STUDENT'S LIFE TURNED AROUND THROUGH L.A.'S BEST PROGRAM.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

The turning point for Mauricio Valdovionos came 13 years ago as a 6-year-old first-grader at Langdon Elementary School in North Hills.

That is when the decision was made for him that would take him from the potential life of a street thug and away from a lifestyle of gangs, crime, drugs and death.

Instead, Valdovionos became one of the initial participants in the then-experimental L.A.'s Best after-school program developed by former Mayor Tom Bradley.

``If it wasn't for L.A.'s Best, I wouldn't be standing here today introducing the mayor,'' Valdovionos said as he presented Mayor Richard Riordan to a crowd of 300 city leaders for the mayor's sixth State of the City address.

``It's an honor to be here. I could never have imagined as a 6-year-old that someday I would be introducing the mayor.''

Then, with a sigh of relief as he got over his initial remarks, Valdovionos breathed out a thankful ``whew.''

It was the L.A.'s Best program that brought police and special tutoring to his school and others throughout the district that gave him an alternative to gang life.

``There were a lot of young people out there doing drugs and crimes and dying,'' Valdovionos said. ``But, I had people I looked up to - my mother, other adults. And, today, I am the first member of my family to attend college.''

Valdovionos is in his second year at Mission College in Sylmar and he plans to transfer to a four-year college so he can become a teacher.

His goal is to help young people as he was helped years ago.

``Young people need someone to look up to and someone to help them,'' Valdovionos said. ``I want to give to them what people gave to me.''

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PHOTO L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan joins hands with Mauricio Valdovionos prior to his address.

David Sprague/Daily News