Alejandro Martinez, a nose guard for the San Marcos football team, has been named the recipient of the Larry Crandell Memorial Scholarship, the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table announced.
Martinez plans to attend Cal Lutheran University and major in psychology.
A four-year member of the Royals’ football program, he will be the first member of his family to attend college.
He participated in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at San Marcos, which helps students prepare to become eligible to attend a four-year college.
“I truly put my schooling first, and know that this whole situation, with us staying inside, has given me more time to truly focus on my schooling,” he said.
Martinez carries a 3.25 grade point average. His favorite class was Advanced Placement Spanish literature.
“It offered me a challenge,” said Martinez, who is bilingual.
Martinez has an interest in health care. He has put in nearly 300 hours of volunteer work at Cottage Hospital.
He is inspired by his mother, Lourdes Nava, and uncle, Roberto Alvarado, both of whom work at the hospital, his mom in the neonatal unit and his uncle in surgery prep.
“My family has always seen the best in me, and that is all I can ever ask for,” he said.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.