Daniel Hernandez

Echo Hall of Fame 2011 Daniel Hernandez

No matter what he does in life, Daniel Hernandez will be known for being part of one of the biggest news stories of 2011 when he went to the aid of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot on Jan. 8 in Tucson.

Hernandez, who is studying American government at the University of Arizona in Tucson, had just started work as an intern in Giffords' office when the shooting that killed six people and injured 12 others occurred.

While he finished the internship in Giffords' office, his life changed as Hernandez was inundated by requests for interviews and appearances.

During a telephone interview between classes at UA, Hernandez said he expected the attention to taper off, but he's still getting so many requests that he needs the help of a scheduler.

Hernandez said he's not accepting as many engagements. His priority is completing his senior year so he can graduate in the spring.

Hernandez said he spent the summer traveling all over the country for events that included appearances for LGBT, Hispanic and educational organizations. "It's been a big mix of things," Hernandez said. But he noted that they all had something in common: "A lot of events are about the importance of building community," he said.

Hernandez has been honored at the state Capitol and attended everything from the State of the Union Address to galas for the Human Rights Campaign Arizona and Equality Arizona. Other LGBT events included serving as grand marshal for Pride parades in Seattle and San Diego.

Among what he called the "weird things" Hernandez has been called on to do was throwing out the first pitch at Major League Baseball's All Star game this summer in Phoenix, as well as handling the same duties at Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres games.

Hernandez said that while he has little trouble speaking to groups of hundreds of people, throwing a pitch in front of a stadium of baseball fans can be nerve wracking. But while he never played baseball, he said the experience was an opportunity to bond with his father, a baseball fanatic.

While he was hailed as a hero by President Barack Obama, Hernandez said he's not a fan of celebrity culture. "I think hero worship is overrated," he said. He said he's enjoyed meeting people with "really interesting life stories" and is impressed with the people who work day in and day out, like teachers and doctors.

Still, he said a highlight of the year was meeting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a visit to Washington, D.C. Hernandez said his first foray into politics was volunteering for Clinton's presidential campaign in 2008. "Meeting with her was fantastic," he said.

BACKGROUND:: Hernandez, 21, is the oldest of three children of what he called a "working class family" from Tucson. He graduated from Sunnyside High School in 2008.

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:: As a freshman at UA, Hernandez interned with the Arizona Students Association, and stayed with the organization that represents university students for three years. In 2010, he drafted a bill that was approved by the Arizona Legislature aimed at promoting voter participation by college students. He volunteered for Giffords' campaign and managed state Rep. Steve Farley's successful re-election campaign in 2010. He was a member of the Tucson Commission on LGBT issues. The Equality Forum named him an icon for the 2011 LGBT History Month.

FUTURE:: At one time, Hernandez said he envisioned going to D.C. to work in a congressional office or for a non-profit. Now he said he's open to anything. "I don't have any long term plans," he said. "I'm trying to go with the flow." But he's running for the Sunnyside School Board and winning the Nov. 8 election would keep him in Tucson for a while.

PHILOSOPHY:: "The one principle I've been guided by is the importance of serving the community," Hernandez said. "Everything I've done is helpful to someone else."