When was the last time you were recognized for being someone’s hero?

March 7 DU junior Jose Silva was recognized as an Everyday Hero on KMGH Channel 7 News.

The 7Everyday Hero Award is presented every Friday at 10 p.m. to an outstanding member of the Denver community. Heroes are nominated by members of their community, and are chosen by a panel of Channel 7 employees. 7Everyday Heroes are people who motivate others, make sacrifices, and above all, make a difference.

Silva was chosen as an embodiment of these qualities, and recognized by those in his community because of his volunteering and dedication to Save Our Youth. This is a faith-based nonprofit organization that serves inner-city kids and helps them complete their education.

Silva’s involvement with the Save Our Youth program began when he was a mentee with the program over nine years ago. Bill Frye, Silva’s mentor, became one of his greatest friends. Frye is now a co-mentor with Silva.

Silva has a dream to one day open his own non-profit mentoring program to help youth. He wants to call his mentoring program Mile High Productions.

Although he is new to the DU campus, a junior transfer student from Metro State, he has been greatly involved with the Latin Student Alliance.

He plans to graduate next year with a degree in sociology, with an emphasis on youth justice.

“All children are special,” said Silva, “and everything you do can have a great effect on their lives. That is why I have decided to commit my life to improving theirs. It is like making an investment in the future.”