Music was Felipe Hernandez’s ticket to a better life. Growing up in a low-income family east of Compton, drug addiction, gang violence and poverty were stories of everyday life.

“I have a few childhood friends who made it out and are currently in college, but most stayed behind, trapped,” says the UCI senior. “Several friends that I grew up with are in prison, on the run or dead.”

At several pivotal points in his childhood, he considered decisions that would have led him down the same path. That all changed when, at twelve years old, his father, a musician and composer, put a guitar in his hands. Soon, time previously spent on the street was filled with musical chords and melodies. He learned how to play other instruments, too – the timbales, congas, bongos, bass and piano – while his mother, a singer, gave the young Hernandez vocal lessons. Soon, the budding musician was accompanying his parents on stage as they traveled the west playing gigs and recording new tracks.

“I was introduced to a new world where I was constantly surrounded by musicians,” he says. “The experience gave me discipline while opening my mind and creative energy. It tied me close to my heritage, but most importantly, it provided me with a passion.”

That passion led to a recording contract in Los Angeles, and, with the help of UCI’s Early Academic
Outreach Program coordinator Rudy Santacruz, admittance to UCI. The two later reconnected through UCI’s Student Achievement Guided by Experience (SAGE) program for which Santacruz now serves as assistant director.

“When I first met Felipe I was immediately struck by his seriousness of purpose, his intelligence, enthusiasm, and passion for music,” says Santacruz.

Majoring in music performance was an easy decision for Hernandez, but he had other plans, too.
A situation in which his family lacked proper legal representation and realizing in high school that his community lacked a voice to represent their needs showed him the power of law, higher education and government.  

“At UCI, I discovered that I could do something and found a double major in political science as a way for me to properly education myself on how I could help my family and community,” he says. A summer internship in D.C. with Congresswoman Linda Sanchez prompted Hernandez to found Mentors Empowering and Nurturing Through Education (MENTE). The non-profit organization pairs low-income, first-generation minorities with college-student mentors who help them prepare for education beyond high school and stimulate civic engagement, analytical thinking and leadership development.  

“By empowering youth, I want them to not only pursue their goals with conviction but also generate a new social cycle for themselves, their families and their communities,” he says. Over the course of three years, the group has been able to branch out to UCLA and assist more than 350 parents and students.

Hernandez sets a very impressive example to follow. A member of three honors programs, he’s placed on the Dean's Honors List for 12 quarters. In 2012, he was awarded a Harry S. Truman Scholarship for leadership excellence, commitment to serving others in the community and dedication to creating change. This year, he was one of only 25 students selected nationally to be named a Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholar with a teaching assistantship to Colombia that will allow him to spend 10 months teaching English in the South American country. He’ll also be setting up a program similar to MENTE to try to increase the number of students in Colombia enrolling in higher ed.

As an anteater, he completed two honors theses, one for each of his majors. In political science, he analyzed the role of social media in reducing school bullying faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth. For music, he examined the effects of narcocorridos, or drug ballads, on listeners and local musicians in Los Angeles. He received research funding from UROP and the Library Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

He’s been involved with UCI Law Forum, ASUCI, Global Law Brigades and SAGE which landed him an internship at Orange County United Way and solidified his decision to pursue a postgraduate education in nonprofit leadership and management along with a law degree. In his spare time, he’s played in several bands including The Reckoners that specializes in everything from blues, jazz and hip-hop to electro, funk and pop and is an Anthill Pub mainstay most weekends. For the past two quarters, Hernandez has been studying abroad in Spain and performing with local Spanish musicians.

“In his time at UCI, Felipe has grown and matured,” Santacruz says. “His intense drive, work ethic and passion to make a positive impact on the lives of others have without a doubt made him a force to be reckoned with.”

Hernandez will get to share some of his experiences and words of encouragement with fellow anteaters at commencement on June 15; he’ll be the student speaker at the 1:00 p.m. commencement ceremony for social sciences. Watch the ceremony live online.

-Heather Ashbach, Social Sciences Communications