Angel Sanchez

Angel Sanchez received his GED underneath the slit in the door of his solitary confinement cell after being tried as an adult and receiving a prison sentence for gang-related violence when he was 16. Raised by a single father in a violent, drug-stricken area of Miami with lots of gang activity, Angel’s dad always pushed him to get good grades and strive to earn an education. Despite his father’s influence, Angel made friends with gang members and developed a reputation on the street.

During his 12 years in prison, Angel worked in the prison’s law library and developed a passion for helping inmates with their cases and studying criminal justice. With a new goal of becoming a lawyer, he decided to go back to school.

After serving his sentence, Angel enrolled at Valencia College in Florida and was selected as a Cooke Transfer Scholar while also being under his 10-year probation period. He went on to complete his undergraduate studies at University of Central Florida, and as a Graduate Scholar he earned his law degree from University of Miami School of Law.