'A Kind, Gentle Human': Beverly Hills Student Athlete

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — We all know student athletes who also bring their A-game to other parts of their lives.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these athletes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know the individual stories behind the leaderboard.

This submission comes from Daphna Gerendash who nominated her son, David Gerendash of Beverly Hills.

Star student athlete’s name

David Gerendash

Star student athlete’s home state

California

Star student athlete’s Patch town

Beverly Hills

How do you know the star student athlete?

Parent

What sport does the star student athlete play?

Basketball

Why do you believe the star student athlete should be recognized?

David is 13 years old and was a baseball player in little league for all his childhood. When COVID hit baseball was no longer an option, but his school still had a basketball team. He took the opportunity to try out for his school team and made the cut even though he had never played basketball before. He spent every moment learning the rules and practicing. In the beginning, he barely had any game time and was benched for most of the games, but he would practice with teammates and coaches. As he got better, his game time increased. By the end of the year he was playing most of the time and and was awarded most improved player after the season. This year he is a star player on the eighth grade varsity team and is sought after. He worked very hard to earn his position.

I am nominating David because he not only works hard to be a great athlete but a great human being. It’s in his nature to care about others and he prioritizes the feelings of other people. At the end of last year while he was working so hard in school and on basketball his older brother had an idea to fundraise and buy his teacher a car. The Patch covered the story of Mr. Castro and the Yula boys that spent their summer fundraising. David, who was not a student of Mr. Castro and didn’t really know him, jumped at the opportunity to help the boys raise the $33k to make the dream a reality. David went door to door to restaurants and businesses and asked for in kind donations so he and the high school boys could raffle off the certificates and hit their goal to buy the car.

He was also enrolled in UCLA basketball camp that summer and reached out to the team to ask for their signatures on a basketball so he could raffle it off. He knew it would have a high value and it did bring in the most tickets. He went out of his way to find every opportunity to help so that Mr. Castro, who he did not know, could get a car and change his life. This teacher commuted over two hours each way to campus via scooter and bus. David does this sort of thing all the time. Not fundraising but looking out for his fellow human. His heart is full of compassion and that is the reason I am nominating him.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star student athlete?

He is a kind gentle human who wants to be the best at what he does but never at the expense of anyone else. He has great sportsmanship.

Keep up the great work, David!

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Know an outstanding student-athlete? Nominate them here.