LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Marcelino Blanco was nominated by an anonymous student.

Mr. Blanco was nominated because he changed his nominator's life. When his nominator first walked into Mr. Blanco's class, he was looking for an easy class. The didn't get it from Mr. Blanco. Instead, the nominator was given an opportunity to grow up and to learn.

"Looking back three years ago, I am glad that I stayed in his class. Not only did I learn essential math skills, but I also grew up. Mr. Blanco was fair with all of his students, and he has a way of teaching that reaches all of us. There were other students in my class that I knew from middle school, and most of us passed. We were held accountable and for the first time in a long time, it felt good that I had a teacher that actually expected something from me," the nominator said. "At first I fought it, but when I realized that I was being treated as a 'student' and not what I looked like, I began to appreciate him more."

"I'm thankful I was in Mr. Blanco's Algebra class because I know without a doubt that if I were not, I would not have become the student I am today," the nominator concluded. "Because of Mr. Blanco, I'm applying to college and will be the first in my family to do that. I hang out with people who enjoy school and who push me to do better."