Each month or so, San Bruno Patch will feature an amazing kid, youth group, teen or sports team that wows us with their accomplishments. 

This month, we feature a 16-year-old International Baccalaureate student who maintains a 3.5 GPA, participates in school leadership and sports and is the vice president of the San Bruno Youth Activities Committee.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Month

Name/Age: Carlos Lozada, 16

School: Capuchino High School

Accomplishment: Carlos has numerous accomplishments in community service, academics and sports.  

Carlos got involved in leadership at Capuchino in his sophomore year.

“Leadership is where get work done while meeting new people,” Carlos said. “I go all out in rallies and don’t care what other people think of me.”

His ambition earned him the nicknames “Mr. Spirit” and “Mr. Capuchino” from his peers.

Carlos was one of the few Capuchino students that got accepted to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a camp in which young leaders are taught leadership skills, personal integrity and respect for others.

Carlos is also active in the city's Youth Activities Committee, in which he is vice president.

“I love planning youth activities,” he said. “Since I joined the committee all I’ve thought of doing is contributing ideas and helping the San Bruno community as a whole.”

Carlos works closely with the committee’s president, Claudia Calonje, to plan activities. They are trying to put together a program in which kids and teens would volunteer to visit seniors in homes and centers.

Carlos also tutors fourth- and fifth-graders in English and math on his own time. He volunteered 36 hours over the summer at the San Bruno Library, helping with the summer reading programs.

He participated in the remembrance ceremonies for the survivors of the 2010 PG&E pipeline explosion with the Rotary Club and Interact Club by serving free food at the events.

Besides being active in community service, Carlos is an International Baccalaureate student, meaning he participates in a rigorous advanced academic program. He is taking three IB classes: IB history, IB biology and IB English. In his senior year, Carlos plans to add on IB math and IB psychology. When he graduates he will get an IB certificate.

Carlos has been on the Capuchino cross country and track and field teams since his sophomore year. He recently qualified for the Peninsula Athletic League championship, which is one step closer to the Central Coast Section championships. He is also vice president of track club at the high school.

Somehow, with all his community service, leadership, sports and schoolwork, Carlos maintains a 3.5 GPA.

“I am extremely proud of Carlos. Words cannot even describe—it’s not only his accomplishments but the amazing human being he is turning into,” said Carlos’s mother, Jessica Lozada. “I truly feel he is going to take world by his hands and accomplish amazing things out there.”

Motivation: “I want to be a role model to others and be the best I can be,” said Carlos. “I look up to the Nike logo, ‘Just do it.’ Once I dream of something, I just do it.”

Key to Awesomeness: “Carlos has this internal drive inside of him set to full speed and will not stop until he accomplishes in the world what he considers great,” said Lozada. “He is one of the sincerest human beings I’ve met and his empathy and sympathy are what really captures peoples’ hearts.”

Plans for the Future: Carlos is planning on running for vice president of the student body at Capuchino for his senior year.

As for college, Carlos wants to major in business at either UCLA or UC San Diego, he said.

Carlos’s hobbies include dancing, listening to music and hanging out with friends.