Millennium High’s Daniel Hansen, who graduates today, May 25, is looking forward to college with 30 course credits already complete. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press.
The charter high school’s top student four years in a row, this 17-year-old accelerated through his high school years. He said he chose to attend Millennium after he was allowed to skip eighth grade, picking the same school his older brother had attended.
“I believe the reason I enjoyed being at Millennium was for the atmosphere,” Hansen said. “The teachers always have time to help you one-on-one. We’re a family there.”
Hansen, a whiz at mathematics, said he was the only member of his graduating class to complete the San Joaquin Delta College early-start calculus program. Instead of taking electives, he said he filled up his schedule with college classes, banking more than 30 college credits.
To gain a real-world view of life after high school, Hansen took part in a four-month internship with the city of Tracy’s Department of Engineering Services.
One of his greatest accomplishments in the program, he said, occurred when he took the lead on improvements for Tracy Police Department’s firearms practice range on the west side of South Tracy Boulevard, near Tracy Municipal Airport. The project outlined the grading, compaction and installation of about 500 tons of asphalt concrete paving to the range.
“I did a whole project from scratch,” he said. “Very hands-on. I met so many wonderful people from the city, so many great people.”
Hansen plans to attend University of California, Davis, to study bioengineering beginning in late September. He said he chose that major because it was “the best place to use my inherent skills in math and science, to make a difference in the world.”
School guidance counselor Tawn Schaffran called Hansen the whole package.
“He’s going to go far in life,” she said. “He’s extremely well rounded. Anything he puts his mind to, he can excel at. No matter his goals at life, he will achieve them. He’s a model student.”
Joining Hansen at the graduation ceremonies will be his parents and grandmother.
Millennium High will be graduating 103 seniors at the ceremony at
7 p.m. today, May 25, in the Holy Family Center at 12100 W. Valpico Road. Tickets will be required to attend.
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