'I never met a kid like him' Morton West's David Sandoval honored as Presidential Scholar

BERWYN – David Sandoval still remembers the day in preschool that changed the course of his life.

A guest speaker, a doctor and expert in cancer, talked to Sandoval's class about STEM, or the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The doctor, who was Hispanic and spoke Spanish, was aware of the hardships that children like Sandoval faced. He reminded them that he came from the same background.

"He told us, 'it is possible, you can do it, look at my doctor's robe – you can enter STEM, too, there's many possibilities with math and science.' I was five, and he was living proof," Sandoval said. "He inspired me. Ever since that age, STEM has been my whole life."

Sandoval, now, is the inspiration.

A recent graduate of Morton West High School in Berwyn, he's earned a full scholarship to the University of Chicago as a QuestBridge Scholar. He's also earned a full scholarship to any graduate program as a Gates Scholar.

And, most recently, Sandoval was named a Presidential Scholar. He's one of just four students in Illinois and 161 nationwide to earn the distinction.

"I had him his junior year in precalculus and over the past two years, to see all that he has accomplished, it's remarkable. I'm ecstatic for him," said AnneMarie Madej, a math teacher at Morton West. "I have been teaching for eight years and I never met a kid like him. He is just a genuine person."

Sandoval plans to study molecular engineering on the quantum track, and computational and applied mathematics at the University of Chicago. He'll be working toward becoming a chemical or quantum engineer.

First, though, he's intent on helping to lift up those who follow in his footsteps.

He helps run the nonprofit STEMchats, a student-run organization that started at MIT, Yale and Chicago and is dedicated to introducing first-generation, low-income students to STEM. It targets middle school students through after-school programs and research opportunities, partnering with schools to introduce children to concepts of physics and math.

The last four summers, Sandoval has also traveled to Mexico to teach calculus, chemistry, algebra and other subjects at the high school Escuela Secundaria with a curriculum that he designed.

"It's a great way for students from the U.S. to go there and teach students what they know," Sandoval said. "I saw how it impacted these students, how hungry they were to learn. I teach them what I know and by the end they are better than me. It's refreshing and it's enlightening. It's helped them grow and it's helped me grow, too."

Sandoval himself grew up in the Hermosa neighborhood of Chicago. It was an area rife with gang violence and drugs. In elementary school he was around students that believed college was unachievable and their future was limited to being simple laborers.

His parents, though, would not let him think like that.

Sandoval's mom gave up everything she had to come to this country alone as an immigrant. She and Sandoval's father always worked toward a better life.

"My parents would always remind me that they came to this country to give me a better life, what they sacrificed for me, that they want me to succeed and that if I keep pushing I can accomplish anything," Sandoval said. "My parents have been beyond helpful. I owe it all to them."

Sandoval's mom, who he calls "his whole world," motivates him, and so does his community. He moved to Berwyn after third grade, but looks with pride on the neighborhood he left.

"It's not the same as before. Hermosa is much better now," Sandoval said. "There's little to no gang violence, I've seen it heal. I've seen an entire neighborhood get better before my eyes."

Those words shouldn't surprise. Madej said Sandoval's qualities go beyond his intelligence to "an insane work ethic and a kind soul."

"It's never all about David with him; he always give credit to someone else," Madej said. "He texted me about the Gates Scholarship, and I told him he was my model student, that I will tell future students about you.

"He goes 'Miss Marie, you need to tell your whole class. If I can do it, there's a lot of others that can do it.' That's just how he is. He's just so positive, he just wants to help."

Sandoval looks at it as leaving his own legacy behind, that others learn from him and pass it on in a never-ending cycle of growth.

"I knew early on that I didn't have much when I started learning, but students had less than me," Sandoval said. "I've thought about being grateful for what I have and absorbing what I can to give back to the community. I would hate for students with so much potential to not know it. I've made it my mission to pass on what I can."