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Daniel Basurto
The Illinois Latino Hispanic Alliance (ILACHE) has named Waubonsee Community College student, Daniel Basurto, of Aurora, as one of five 2026 Undergraduate Student Scholarship winners across Illinois. Basurto was selected for his outstanding commitment to leadership, community service, and learning.
Basurto’s growth as a rising student leader at Waubonsee began shortly after graduating from Oswego High School.
“Waubonsee allowed me to see what my interests are,” said Basurto. “Taking general education classes online gave me that space to grow and mature in college and realize that I want to pursue Engineering.”
With a clear goal in sight, Basurto increased his course load the following semester. At the Aurora Downtown Campus, Basurto found a support system through Waubonsee’s Creating Alliances through Mentoring and Inclusive Navigation of Opportunities for Students (C.A.M.I.N.O.S.). There, he found a trusted mentor in Latinx Resource Center Manager Franklin Ortega-Palaguachi.
The C.A.M.I.N.O.S. program helps students develop themselves professionally, mentally, and academically with a focus to ensure they successfully persist, graduate, and transfer.
When Basurto transitioned from online courses to face-to-face courses at the Sugar Grove and Aurora Downtown Campuses, he struggled initially. Following the advice of his mentor, Ortega-Palaguachi, Basurto sought out the personalized support of Waubonsee’s Tutoring Center to turn his performance around.
“I remember how hard I struggled in Chemistry; I barely passed with a “C,” Basurto said. “But I didn’t give up. I knew the transfer school I was applying to wouldn’t accept anything less than a “B.” With the help of Waubonsee’s Tutoring Center and a lot of willpower, I retook the class and earned an “A.” It was one of the happiest moments of my life.”
Basurto has since maintained a 3.8 GPA, earning a spot on the President’s List for two consecutive semesters. He was recognized for his hard work at Waubonsee’s January board meeting.
“I have been impressed by how much he has grown in his educational journey. His authenticity, resilience, and dedication is truly inspiring and they are qualities he demonstrates every day,” said Ortega-Palaguachi.
In addition to his academic success, Basurto is active with several student organizations, including Latinos Unidos, Mecha, the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Club, and the Engineering Club, all while working a part-time job.
"Waubonsee has given me so much. It has given me an affordable education. But most importantly, it gave me a community and tools to develop into the student I am today. All my hard work has paid off,” said Basurto. “And I have learned that success is about consistency and discipline.”
Basurto will graduate this May and plans to transfer to either the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) or the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to continue his studies in Mechanical Engineering. “I am passionate about ensuring we bring more representation into engineering programs across my community,” said Basurto. “I hope to turn my dreams into reality and give back to my community through engineering innovation.”
ILACHE is a statewide organization dedicated to advocating for students and professionals in higher education and to provide a statewide forum for educators, community representatives, and other supporters for the social and professional advancement, centering Latinos.
