Dominic Martinez has taken several honors and advanced placement courses, plays football and runs track. He seems like a typical high school kid planning for college. He has goals to help others.

It’s fitting that a young man of Martinez’s caliber won the Jefferson Foundation’s “My Student, My Hero” award, which was presented to him during a ceremony on March 16.

What’s truly remarkable about Martinez is his perseverance to overcome heartbreaking situations in his life. “Martinez’s mother died from breast cancer in 2010 when he was just a freshman in high school,” noted the article. He had no family to whom he could turn in Colorado, but he had friends.

“Martinez said the biggest issue he has faced since his mother’s passing was finding a place to live.

“‘Family is not an option,’ he said. ‘Our household was small, just me and my mom, and my extended family is out of the state. I’ve been blessed with people in my life who I’ve stayed with. I’ve stayed in four households in four years.’

“Two of the friends he has lived with are friends from the Pomona football team, which Martinez said has given him support and an outlet.

“‘It’s an outlet for me to freely express my emotions in a healthy manner,’ he said. ‘It’s definitely helped me through everything. (The team has) been there for me, and the head coach helped me a lot and was very understanding.’”

Martinez provides an excellent bit of life wisdom, “‘You can react [to his mother's passing] negatively or positively,’ Martinez said. ‘I want to use it to make me a better person, a better athlete, a better citizen and a better person.’”

Martinez will attend Colorado State University in the fall where he plans on studying biomedical engineering and “use [his] knowledge to help others.” It seems that Mr. Martinez has found his purpose in life.

The money will support about 30 wishes fulfilled for Colorado youth with life-threatening illnesses. Last year was a great year, but 2012-2013 year is shaping up to be a fantastic year. Forty school groups have finished their fundraising campaigns matching last year’s total of $200,000 already.

“Group members have the opportunity to sponsor a specific child’s wish and implement their own style of fundraising to support Make-A-Wish Colorado. Fundraising efforts have included everything from restaurant nights, sporting events, “miracle minute” coin collecting and head shaving for a great cause. The community is able to join together in raising money for the specific child’s wish and in return, learn more about the importance of giving back to those in need.”

Click here to read the complete article and see a list of the schools that participated last year.

Youth ages 14-21 may register for the workshops at no cost. “The series covers job search skills, such as completing a job application, writing a résumé and interviewing, along with work values and how to present oneself in a professional setting. Participants will each take a personality assessment and participate in mock interviews. Each will receive a USB drive loaded with their master application, résumé and tips for their job search.”

The workshops will be held:

• 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. daily, March 26-28, CentrePoint Plaza, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Aurora
• 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. daily, April 2-4, Lima Plaza, 6974 S. Lima Street, Centennial
• 3 p.m., March 27, Phillip S. Miller Library, 100 Wilcox Street, Suite 198, Castle Rock

Additionally, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will host a job hiring fair on April 9. “Employers will be hiring in the industries of hospitality, retail, staffing and recruiting, transportation, military, government, telecommunications, entertainment, food services and recreation.” Register early to ensure your spot in the workshops and access to the job hiring fair.

“Space in the Job Locker series is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Punctuality and attendance is expected on all days of the series for which you register. To register for the series or hiring event, please visit www.adworks.org and click on “Upcoming Events” or call 303-636-1260.”

The Job Locker is sponsored by the the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt.

 A graduate of Heritage High School, Dr. Smith found purpose in being a doctor who works with underserved populations. “He knew he wanted to be a doctor from the time he was 6 years old,” but the it took a little resilience to get into medical school. Dr. Smith was rejected entrance into medical school twice before being accepted on his third application. That kind of rejection would drive most people to seek other options. Not Dr. Smith, though, since he understood his purpose in life.

Dr. Smith made the most of his time after his medical school rejections working as a camp counselor with troubled youth after the first. Later, he joined the Peace Corps volunteering in a small village in the jungles of Ecuador. He continued his service to others during medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “He also worked at a student-run free clinic and created a Boot Camp for Dads program, where fathers teach dads-to-be how to care for babies. He completed an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship by starting a program that provides Hispanic parents with tools to help them help their children succeed in school.”

Dr. Smith plans to work with an underserved population in Buena Vista, CO after he completes his residency.

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Volz studied a low-cost method to create algae populations that produce high amounts of oil which would make the biofuel more economically feasible. “Volz used a process called ‘artificial selection’ in which she introduced an herbicide that forces cells to adapt, by producing cells that contain more oil, or die.”

“Volz constructed her home lab beneath the slats of her bunk-style bed, begged and borrowed flasks to hold the algae specimens and asked for a microscope for Christmas one year.” The sensitive process required Volz to keep the algae on a cycle of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. Her sleep pattern changed to mimic the cycle as a side effect.

“The daughter of a veterinarian and a journalist, Volz always has been guided by a ‘need to understand something to make it a part of my world.’

‘I’ve been interested in alternative energy for so long,’ Volz said. ‘My real scientific passion is biochemistry because of the incredible complexity of all the mechanisms involved. The algae biofuels was a perfect marriage of those two passions.’

“Along the way, Volz sought advice from several Colorado-based experts willing to help a high school kid with big aspirations.”

The prize money from the Intel Science Talent Search and other scholarships she received will pay for almost all of her tuition at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which she plans to attend beginning next fall.

Congratulations, Sara!

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The summit will give youth between the ages of 13-18 chances to participate in discussions and workshops on “the latest youth topics identified by the Safe City Youth Leadership Team and its partners.” The Safe City Youth Leadership Team is comprised entirely of youth. It has coordinated the summit each year of its 19-year run.  Youth attending the event will be able to connect with employers hiring for summer positions, listen to remarks by Mayor Hancock and the keynote speech by First Lady Mary Louise Lee, and learn about current issues relevant to them.

“The Safe City Youth Leadership team will also award two scholarships at this years event – a $500 scholarship in memory of community activist Walt Beckert and a $250 scholarship from College in Colorado. Youth interested in receiving one of the scholarships were asked to submit an essay, poem, artwork or music piece to the Youth Leadership team that explains what this years theme, If Not Me, Then Who Will Follow the Beat to My Song? means to them, as well as an explanation of how the scholarship will help them obtain higher education.”

Register for the event by contacting the Youth Summit at safe.city@denvergov.org or 720-913-4707.

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“Since September these students have been preparing for the state tournament after placing in the final 24 last February out of total 104 teams in eight regional tournaments across the state….Students trained to compete in the mock trial competition by studying a fictitious criminal murder case with the help of teachers and volunteer attorneys from the Colorado Bar Association.”

The Palmer High School team will compete for the national title from May 9-11. Tournament officials will give teams a new mock trial for which the Palmer High School team will prepare. The national tournament will feature team from across the United States, US territories and South Korea.

Good luck, Palmer High School!

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The students are visiting as part of the Kizuna Project, which provides opportunities for American youth see the ongoing recovery efforts in Japan and build long-lasting bonds of friendship Japanese youth.

“Only eight schools nationwide were selected to take part in the project, funded by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Littleton’s representatives include students taking Japanese language classes as well as some from the instrumental music program and the editor of the school paper. They’re scheduled to return March 16,” wrote Simpson. Japanese students will visit Littleton High School for a few days at the end of this month.

The Littleton High School students are blogging about their experiences. Check out their stories and see their pictures by clicking here.

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Image courtesy of the LHS Kizuna Project Blog

Neher maintains a 3.9 grade point average while participating in cross country and track for the Castle View High School. The article notes that “Neher has been studying in the Biotech academy at CVHS and been an intern where she worked with an anesthesiologist…Neher’s biology teacher said she was an excellent student because she was able to connect her studies to real world ideas and then share them with younger students. Neher also was cited for her work ethic, her willingness to ask for help and her desire to be the best she can be.”

As for her future plans, “Neher told the club she plans to attend Wyngate University in North Carolina where she will run and study science with an emphasis in pharmacy.”

Click here to read the full story on YourHub.com.

Congratulations Morgan!

“Nate Newman, a senior at Kent Denver School, has developed a self-cleaning, underwater webcam. With the help of fellow students and teacher Trevor Mendelow, the idea came from the need for a better camera during ocean exploration.”

Watch the video by clicking here.