Student escapes war, finds success at Cabrini

When standing in the huddle after an evening basketball practice, Goran Dulac is an easy player to pick out due to his large 6’7” frame. Though extremely tall, Dulac looks like your average, every day college kid but once you talk to him you realize a slight accent in his voice. Talk to him a little more and you realize Dulac isn’t your run-of-the-mill college basketball player.

Dulac was born in Bosnia in 1990. In 1992 a civil war erupted due to religious disputes amongst Muslims, Christians and Catholics. Dulac, his younger sister and his parents found themselves in the middle of a warzone. Because of financial woes mixed with the dangers ensuing right outside their door, they knew they had no choice but to get out.

“I immediately saw that it wasn’t a good place for Goran and my daughter to live. I tried to do something about it right away but I couldn’t so I waited for the first opportunity I could for a better life,” Slobodan Dulac, Dulac’s father said with Goran translating.

After a long nine years Dulac, now 11 years old, and his family made their way across the Atlantic finally settling in Levittown, Pa. in 2001. Dulac’s father explained that it would have been a big risk to stay in Bosnia but it was also an equal risk coming to the U.S. knowing absolutely nothing. He was certain Dulac and his sister would excel but as for himself and his wife, he was unsure. He took the risk anyway for the sake of his kids.

Immediately after their arrival Dulac admits things were not easy at all.

“When I first moved here I was blind and deaf at the same time,” Dulac said, referring to the language barrier.

Once Dulac learned English academics, meeting new people became much easier. At Pennsbury High School, Dulac began to excel in basketball and was recruited to come play for Cabrini.

He has already found his way into the starting lineup already in his freshman season and academically is performing better than he ever thought he would.

“I didn’t expect the success that I had, not that I’ve done a lot, but academically I’m doing better than I did in high school,” Dulac said.

Head basketball coach Marcus Kahn respects Dulac for his hard work on and off the court. Coach Kahn is in his third season with the Cavaliers and has guided Dulac throughout his entire college career towards much success here at Cabrini.

“He [Dulac] works hard for everything he has. Anything that that young man has had he has absolutely earned,” Coach Kahn said. “We have big plans for him to keep developing him in the future.”

Dulac offered Coach Kahn ample amounts of gratitude for everything he has helped him with so far.

“I want to thank Coach Kahn who gave me an opportunity right away and he’s helped me out with a lot. He was just there behind me. He’s a big part of my success. A huge part,” Dulac said.

Dulac’s parents could not be happier or more proud of the success their son has had here so far. From the war-ridden streets of Bosnia to the hallways of Cabrini College, Dulac is a walking success story.

“It is most important for me that he is happy,” Lavorka Dulac, Dulac’s mother, said.

“In the beginning it was hard but the fruits of those labors are paying off now,” Dulac’s father said.