MENIFEE, CA — Samaj Daniel, an eighth-grade student at Menifee Valley Middle School, has been officially selected to the USA World Baseball Classic team and will travel to Italy this July to compete against top international talent. Daniel earned this spot following a historic year of elite athletic performance paired with an equally remarkable academic and community service record right here in Menifee.
The national team selection highlights a series of major milestones Daniel achieved throughout his middle school career. On the academic front, he recently received the Presidential Educational Award for maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA across all three years of middle school. He was also honored with the Golden Pyramid Scholar Award, presented by the National Urban League of San Diego and the University of San Diego, which recognizes only about 200 students across San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties who maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher. Alongside his academic load, Daniel has committed himself to local volunteerism, completing over 1,000 hours of community service with non-profit organizations, including the March of Dimes.
“Samaj’s work ethic is second to none, and it shows in everything he does,” said Fernando A. Meza, Coach and Campus Supervisor at Menifee Valley Middle School. “He is a phenomenal athlete on the diamond, but just as importantly, he is a great student who puts that same dedication into his academics. What truly sets him apart from other players his age is this relentless drive to excel in all areas. We are blessed to have an abundance of incredible talent in our region, but having Samaj chosen to represent us on the USA WBC team is a massive honor. There isn’t a single player more deserving to carry that torch for our community, and I know he’s going to make us all proud.”
“Having a student-athlete like Samaj represent the Menifee Union School District on a global stage brings an immense amount of pride to our entire community,” said MUSD Governing Board President J. Kyle Root. “To maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA over three years while dedicating 1,000 hours to community service is exceptional. Samaj truly exemplifies the standard of leadership, character, and academic excellence we strive to cultivate in all of our students, and we cannot wait to see him shine in Italy.”
“Putting on the USA jersey is an incredible honor. It makes me proud to represent my family, my community, and my country,” Samaj Daniel said. “I’m grateful to my teachers, coaches, and the Menifee community for
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always supporting, encouraging, and believing in me. I wouldn’t be here without them.” Daniel credits his faith as a foundational anchor for his journey, drawing inspiration from Joshua 1:9.
