Daniel and his godmother, Adriana Enriquez, at the Scholarship Foundation’s 2018 north county reception, where he was a featured speaker

Daniel Ibarra Nunez needn’t look far for motivation. His hardworking mother and father, immigrants from Zacatecas, Mexico, provide daily inspiration.

“My parents have strongly encouraged me throughout my education, always making sure that I do well in school,” said Daniel, a recent graduate of Pioneer Valley High School and now a freshman at Allan Hancock College. “More importantly, I’m inspired by their example as caring human beings.”

With his parents’ support, Daniel excelled at Pioneer Valley, earning an Academic Excellence Award and taking part in a wide array of extracurricular activities, including serving as president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Club and volunteering at Marian Regional Medical Center.

He also found time to participate in his school’s AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, which provides students with supplemental academic support.

One AVID workshop featured a presentation by a Scholarship Foundation program advisor, an encounter that ultimately led to Daniel receiving Foundation aid to pursue college.

The Santa Maria native now plans to transfer to Cal Poly or UCSB and eventually become a social worker or school counselor.

“I would like to work with at-risk students, help them overcome problems and accomplish their goals,” he said. “I can’t thank the Scholarship Foundation enough.”