ABC7 Star Scholar: Daniel Rosenthal

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- This marks the 10th year ABC7 has celebrated student achievement with the Star Scholars program. Every year, ABC7 recognizes seven Bay Area high school seniors for their extraordinary achievements and awards each a $1,000 scholarship toward his or her college education.

In the North Bay, there is one star scholar who is using magic as medicine to help others.

Magic and music -- they are two of Daniel Rosenthal's top three passions.

"I love doing magic and music because they're both so amazing. Magic is mysterious. I love seeing people say, 'Wow how did you do that?' And also music, it's the same thing. When people listen to it, I can really see that they open up and it's something that everyone can appreciate," Rosenthal said.

The third passion for this ABC7 Star scholar is giving back.

This recent Maria Carrillo High School graduate from Santa Rosa plans to study molecular cell biology at UC Berkeley in the fall. He wants to become a doctor and bring joy to those he treat through the magic of medicine.

"In 2007, I started volunteering in the cancer ward of a Bay Area hospital and after my show, a patient told me, 'This is the first time we've heard laughter in here.' And that's when Magic Is Medicine was born," Rosenthal explained. "As its founder and director, I match professional magicians over the country from New York to Miami to Los Angeles with hospitals, rehabilitation and assisted living centers and schools for the developmentally disabled, where they do volunteer magic shows and bring joy to those who need it most."

This ABC7 Star Scholar has also taken his mastery of speech and debate to the Leo Club, a branch of the Lion's Club of Santa Rosa to teach his peers the art of public speaking.

"One of my passions is really giving back to the community and I really hope to inspire a lot of my peers to do the same. That's what it's all about," Rosenthal said.

This is the tenth year for ABC7's Star Scholars program, where ABC7 gives recognition to seven outstanding students, each of whom receives a $1,000 scholarship toward his or her college education. Watch Sunday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about all of our Star Scholars!