​​Growing up in an economically depressed and racially segregated city, Sergio Juarez was exposed to many elements of juvenile delinquency. Late in high school, however, he recognized that a college education would offer him the opportunity to realize his potential in a socially conscious way.

Having overcome a history of abandonment, homelessness and poverty, Sergio is now a senior at San Diego State University majoring in mechanical engineering. His focus in his professional, academic, and personal pursuits has revolved around environmental sustainability and social justice. He completed an internship at the Idaho National Laboratory through the Department of Energy and has been accepted into San Diego State University's Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering through his participation in the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement program. He is engaged in San Diego's activist community and various organizations that encourage students to pursue careers in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Following graduation, Sergio plans to leverage his passion for renewable energy to start a business developing products that are sustainable and ecologically sound.