The fact Garrett Hazarian, all 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds of him, was the starting center and linebacker for the San Marcos football team tells you he’s not afraid to tackle demanding challenges head on.
Hazarian applies the same drive in everything he does at school: in academics, in tennis, in music and in volunteer work.
The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table recognized Hazarian for his achievements by naming him the Scholar-Athlete of the Year for San Marcos at Monday’s press luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
Besides being captain of the football and tennis teams, Hazarian carries a 4.51 grade point average, and has taken every Advanced Placement class possible, according to his tennis coach and AP physics teacher Jarrod Bradley.
He’s a member of the school’s Madrigals choral group and he’s actively involved in the volunteer groups Students for Soldiers and Kids Helping Kids.
Hazarian said Students for Soldiers last year raised $9,000 through a benefit concert to help U.S. military veterans and soldiers on duty today.
Kids Helping Kids, he said, is an AP economics, student-run organization that’s been in existence for 10 years. The group raised $160,000 last year for the local community and students around the world in need. It hopes to raise $175,000 to $200,000 this year.
“Garrett shows qualities of great leadership,” Bradley said. “We have a big void in our country right now — we like to blame, we like to grandstand. Garrett understands collaboration. He understands what it takes to get things done effectively.”
As the public address announcer at the Royals football games, Bradley said it’s easy to spot Hazarian, because he’s all over the field.
“I watch No. 56, because I know he’s going to be in the mix,” Bradley said. “He doesn’t gives up. He perseveres. He doesn’t make excuses. He’s extremely positive.”
Bradley noted that Hazarian’s leadership shined after football coach Jeff Hesselmeyer passed away just before the start of fall practice.
“It’s been a very difficult year with what happened to our football program and
Garrett has really been a shining star at our school, not only on our football team.”
Bradley added: “He’s going to make a difference in this world, whether it’s in law or chemistry, or wherever he chooses. The fact he has such a determined path is not by accident. He’s got terrific parents (Jeff and Karen) who have only been supportive of San Marcos.”
Hazarian thanked his parents and the coaches, teachers, mentors and administrators at San Marcos
“There are skills that I’ve learned in sports, such as leadership and determination, that I could not have learned in academics alone,” he said. “It is the same with management that I could not have learned with only sports. It is the combination of the two that have driven me to accomplish the goals I set for myself, both short term and long term.”
