Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Scholar Victor Sandoval is graduating from University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) with a major in Communications and a minor in Business Entrepreneurship. His journey traces back to his roots at North High School in Denver, where he completed his high school education and ignited the spark that fueled the pursuit of his dreams. Â
During his freshman year at North, Victor initially thought college was out of reach until he crossed paths with his DSF College Advisor, Michele Lopez at the DSF Future Center located inside North. Ms. Lopez played a pivotal role in Victor’s life, guiding him through college, financial aid and scholarship applications and providing invaluable advice, both personally and academically. His natural leaderships skills shone through as he served as class president and actively participated in various school clubs. Victor graduated high school at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic with many uncertainties and missed out on the traditional graduation experience. Â
Nonetheless, undeterred by the circumstance, he embarked on his college journey at CU Denver, where he started online classes and continued to stay engaged with DSF. He first met with his first DSF College Advisor, Ashton Clause, where he appreciated having someone on campus to ask questions or resources. He then continued fostering accountability and building connections with fellow DSF Scholars. He also seized every opportunity to expand his network, by attending networking events like the DSF Gala and gaining workplace experience by shadowing the DSF Marketing and Communications department.
Victor also felt a sense of responsibility to give back to his community and help other Denver students to see the value of utilizing the DSF Future Center, he has gone back to talk to North students attending the DSF Future Center sharing his own experiences and encouraging students to make the most of DSF resources. Balancing academics, work, and many other hats during his journey not only pushed him to take advantage of the guidance of his DSF advisors but also motivated him to seize every opportunity to continue to grow my skills.Â
Reflecting on his journey, Victor expresses his gratitude to DSF and the DSF Scholarship for the financial support which allows him to graduate debt-free. The 8 years of support he received from his freshman year to now has been pivotal in his success including the wraparound support from his DSF advisors. For Victor, the investment of time, effort and money in his education has been transformative, not only by expanding his knowledge base but by also cultivating a valuable network.
Looking ahead, Victor will pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations inspired by the resilience and determination instilled in him by his family, particularly his grandfather. With his sights set to opening his own business, he is ready to follow his passion towards realizing his dreams. Â
Victor’s journey embodies the transformative power of education and the invaluable support provided by organizations like DSF. As he prepares to embark on the next chapter of his life, Victor stands as a testament to the impact of DSF, perseverance, mentorship, and community support in shaping future leaders in the Denver community.