NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Newark Board of Education. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.
District officials announced today that David Sawacha, a 17-year-old Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology senior, has received a full scholarship to Wesleyan University. The Questbridge Scholarship Program, a nonprofit organization that provides higher education opportunities to high-achieving students from low-income families, has provided the scholarship.
“It takes a lot of weight off of my shoulders because I know what I’m going to do now,” said Sawacha when asked about his reaction to the scholarship announcement. “I don’t have to worry about all of that college stuff anymore. I’m locked in.”
Dr. Liana Summey, principal of Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology, called Sawacha’s scholarship “a huge milestone.”
“In June, our school will celebrate its first graduating class and David is the first Data Science student to be awarded this honor,” Summey said. “It is a very significant accomplishment for his family and for our school community. He is an inspiration for other students to follow in his footsteps.”
Superintendent León personally congratulated Sawacha last week.
“I’m very proud of David and everything he has accomplished as a Data Science High School student,” Superintendent León said. “David has been an active member of the robotics and math league teams. He has also played on the school’s club volleyball team and participated in the Duke of Edinburg program. David has worked very hard to get to where he is. He also had people who helped him along the way. I want to recognize his parents and the rest of his family for their devoted support of David. I thank and acknowledge the efforts of David’s teachers, counselors, and school administrators, who worked to bring out the best in David. We all look forward to seeing all that David accomplishes in college and beyond.”
“On behalf of the Board of Education, I want to congratulate David for this extraordinary accomplishment,” said Hasani K. Council, President of the Board of Education. “David’s accomplishment brings pride to everyone in our school district as well as the City of Newark, and we wish him all the best as he continues his education at Wesleyan University.”
Sawacha was nine years old when he came to the United States from Nigeria, where he was born. His family eventually moved to Newark’s west ward. He is the fourth of five boys. His father operates a forklift, and his mother is studying to be a healthcare provider to the elderly.
It was in middle school when he became interested in computers, and he followed that interest to apply to the District’s data science magnet high school. In the program, which was founded by the United Kingdom’s Prince Phillip, students engage in volunteering, physical recreation, skills development, and other activities.
Computer science, data science, and statistics are among the majors Sawacha is currently considering.
“I just like working on computers,” Sawacha said. “The feeling you get when you solve a problem. I like that feeling a lot.”
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