Whiz Kid: Gustavo Rojas, First in his Family to Attend College

Whiz Kid: Gustavo Garcia Rojas, 17

Whiz Kid's School: Senior at Petaluma High School

Nominated by: Teri Schmidt, guidance counselor

Key to Awesomeness: Garcia Rojas was born in Latin America and came to the U.S. without speaking word of English. He enrolled in the Round Walk Village Boys & Girls Club and has thrived since then. He maintains a 3.5 GPA average and was recently accepted to Sonoma State University, making him the first in his family to attend college

Garcia Rojas is also frequent public speaker, mentors younger kids and hold a job at Dillon Beach Cafe. His goal is to become an engineer. Because of his accomplishments, Rojas was selected as the Boys & Girls Club of Marin and Southern Sonoma County's 2011 Youth of the Year and received a $2,500 scholarship. 

“Gustavo is an exemplary club member," said Shannon Griffin, an area director for the Boys & Girls Club. "He is a great role model to our younger club members, and spends time playing games with them and helping them with homework. Gustavo always has a positive and has a friendly attitude.”