<div class="page_header_wrapper ">
<div class="page_header">
<div class="page_header_content">
<div class="fs-row">
<div class="fs-cell">
<div class="page_header_content_inner">
<div class="page_header_breadcrumb">
<div class="breadcrumb">
<nav class="breadcrumb_nav" aria-labelledby="breadcrumb_nav_title">
<div class="breadcrumb_nav_header">
<h2 class="breadcrumb_nav_title" id="breadcrumb_nav_title">You are here:</h2>
</div>
<ol class="breadcrumb_list" aria-labelledby="breadcrumb_nav_title">
<li class="breadcrumb_item breadcrumb_item_home">
<a class="breadcrumb_pill breadcrumb_pill_link" href="page-home.html">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_inner">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_icon" aria-hidden="true">
<i class="fa-regular fa-regular fa-house"></i>
</span>
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_label">Home</span>
</span>
</a>
<span class="breadcrumb_divider" aria-hidden="true"></span>
</li>
<li class="breadcrumb_item">
<a class="breadcrumb_pill breadcrumb_pill_link" href="#">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_inner">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_label">Navigation Level</span>
</span>
</a>
<span class="breadcrumb_divider" aria-hidden="true"></span>
</li>
<li class="breadcrumb_item">
<a class="breadcrumb_pill breadcrumb_pill_link" href="#">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_inner">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_label">Parent Level</span>
</span>
</a>
<span class="breadcrumb_divider" aria-hidden="true"></span>
</li>
<li class="breadcrumb_item">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_inner">
<span class="breadcrumb_pill_label"></span>
</span>
</span>
</li>
</ol>
</nav>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page_header_intro">
<h1 class="page_header_title" id="page_title" tabindex="-1">Line between work and life blurred long ago for Merced College alumnus</h1>
</div>
<div class="page_header_details">
<div class="page_header_detail">
<div class="page_header_detail_label">written By</div>
<div class="page_header_detail_value">Luciana Chavez</div>
</div>
<div class="page_header_detail">
<div class="page_header_detail_label">date</div>
<time class="page_header_detail_value" datetime="2018-07-07">November 19, 2021</time>
</div>
<div class="page_header_detail">
<div class="page_header_detail_label">category</div>
<a class="page_header_detail_value" href="#">Alumni</a>
</div>
<div class="page_header_detail page_header_detail_share">
<div class="page_header_detail_label">share this</div>
<div class="js-share-tools share_tools">
<ul class="js-share-tools-list share_tools_list" aria-label="Share Options">
<li class="js-share-tool-item share_tool_item">
<a class="js-share-tool js-share-twitter share_tool" href="#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<span class="share_tool_icon">
<i class="fa-brands fa-twitter"></i>
</span>
<span class="share_tool_label">Share to Twitter</span>
</a>
</li>
<li class="js-share-tool-item share_tool_item">
<a class="js-share-tool js-share-facebook share_tool" href="#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<span class="share_tool_icon">
<i class="fa-brands fa-facebook"></i>
</span>
<span class="share_tool_label">Share to Facebook</span>
</a>
</li>
<li class="js-share-tool-item share_tool_item">
<a class="js-share-tool js-share-linkedin share_tool" href="#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<span class="share_tool_icon">
<i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin"></i>
</span>
<span class="share_tool_label">Share to Linkedin</span>
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page_header_sole">
<div class="page_header_teaser">
<div class="fs-row">
<div class="fs-cell">
<div class="page_header_teaser_inner">
<figure class="page_header_teaser_figure">
<img class="page_header_teaser_image" srcset="https://images.fastspot.com/merced/1220x686/1 1220w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/980x552/1 980w" src="https://images.fastspot.com/merced/980x552/1" alt="" loading="eager" width="980" height="552">
</figure>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<article class="news_entry">
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
'@context': 'http://schema.org',
'@type': 'NewsArticle',
'url': '#',
'publisher': {
'@type': 'Organization',
'name': 'Merced'
},
'headline': 'Line between work and life blurred long ago for Merced College alumnus',
'mainEntityOfPage': '#',
'image': '1',
'datePublished': '2017-03-20T20:30:54+00:00',
'author': 'person',
'description': ''
}
</script>
<!-- Page Content -->
<div class="page_content" id="page_content" tabindex="-1" aria-labelledby="page_title">
<!-- WYSIWYG -->
<div class="wysiwyg_block">
<div class="fs-row">
<div class="fs-cell">
<div class="fs-mini">
<div class="wysiwyg_block_inner typography">
<!-- Headings -->
<h1>H1 Crass Viverra Ante Vitate Dictum</h1>
<div class="intro">
<p>Cras viverra ante vitae dictum vestibulum. Nam placerat nulla eu dolor scelerisque mattis et in diam. Quisque tempor ullamcorper odio sit amet vestibulum.</p>
</div>
<h2>H2 Crass Viverra Ante Vitate Dictum</h2>
<p>Cras viverra ante vitae dictum vestibulum. Nam
<a href="#">placerat</a>
nulla eu dolor scelerisque mattis et in diam. Quisque tempor
<a href="#">ullamcorper</a>
odio sit amet vestibulum. Praesent cursus tellus nunc, ut venenatis lacus scelerisque sed. Pellentesque mi risus, ultrices id fringilla non, sodales non mi. In feugiat lorem id efficitur euismod.
</p>
<h3>H3 Crass Viverra Ante Vitate Dictum</h3>
<h4>H4 Crass Viverra Ante Vitate Dictum</h4>
<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium.</p>
<h5>H5 Crass Viverra Ante Vitate Dictum</h5>
<h6>H6 Crass Viverra Ante Vitate Dictum</h6>
<p>Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum.</p>
<figure class="block_right">
<img src="https://images.fastspot.com/framework/740x416/1" alt="">
<figcaption>Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum.</p>
<figure class="block_left">
<img src="https://images.fastspot.com/framework/740x416/2" alt="">
</figure>
<p>Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor.</p>
<p>Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor.</p>
<figure class="block_center">
<img src="https://images.fastspot.com/framework/1200x675/3" alt="">
<figcaption>Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor.</p>
<!-- Blockquote - WYSIWYG -->
<blockquote>
<p>Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper.</p>
</blockquote>
<figure class="quote">
<blockquote class="quote_content">
<p>Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption class="quote_caption">
<span class="quote_caption_name">Aenean massa</span>
<span class="quote_caption_title">Nullam dictum felis</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<!-- Unordered List -->
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Morbi leo risus</strong>, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Porta ac consectetur ac</strong>, vestibulum at eros. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Cum sociis natoque penatibus</strong>
et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.
<ul>
<li>Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.</li>
<li>Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus.</li>
<li>
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros
<ul>
<li>Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus.</li>
<li>Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<strong>Vestibulum at eros.</strong>
Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor.
</li>
</ul>
<!-- Ordered List -->
<ol>
<li>
<strong>Morbi leo risus</strong>, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Porta ac consectetur ac</strong>, vestibulum at eros. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Cum sociis natoque penatibus</strong>
et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.
<ul>
<li>Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.</li>
<li>Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus.</li>
<li>
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros
<ul>
<li>Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus.</li>
<li>Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<strong>Vestibulum at eros.</strong>
Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor.
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Table Title</h2>
<!-- Table -->
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Colors</th>
<th>Shapes</th>
<th>Numbers</th>
<th>Percentages</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Black</td>
<td>Circle</td>
<td>One</td>
<td>10% of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Blue</td>
<td>Square</td>
<td>Two</td>
<td>33% of Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Green</td>
<td>Triangle</td>
<td>Three</td>
<td>5% of Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Red</td>
<td>Rectangle</td>
<td>Four</td>
<td>90% of Aenean eu leo quam vestibulum.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>White</td>
<td>Oval</td>
<td>Five</td>
<td>100% of Cum sociis natoque penatibus et mus.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<td>Colors</td>
<td>Shapes</td>
<td>Numbers</td>
<td>Percentages</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Black</td>
<td>Circle</td>
<td>One</td>
<td>10% of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Blue</td>
<td>Square</td>
<td>Two</td>
<td>33% of Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Green</td>
<td>Triangle</td>
<td>Three</td>
<td>5% of Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Red</td>
<td>Rectangle</td>
<td>Four</td>
<td>90% of Aenean eu leo quam vestibulum.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>White</td>
<td>Oval</td>
<td>Five</td>
<td>100% of Cum sociis natoque penatibus et mus.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: WYSIWYG -->
</div>
<!-- END: Page Content -->
</article>
<div class="full_width_callouts">
<div class="news_related">
<div class="news_related_header">
<div class="fs-row">
<div class="fs-cell">
<div class="news_related_header_inner">
<h2 class="news_related_title">Related News</h2>
<div class="news_related_discovery news_related_discovery_lg">
<a href="#" class="event_related_link">
<span class="event_related_link_inner">
<span class="event_related_link_label">View All News</span>
<span class="event_related_link_icon" aria-hidden="true">
<i class="fa-regular fa-circle-chevron-right"></i>
</span>
</span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="news_related_body">
<div class="fs-row">
<div class="fs-cell">
<ul class="news_related_items" aria-label="Related News">
<li class="news_related_item">
<figure class="news_related_item_figure">
<a class="news_related_item_figure_link" href="page-news-detail.html" aria-label="Read more about In Enim Justo Rhoncus Ut Lorem" tabindex="-1">
<img class="news_item_image" srcset="https://images.fastspot.com/merced/980x735/1 980w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/740x555/1 740w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/500x375/1 500w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/300x225/1 300w" src="https://images.fastspot.com/merced/300x225/1" alt="" loading="lazy" width="300" height="225">
</a>
</figure>
<div class="news_related_item_wrapper">
<div class="news_related_item_header">
<h2 class="news_related_item_title">
<a href="page-news-detail.html" class="news_related_item_title_link">
<span class="news_related_item_title_link_inner">
<span class="news_related_item_title_link_label">In Enim Justo Rhoncus Ut Lorem</span>
</span>
</a>
</h2>
<div class="news_related_item_categories">
<div class="news_related_item_category_hint">Categories</div>
<ul class="news_related_item_category_list" aria-label="Categories">
<li class="news_related_item_category">
<a class="news_related_item_category_link" href="page-news-category.html">Category 1</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="news_related_item_body">
<div class="news_related_item_details">
<div class="news_related_item_detail">
<span class="news_related_item_detail_hint">Time: </span>
<span class="news_related_item_detail_label">
May 31, 2017
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="news_related_item">
<figure class="news_related_item_figure">
<a class="news_related_item_figure_link" href="page-news-detail.html" aria-label="Read more about Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit" tabindex="-1">
<img class="news_item_image" srcset="https://images.fastspot.com/merced/980x735/2 980w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/740x555/2 740w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/500x375/2 500w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/300x225/2 300w" src="https://images.fastspot.com/merced/300x225/2" alt="" loading="lazy" width="300" height="225">
</a>
</figure>
<div class="news_related_item_wrapper">
<div class="news_related_item_header">
<h2 class="news_related_item_title">
<a href="page-news-detail.html" class="news_related_item_title_link">
<span class="news_related_item_title_link_inner">
<span class="news_related_item_title_link_label">Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit</span>
</span>
</a>
</h2>
<div class="news_related_item_categories">
<div class="news_related_item_category_hint">Categories</div>
<ul class="news_related_item_category_list" aria-label="Categories">
<li class="news_related_item_category">
<a class="news_related_item_category_link" href="page-news-category.html">Category One</a>
</li>
<li class="news_related_item_category">
<a class="news_related_item_category_link" href="page-news-category.html">Another Category</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="news_related_item_body">
<div class="news_related_item_details">
<div class="news_related_item_detail">
<span class="news_related_item_detail_hint">Time: </span>
<span class="news_related_item_detail_label">
May 31, 2017
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="news_related_item">
<figure class="news_related_item_figure">
<a class="news_related_item_figure_link" href="page-news-detail.html" aria-label="Read more about Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue" tabindex="-1">
<img class="news_item_image" srcset="https://images.fastspot.com/merced/980x735/3 980w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/740x555/3 740w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/500x375/3 500w, https://images.fastspot.com/merced/300x225/3 300w" src="https://images.fastspot.com/merced/300x225/3" alt="" loading="lazy" width="300" height="225">
</a>
</figure>
<div class="news_related_item_wrapper">
<div class="news_related_item_header">
<h2 class="news_related_item_title">
<a href="page-news-detail.html" class="news_related_item_title_link">
<span class="news_related_item_title_link_inner">
<span class="news_related_item_title_link_label">Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue</span>
</span>
</a>
</h2>
<div class="news_related_item_categories">
<div class="news_related_item_category_hint">Categories</div>
<ul class="news_related_item_category_list" aria-label="Categories">
<li class="news_related_item_category">
<a class="news_related_item_category_link" href="page-news-category.html">Category</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="news_related_item_body">
<div class="news_related_item_details">
<div class="news_related_item_detail">
<span class="news_related_item_detail_hint">Time: </span>
<span class="news_related_item_detail_label">
May 31, 2017
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="news_related_discovery news_related_discovery_sm">
<a href="#" class="news_related_link">
<span class="news_related_link_inner">
<span class="news_related_link_label">View All Events</span>
<span class="news_related_link_icon" aria-hidden="true">
<i class="fa-regular fa-circle-chevron-right"></i>
</span>
</span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: Related News -->
</div>
{% include '@component-page-header' with {
page: page
} %}
<article class="news_entry">
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
'@context': 'http://schema.org',
'@type': 'NewsArticle',
'url': '#',
'publisher': {
'@type': '{{ config.schema_type }}',
'name': '{{ config.name }}'
},
'headline': '{{ page.title }}',
'mainEntityOfPage': '#',
'image': '{{ page.image }}',
'datePublished': '2017-03-20T20:30:54+00:00',
'author': 'person',
'description': '{{ page.description }}'
}
</script>
<!-- Page Content -->
<div class="page_content" id="page_content" tabindex="-1" aria-labelledby="page_title">
{% include '@component-wysiwyg' with {
content: '<p>For California Highway Patrol Sergeant Luis Lara, success means living in his hometown with good health, a good family and a good job.</p><p>Having all three allows him to do good for his community, as well.</p><p>“It was great growing up in this area, and it’s a great community to work in,” the Merced College alumnus said. “I also want this area to be the best it can be. My family and friends and colleagues live here. It’s good to give back. I need to give back. It’s what I enjoy most about living here.”</p><p>Lara has lived his entire life in Atwater, graduating in 1994 from Atwater High — where he was introduced to the Merced College dual enrollment program — and then in 1995 from Merced College, where he found law enforcement as a career.</p><p>As a senior, Lara would go to high school for four hours in the morning, work six hours at R-N Market during the day, and then hurry out to Castle Air Force Base to take college general ed classes at night.</p><p>“None of my friends knew I was [also going to college], I don’t think,” Lara said. “I’m pretty sure the counselors at Atwater High told me, ‘Hey, if you’re interested in law enforcement, do this program.’ So I enrolled in one administrative justice class and loved it.”</p><blockquote>[My instructors] understood what I needed as a high school student. They could see how focused I was. I really did take my college courses more seriously because of them, and got a lot more out of school as a result.</blockquote><p>It was during those early days studying at Castle that Lara met Vic Hurlburt, an adjunct criminal justice instructor, who looked at Lara and saw raw clay.</p><p>“[Hurlburt] was the one that got me excited about law enforcement,” Lara said. “I must have taken three or four classes with him. … Those people at Castle were mentors to me. They understood what I needed as a high school student. They could see how focused I was. I really did take my college courses more seriously because of them, and got a lot more out of school as a result.”</p><p>Lara went on to earn a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Stanislaus State. He took a Community Security Officer job there immediately after graduation. He began his CHP career soon after in 1998, at age 21. He spent three years in Redwood City before transferring to the Merced area office.</p><p>Lara’s duties over the years have included helping new recruits through the testing process and doing background checks, but he was promoted to sergeant in Merced in 2011 to oversee all uniformed personnel who do administrative work in that office.</p><p>Now in his 23rd year with the CHP, Lara understands the saying, “Each one teach one.” He has tried to put that idea in motion his entire adult life.</p><p>His parents Pedro and Rosa Lara, his teachers in Atwater, and his instructors at Merced College all cared for Lara’s future and passed along their knowledge. He now does the same whether on the job or walking around as a citizen.</p><p>Lara came back to Merced College to teach, becoming an adjunct instructor for mature driver courses and traffic school from 2013 to 2020. He also served a term with the McSwain Elementary School District. For years with the CHP, he has also contributed to work behind the annual Christmas celebration in Planada.</p><p>Lara currently serves as secretary/treasurer for the Merced Schools Credit Union Board of Directors and, most recently, was appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to the Merced County Fair Board in 2019.</p><p>Right at the moment, Lara and his wife Vanessa are focusing energy on guiding their teenage sons Evan and Brandon through high school. Lara is doing dad duty as a chauffeur, supporting the Buhach Colony water polo program, and cheering the boys on.</p><p>Still, when Merced College instructors reach out looking for guest speakers, Lara always volunteers. It allows him to keep an eye on the next generation, like others kept an eye on him decades ago.</p><p>“It’s always great to recruit from your home area,” Lara said. “It feels great when an officer from another office approaches me and says, ‘You don’t know me, but you recruited me at Merced College.’”</p><p>This area is both Lara’s home and his purpose. His “sense of community” doesn’t stop when the work day ends.</p><p>“Being at Merced College showed me what real life could be,” he said. “When I graduated, I never really left. It wasn’t my last day at the college. I still go back there in whatever capacity I can. Doing that makes me happy.”</p>'
} %}
</div>
<!-- END: Page Content -->
</article>
<div class="full_width_callouts">
{% render '@component-related-news' %}
</div>
No notes defined.