Outstanding People: Genaro Sanchez, A graduate of Hartnell, is an inquisitive engineer The young Mexican has excelled in engineering Article By: Luis Carlos López | EL SOL Fall 2011 Genaro Sanchez had his first encounter with math at an early age. His father Javier Sanchez, who just finished high school in Mexico and wanted to be an engineer, always challenged his son Genaro to solve math problems and write Spanish correctly. Genaro most remembers the multiplication, division and other arithmetic problems, between 10 to 15 problems that he would solve. Every time he solved math problems, his father gave him money as a reward, recalls Genaro Sanchez, who graduated in June from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in electrical engineering. "At the age of eight, he would put me in a room to do math problems and he would say to me, “if you get them all right I am going to give you money’” Genaro remembers. "I liked knowing that I could solve the problems," said Genaro. It was through his father that Sanchez remembers being interested in mathematics at an early age. "I feel it was from him that my interest in Genaro Sanchez in the Spacecraft Robotics Laboratory during one of his internships the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey. mathematics began to grow," said Sanchez. Sanchez, a child who liked to disassemble appliances to see how they worked, studied electrical engineering at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo and wants to continue his studies in electrical engineering with a master's degree in the area of sustainable and renewable energy in order to support his parents, whom he attributes the success he has achieved. "... Looking at what they had to go through, I put more effort in school so I could get ahead in the future and will continue to help them,” he said. Since graduating from college, Sanchez works as an engineer at C & D Zodiac Aerospace in Santa Maria. The company designs and manufactures parts for airplanes. Sanchez, 23, was born in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, and is one of seven children. Although his father and mother, Mrs. Rosa Mendoza, came to Salinas in the early 90's, Genaro wanted to stay in Mexico to finish middle school. After graduating from middle school in Mexico, Genaro enrolled in joined Everett Alvarez High School in 2002.
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"I was hopeless at first," Sanchez said, recalling how difficult it was to communicate with students and teachers, because he could not speak English. "Although I wanted to socialize with others I couldn’t. Apart from anything other than "Hi", I couldn’t establish a conversation. " Recalling the preparation he received from his father in mathematics, Sanchez found comfort in numbers and despite the limitations of language, could excel as a student. In 2005, Sanchez graduated from Everett Alvarez High School with a GPA of 3.8. However, instead of entering a four-‐year college, he decided to attend Hartnell Community College, a decision he says was "worth it" because he wanted to master English. "I spent hours trying to figure out problems," Sanchez said, recalling how difficult it was to solve a math problem in English. Sanchez added that although he knew the answers, he always used dictionaries to see if he was right. "I just wanted to check. Sometimes I was spending more time looking for the translation then solving the problem, "he said. While at Hartnell, Sanchez had an internship at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. There he studied with Brian Steckler, director of Hastily Formed Networks Research Group, an academic program at NPS. Steckler offered insight into studing ways to establish electronic communications and cyber areas devastated by disasters. Sanchez learned to establish communication networks using "flyaway kits" which are designed around laptops to aid communication in areas affected by disasters. The equipment assembled as an intern at NPS was used to help the area affected by Hurricane Katrina. “He's a guy who likes to do things hands-‐on rather than doing research on the Internet or the library. He is a great motivator, a great example. He is articulate and can talk to youth about his story, " said Steckler. In 2008, Sanchez graduated from Hartnell and entered the University of California, San Luis Obispo. Tafik, master of electrical engineering who has taught at the Polytechnic University for 12 years, said he remembers Sanchez as being very motivated. "I think he’s one of those students who are motivated to excel," said Taufik. "He is not afraid to ask questions, is curious, inquisitive. That's one of the keys to being a good engineer and a good student, being inquisitive ... that is the key to being a successful researcher, "said Taufik. Sanchez wants to devote his career to studying and exploring renewable energy and hopes that his professional success can inspire his brothers and his family. "[Renewable energy] calls my attention because I think it can have an impact. The sun's energy is there, we just have to know how to use it instead of using other resources ... " -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ Outstanding People is a space to tell the stories of successful people in our community. To nominate someone please contact Health and Consumer Silvia (831) 754-‐4272 or send an email to
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