Scanlan, who turns 24 this week and was crowned Rookie of the Year in the National Lacrosse League, talked about winning the National Lacrosse Cup with the Buffalo Bandits.

He visited the elementary, middle, and high schools and talked about setting goals, staying dedicated, and never giving up as being instrumental to his success.

“When I was born, they put a lacrosse stick in my hand,” said Scanlan, who started playing when he was three years old, citing the strong love for the game in Indigenous culture.

He spent six long years on the professional circuit – often traveling far from home and out of his comfort zone – before he ever actually played his first professional game. He wanted to quit many times, but encouragement from his loved ones, faith in himself, and a commitment to his team helped him not stray from his path to professional and personal fulfillment.

“Winning with Buffalo is a dream come true,” said Scanlan. “If you keep working for it, you can achieve it. Not everything’s gonna go as planned – you’ll have your ups and downs, and that’s just the way it happens. So remember, if you keep trying and practicing with your teachers, you’re gonna get there.”

In addition to inspiration, Scanlan brought with him the actual lacrosse cup to share in his pride. A few students even attempted to lift the hefty trophy.

“It was my pleasure to introduce Buffalo Bandits No. 81 Clay Scanlan to our students at Gowanda,” said Lea Golden, director of the Title VI Indigenous Education Program for the district. “He was enthusiastically received by both students and staff — the experience is surely something they will remember. At the end of the day, he was grateful to have had the chance to share his challenges and successes while pursuing his dream.”

After taking questions from students, Scanlan lingered for a meet-and-greet and autograph session. All students were welcomed for photo opportunities and had the chance to opt for a special keepsake image signed by Scanlan.

“It was a pleasure to welcome Clay back to campus and we are grateful to him for engaging with our students, promoting resilience and underscoring the importance of setting goals,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert B. Anderson, who commended Principal Chelsea Kroll, Principal Darlene Silleman and Principal Rebekah Newell for collaborating to ensure all three schools could accommodate the special alumni appearance.

“Clay has a lot of siblings and cousins on campus and he is a familiar face and name. So seeing what is possible for one of our Panther families was an especially wonderful way to motivate our students to dream big and work hard.”