American” and enlisted the help of family friend Jonathan

Mena, a sophomore at Newport Harbor High School.

To prepare for performing the song, Kathy worked with her son to help

limber up his muscles, including therapy putty for his fingers, and

various exercises for his fingers, wrists and arms.

The drumming duo rehearsed about 15 hours, which fulfilled Mena’s

community service responsibility for Newport Harbor High.

And then it was show time.

With Mena by his side helping to keep the beat, Nasca wowed the crowd

with his drumming dexterity, Thatcher said.

“I’ve sat on the senior panels for four years, and it was one of the

best,” Thatcher said. “Sonny is so courageous and strong and doesn’t let

anything stop him. I know what it takes for Sonny to do what most people

take for granted.”

In addition to videotaping the performance, Nasca also put together a

patriotic presentation board with pictures of himself and Burnett to send

to Burnett’s family.

Nasca’s family members said they are overcome with pride when they

think about the effort Nasca put into his project.

“He’s been my No. 1 boy,” said his grandfather, Len. “He’s got more

love than 10 kids.”

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .