Former Valencia High football star now shines at UCLA

UCLA running back and punt returner Steven Manfro has found a lot of success this college football season.

No one can forget the horrific events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, but for Steven and his family, they don’t just remember those events – their lives were changed forever by it.

Steven’s father was a police officer who had a day off on the day of the attacks, but what almost took his life, was the aftermath where he worked on Ground Zero for six months. The work at Ground Zero was brutal to his lungs and overall health, putting him in critical condition for three days. At that time, Steven understood that there was a great chance that he could lose his father.

Just before his father was placed under critical condition, he had moved Steven, his mom and brother out to California where Steven would continue to play football.

It was difficult for him to not only adjust to life in California, but as well as football without his father. Steven’s father eventually recovered and moved out to California to be with his family, where he would watch his son shine for Valencia High School, playing so well he would eventually earn a scholarship to one of the top academic and athletic institutions in the country, UCLA.