Joseph Miller

STAR POWER: Since joining The Santa Barbara Independent team in 2012, Joseph Miller has contributed countless arts features and reviews of performances here. But this week, we pulled Miller out of the theater and into the classroom to profile 17-year-old astronomer (and Dos Pueblos senior) Daniel Godinez. “Daniel has been such an inspiration to me. His work ethic puts me to shame,” says Miller. “I’ve seen him sit for six hours and power through homework and college application essays and never look up, not even for a snack. He can work like a dog and yet remain utterly affable. Watching his transformation has made me really wonder: What possibilities are sleeping in other students? What new methods might educators try to awaken them?”