James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation honors Parkersburg performer
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PARKERSBURG -- A Parkersburg man has been recognized by the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation.
Jack Comeau, locally known as the performer Moon King, is among those in the Luce 24 Under 24 recognizing young leaders "who have the potential to alter the trajectory of our earth and humankind if presented with the opportunity, network and resources," the award said.
"It's awesome. It was a big award," he said. "I wasn't expecting it. It kind of just came out of the blue."
Comeau, 20, after high school was diagnosed with high-functioning sensory autism. He changed the ways he learned and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
His abilities were discovered at age 11 when his mother, Jen Comeau, an artist, began homeschooling him. Comeau also started guitar and voice lessons that found mild savant abilities.
Since then, Comeau frequently appears at public performances,has won competitions and volunteers for worthy causes and organizations including the Children's Home Society and the Salvation Army.
He will perform at the Todd Burge Birthday Bash at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Parkersburg Art Center. Other performers include Grammy winner Tim O'Brien, Jan Fabricius and Larry Groce.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and adult beverages will be available. Tickets are $18 and are available at www.toddburge.com or the Art Center at 304 422-4068.
The Luce Foundation held a ceremony Nov. 7 in New York City. Instead of going to New York, Comeau donated his expenses to a worthy cause.
He thanks a number of people for his good fortune, including mom and dan Jen and Adam Comeau, who came from Canada, William Michael Bauer as a mentor, Father John Rice at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, grandmother Sharon Westbrook, Gwen Mc, Majed Malik, Charlie Read, Marcia Milam Westbrook, Dusty Paik and Giuliano Rios.
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com