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Its a good day for Junior Ambassador leaders
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Alan Sanchez, Good Day Sacramento reporter, center, speaks to students involved in the Manteca Chamber of Commerce’s Junior Ambassadors Leadership Program on Wednesday. Included is Tadaysha Martin. - photo by VINCE REMBULAT
Amanda Rosas is involved in the Manteca Chamber of Commerce’s Junior Ambassadors Leadership Program.

A junior at Sierra High, she hopes to someday work in front of a television camera as a meteorologist.

At Wednesday’s monthly function, Rosas had a chance to meet Channel 31 reporter Alan Sanchez, who was the “Press Day” special guest.

According to Debby Moorhead, chamber director and a Manteca City Council member, those involved in this youth leadership program are educated and inspired about their surroundings, using good planning to develop good decisions for the future.

Last month, for example, students learned about fire safety.

Sanchez, 25, has been a full-time reporter on “Good Day Sacramento” since March.

He took a unique path in working in the No. 20th television market in the country – out of 150 – starting as an unpaid intern for six months and later getting aboard on a part-time basis.
“It’s almost heard of someone hiring an intern as part-time in this market,” Sanchez told the distinguished group of about 10 high school students.

 He grew up poor in the Turlock / Modesto area and was aware his family would have a hard time paying his way through college. Sanchez, who wanted to become a TV reporter since the tender age of 5, instead, went to Modesto Junior College.

It was there that he got a taste of business by taking a TV class. “I was hooked,” said Sanchez, who soon started at Channel 31 as an intern.

He was up to any task, from eating ice cream in a cold storage area to jumping in freezing waters.

“I did it all,” Sanchez said. “I didn’t care.”

In between his stints in front of the TV camera, he kept busy by working a series of jobs. Included was the night shift at a Target Store and helping out at the recently closed Modesto YMCA.

Sanchez, in fact, juggled both jobs along with “Good Day Sacramento,” from Oct. 15, 2006 until achieving full-time status at the Sacramento-based TV station in March.

“I worked every day, including Christmas and the holidays, without one day off,” he said.

Sanchez’s hard work paid off. But it’s not the money that drives him.

 “I do what I do because I love it,” he said. “I used to do it for free.”

Sanchez, who also works for the Stockton Thunder hockey team, hopes to someday work exclusively in sports as a sideline reporter. He may even consider dabbling in politics.

Whatever the future holds, Sanchez has enjoyed his work in front of the cameras.

He’s interviewed plenty of A-list celebrities – singer Gwen Stefani, actress Jennifer Garner, race car driver Jeff Gordon, country singer Garth Brooks, the Jonas Brothers, NFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback Joe Montana, and recording-setting wide receiver Jerry Rice – and even appeared on the D-list.

Not too long ago, Sanchez was on the Bravo network, “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.”

He credits Griffin, host of the two-time Emmy Award-winning reality show, for making him look good during the segment filmed in Tracy.

“I called family and friends from all over to watch the show,” Sanchez said.