This article was a winner of Lookout’s 2025 Journalism Scholarship Challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. Learn more and find all of the winners here.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
What is a hero? Is it someone who perseveres with courage and strength in the face of adversity? Or is it someone who helps their community achieve their potential? A hero is both of these and more. A hero inspires people and is a role model in the community. They are strong-willed and courageous. A hero can be an educator. An educator is a foundational element in their community. They impact the lives of their students, empowering them to achieve their potential.
Leonardo Villalobos is an educator who exemplifies the qualities of a hero. He serves underserved communities through career exploration and technical education. Villalobos is part of the dedicated faculty of Digital NEST, a nonprofit organization in Santa Cruz County that provides Latinx youth with skills to build successful careers.
Villalobos grew up in the agricultural town of Soledad, California, located in the Salinas Valley. Seeing firsthand the hard work and challenges faced by agricultural workers, he felt the responsibility to give back to his community. He later attended California State University Monterey Bay, where he studied computer science with an emphasis on software engineering. He joined Digital NEST because he was inspired to share his knowledge and empower the youth through technical education. Villalobos states, “Seeing all the agricultural workers, I knew I had to do something — to share knowledge, give back, and help build a better future for our youth.”
Watsonville, California, is a small city primarily known for its agricultural industry. The city’s resources for students aspiring to fields like technology are scarce. This results from limited access to resources and opportunities necessary for building tech skills. At Digital NEST, Villalobos is changing that narrative, through free technical education and career exploration. He leads a pathway program at Digital NEST that provides technical education in web development, a subject with unlimited potential to shape our world, waiting to be discovered by the innovative minds of our generation. Every day he’s making a difference in the lives of his students, teaching them rigorous programming principles in HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Villalobos states, “I make programming relatable — whether it’s through video games or real-world examples—so students can see that tech is something they can truly do.” Villalobos’ noble dedication to providing technical education to underserved Latinx communities is a testament to his heroic character.
In the classroom, Villalobos is an inspiring role model. His classes are truly an enriching educational experience. Students enter a welcoming environment where they are greeted with an enthusiastic smile at the door. As they take their seats, they are greeted with an opening question that acts as an icebreaker to begin class. After hearing the unique insights that each student’s response brings to the table, the lesson starts. The commitment that Villalobos puts into his presentations is remarkable; they are meticulously organized, clear and thorough. One of his students states, “If I had to describe Leo in one word, it would be ‘passionate’ — his love for teaching makes every lesson engaging and meaningful.” Villalobos’s enthusiasm and commitment to his work empower his students to achieve their true potential. It lights a fire that will inspire his students to pursue their career endeavors in the technological field despite coming from an underserved community.
As an educator, Villalobos also exposes his students to the vast career possibilities in the technology field. He provides guidance through his mentorship and shares his industry knowledge. As one student put it, “Leo has given us valuable skills, exposure and insight into the field through his past experiences.” Villalobos wants nothing more than to see his students grow as individuals and succeed. He states, “The most rewarding part is hearing back from students, seeing them succeed, and knowing that I played a role in their journey.” Through his work at Digital NEST, Leonardo Villalobos is shaping the future of the technological workforce through his commitment to providing underserved Latinx communities with technical education. His passion and enthusiasm for web development empower the innovative minds of the next generation, helping them realize and achieve their fullest potential to pursue their career endeavors and open doors to opportunities that will allow them to give back making a positive impact in their communities.