College : Fresno State Career Goal : Lawyer / Politician

June 6 , 2023 / Save Mart Center

About Joseph : Losing someone you consider your protector , mentor and most cherished ally can tear a person apart , but sometimes it can also be the catalyst to a transformation that makes them whole . In October 2020 , Joseph lost the one person he felt genuinely loved him for being his true self – his grandmother .

After she died , Joseph fell into a deep depression . He had just begun seeking his identity in a “ scary world .” But the opportunity to find and express himself was swiftly taken when he was outed for being gay . As the first openly gay individual in his family , the unexpected disclosure was devastating .

Before his grandmother ’ s death , Joseph relied on others to speak up for him . But after , he understood he no longer had her voice , and it was time to use his own .

Eventually , he began to understand the only acceptance he needed was from himself . Now , years later , he is proud to be “ Joseph Aquino ,” a gay Hispanic who is senior class president , Hoover High School representative , captain of the Diversity Committee , a scholarship winner and represents more than 70,000 students as the student trustee on the Fresno Unified Board of Education .

Joseph is proud of himself and knows his grandmother would be too . She is his inspiration in all he does .

In his words : “ My motivation is young Joseph Aquino , a scared voiceless boy who matters .”

From campus culture director Cal LaFlam : “ Working with Joseph has been an impactful experience because he is constantly advocating for new ideas , methods and events that meet the diverse needs of the student population .”

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