Most Influential Hispanic helped many young people

Luis Barajas was a high school principal, then he became a financial services adviser to students wanting to continue their educations at Arizona Western College. And then he headed up AWC's Construction Trades program.

In whatever capacity, he helped young people attain their dreams. And that dedication to youth has earned the longtime Yuma resident the honor of Most Influential Hispanic of 2009.

Barajas was selected by a panel of judges from among 11 nominees for the annual award presented by Bajo El Sol, the Spanish-language sister publication of the Yuma Sun.

"This is really a surprise for me, and something I really appreciate," said Barajas, who typically preferred to avoid fanfare during his career.

"I hope this recognition motivates young people and all other people to have a positive attitude toward life, because with a positive outlook, life is easier and more enjoyable," he said.

As AWC's financial aid director for 34 years, the native of Nogales, Son., was responsible for distributing millions of dollars that had been allocated to AWC for financial aid for students of limited means.

"We gave help to Hispanic students and non-Hispanic students without distinction," he recalled. "I always thought that students, and people in general, should be treated with respect and dignity."

A member of a Nogales High School baseball team that won an Arizona state championship in 1965, Barajas received a baseball scholarship to attend Arizona Western College the following year.

He went on from AWC to the University of Arizona, where he earned a bachelor's degree in education. He earned his master's from the UA and Northern Arizona University.

He served as principal of Cholla High School in Tucson before the opportunity to be AWC's financial aid director brought him back to Yuma in the 1970s.

"Luis had many responsibilities, but each year he repeated three tasks," former AWC employee Billie Slocum said in her letter nominating Barajas for the award. "He supervised the distribution of hundreds of thousands of dollars of scholarship money. He supervised awarding several million dollars in Pell Grants and FUG grants. He supervised hundreds of students in the Work Study program who attained jobs at the college and in the community while they attended the college.

"Not only did Luis accomplish remarkable tasks, he worked at the job for many years, a seldom heard-of feat because of the political nature of the job. The average tenure of financial aid directors was five years."

After more than three decades in the post, Barajas retired but returned to head up the college's Construction Trades Program. He retired from that post two years ago.

"I can think of no one, Hispanic for not, that has had such a positive influence in Yuma or even possibly the state," Slocum said.

"And he always has a smile on his face."

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NOMINEES FOR MOST INFLUENTIAL HISPANIC OF 2009

• Luis Barajas, retired director of financial aid and of construction trades program at Arizona Western College.

• Marci Rios, charter member of the Attorney General's Citizens Advisory Committee for the Immigration and Naturalization Services.

• Gabriel Garcia, Kofa High alumnus and Army staff sergeant recovering from wounds suffered while serving in Afghanistan.

• San Luis, Ariz., Police Sgt. Ernesto Prieto, who has organized youth boxing and wresting programs in San Luis.

• Jose Manuel Castro, pastor of Iglesia Gethsemani in San Luis, Ariz., and founder of the Gethsemani Food Ministry, which donates food, clothing, furniture and other items to the needy.

• Jorge Lozano, Somerton Justice of the Peace and board director of the Housing America Corp.

• Henry and Lydia Chavez, owners of San Luis Cooling who have contributed their time to charitable and civic organizations in Yuma County.

• Lenore Lorona Stuart, Yuma County supervisor and lifelong Yuma resident involved in numerous community organizations.

• Rudy Valenzuela, family nurse practitioner in San Luis, Ariz., and founder of the Santa Maria de Guadalupe Clinic in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son.

• Joe Montoya, longtime Yuma resident, member of Caballeros de Yuma, Elks and Kiwanis clubs and other civic organizations, and founder of the Montoya Group, a family-owned insurance company.