SDA Alumnus Jeremy Poincenot Speaks on “20/20”

By Dylan Hendrickson, Staff Writer

Former SDA alum Jeremy Poincenot will guest on ABC’s “20/20” tonight to talk about his rare disease and his challenges overcoming it. Poincenot graduated from San Dieguito Academy in 2007 and attended SDSU before he was diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Ocular Neuropathy (LHOP), a rare genetic disease that causes legal blindness.

“Imagine holding your palm in front of your eyes and that is like what Jeremy can see; you can only see in your peripheral vision,” said ASB teacher Rod Keilor, who had Poincenot for his video and film class. Keilor has kept in touch with Poincenot since his beginnings as a motivational speaker.

As well talking publically, Poincenot has made the rounds as a competitive player in the World Blind Golf circuit, winning the World Championships in 2010.

In 2012, he returned to his high school alma mater to recount his struggle with his condition, a story he will tell tonight at 10 p.m. on “20/20.”

For more on Poincenot, visit his website.

***Update***

See the full segment here.