ABC7 Star Scholar: Armando Banuelos

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Each year, ABC7 recognizes seven Bay Area high school seniors for their extraordinary achievements and awards each with a $1,000 scholarship. This year one of the year's star scholars is from the South Bay. He's a teen who's dedicated his life to education to help himself and others.

ABC7 Star Scholar Armando Banuelos is stepping off the Bellarmine College Preparatory campus in San Jose and onto some prestigious university grounds in the fall.

"I got into Stanford, guys!" he said.

The Morgan Hill teen's hard work in the classroom earned him a full scholarship to Stanford University to study sociology, psychology, and education. He was also recognized for his work giving back to the low-income Latino community in Morgan Hill where he grew up as the son of Mexican immigrants.

"Having a person of color like myself go to a privileged university, I think it really shines a light on them and you know what, I can do something like that to all I need is a little hard work and people to support me in my journey," he said. "My parents really focused on school and they thought that that was a way to get out of poverty. Their hard work ethic has really inspired me to continue my education."

Armando serves as vice president for the Youth Action Council of Morgan Hill and volunteers at the city's El Toro Youth Center for the Boys and Girls Club.

"He's willing to get out there in the community, work with people, volunteer, talk to all kinds of people young and old, he's a superstar," said Spanish teacher Sonia Torna.

This superstar and ABC7 Star Scholar hopes to become a state or national representative of education for students of color.

"I just want people like myself, no matter their background, to have an education," he said. "Cause I know that will change the future and that will change their lives."

This is the tenth year for ABC7's Star Scholars program, where ABC7 gives recognition to seven outstanding students, each of whom receives a $1,000 scholarship toward his or her college education. Watch Sunday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about all of our Star Scholars!