Daniel_soto_and_jbDaniel Soto makes me proud. Last March, 2005, Daniel became the first ever USC John Bryant Scholar at the USC School of Social Work, and I said then, and affirm now, that I could not have asked for a better candidate to receive this first scholarship than Daniel. I knew he was also destined to do great things…I just didn’t know they would start so soon! Here is a quick update of all that Daniel has been up to in 12 months time! Wow…

1. Accepted to the Master of Public Administration program at USC with an emphasis on community and economic development & international policy and management.

2. Elected Graduate and Professional Student Senator for the School of Social Work which allows me to promote interdisciplinary efforts between the School of Social Work and other universities and colleges and make resolutions expressing graduate and professional student concerns.

3. Co-taught a USC Master of Planning course titled DESIGNING LIVABLE CITIES/COMMUNITIES with Professor Rosenbloom during the Fall 2005 semester which focused heavily on sustainability issues and concepts.

4. Awarded with the USC School of Social Work 2005-2006 Scholarship.

5. Awarded with the USC Mexican American Alumni Association 2005-2006 Scholar hip.

6. Awarded with a "travel" scholarship by the National Hispanic Environmental Council to attend their 10th Annual National Hispanic Sustainable Energy / Environmental Conference and Career Fair in Seattle, Washington.

7. Nominated for the 2006 Dolores Zohrab Liebman Fellowship which I am currently applying for.

8. Nominated for 2006 National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Fellows program which would offer me the opportunity to gain hands-on legislative experience while in the office of an elected or appointed official in addition to providing leadership, professional and diversity training opportunities in Washington D.C.

9. Participated in the Salvadoran American Educational and Leadership Fund (SALEF) 10th Anniversary Banquet hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

10. Attended a SALEF reception for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and met former Chief of LAPD Bernard Parks.

11. Am going to attend the National Association of Social Worker’s 2006 Legislative Lobby Days in Sacramento and will serve as a team leader for the USC School of Social Work Social Welfare Policy course.

12. Last, but not least, I am going to graduate on May 12, 2006 one semester early with two Master’s degrees : Master of Social Work with an emphasis in Community Organizing, Planning, and Administration and a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Community and Economic Development & International Policy and Management.

And on top of all of this, young Daniel was a HOPE Delegate the the Day of HOPE with Andrew Young in Atlanta, Georgia, April, 2005.

You go Daniel…. Go. I and we are so very proud of you friend. As I said, I could not have asked for a better young man with a vision to support with the USC John Bryant Scholarship.

Onward, with HOPE

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