This year’s commencement speaker, Dano Pagenkopf, is a master of the balancing act as a single parent, avid motor cyclist, War Veteran, marine diver, Associated Student Senator and newly accepted UCSB engineering student.

“The biggest motivating, driving factor here is I want to succeed so I can provide for my daughter,” Pagenkopf said.

Atty Garfinkel, next year’s appointed Associated Student Senate President, befriended Pagenkopf in the two years of knowing each other. Garfinkel said Pagenkopf has an inspirational story that he’s humble about.

“He was completely willing to change his life around and provide for his family,” Garfinkel said. “He’s one of those old fashioned, decent guys.”

Pagenkopf was born in Boise, Id. Fresh out of high school, he went to the US Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Fl. Pagenkopf said he wanted to be a marine diver but the Naval School had other plans. Instead, Pagenkopf said he worked on nuclear technology.

Pagenkopf served six years in the military and served in the First Gulf War. After his time serving the country he returned back to school for a bachelor’s degree to get a steady job and provide for his daughter. Pagenkopf returned to his dream of becoming a diver when he became a City College student in ’99. He has left and come back to City College since then.

Geoff Thielst, Marine Diving Technology’s Chair and Program Director, said Pagenkopf was in one of the first classes he ever taught at City College.

“You tend to remember the good students or the absolutely terrible ones,” Thielst said. “Dano was a good student.”

Thielst said “back then” Pagenkopf and his marine diving buddies liked to push the new professor’s buttons. But Thielst said he got to know Pagenkopf outside of the class.

“The guy makes the most out of life,” Thielst said.

Pagenkopf brought his other passion to City College by starting a Motorcycling Club. Riding is a huge part of his life and he makes time for it even with a busy schedule.

“That keeps me more sane and level and calm than anything else in life,” Pagenkopf said. “There’s a saying, ‘You never see a Harley parked outside a physiatrist’s office.'”

Pagenkopf volunteer’s in the Santa Barbara Community at The Boys and Girls Club, the Marine Mammals Center, and Outreach-a support group for quadriplegics in power chairs.

But where Pagenkopf really makes his “bread and butter” is handy-man jobs all over Santa Barbara. In addition, he works at the Chemistry lab at City College, repairing lab equipment and washing “piles of dishes.”

Pagenkopf attributes his success in school to good time management and networking with people, such as utilizing tutor and teacher office hours.

“I’m not the smartest guy in the world,” Pagenkopf said. “But I won’t give up, I’ll keep at it.”

Pagenkopf will be attending UCSB to get his bachelors degree in Engineering. He said after his undergraduate work, he plans to get his Masters in Materials Science. His goal is to get out of school before his daughter starts college.

“Going to UCSB is like going from the Minor Leagues to the Majors,” Pagenkopf said.

With degrees under his belt, Pagenkopf wants to create companies that use nanotechnology, a study that controls matter to potentially create new materials and devices for medicine, electronics, and energy production.

“This is a dream of mine,” Pagenkopf said. “Probably not realistic, but if I could be an astronaut for NASA, hell yeah!”

Pagenkopf said in his Commencement speech will touch upon three main points he believes in- manners, integrity and perseverance.

“The definition of being an adult is being accountable and responsible for your actions,” Pagenkopf added.