A 17-year-old Santa Maria resident who overcame challenges to graduate high school this spring has been awarded the Joe Howell Legacy Scholarship by the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
Juan Tello Salinas received the $500 scholarship during a ceremony hosted by the Santa Barbara County Education Office and County Board of Education on Friday.
“Your past does not have to decide your future,” Tello Salinas told the audience, which included his family, educators, and supporters. “What matters most is what you choose to do next.”…