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Dominic Vedder

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: Dominic Vedder had just been notified he was named a Young Scholar.  Life was looking up for the young man. He’d done well at the local KIPP School, had a laptop and was ready to begin freshman year at a prestigious private school.  It was then, Dominic recalled, that the Foundation came to the rescue. His laptop was stolen and without it he was lost. “Thankfully the Foundation provided me with a replacement laptop” and his high school career started without interruption. In addition to replacement of a material item such as a computer, Dominic was able to experience special programs as a Young Scholar. “From an entire summer in Greece to a summer program at Yale and discovering my love for engineering at Purdue, I’ve had so many experiences to shape who I am during these last four years,” said Dominic. “As the high school chapter of my life ends, I’m off to college where I’m striving to do even bigger and better things.” 

Profile: Dominic, a Washington, DC native, was seemingly the heart and soul of his class at Sidwell Friends, one of the top college preparatory schools in the nation.  At an institution brimming with National Merit Scholars and future Ivy Leaguers whose list of alumni includes captains of industry, political leaders, Nobel Laureates, award winning actors and directors, Pulitizer Prize-winning journalists and legendary athletes, Dominic made quite a name for himself.  Hard work was one reason he was a star in and out of the classroom, and a passion for learning was another.  A third reason, maybe the most important, was Dominic’s desire to help others.  He made community service as important in his life as grades, sports and extracurricular activities. 

Inspiration: There’ve been many wonderful teachers and mentors who have guided Dominic along the way, but none more important to him than Ms. Kate Essex, an admissions counselor at Sidwell Friends. “With her help, I was able to do a lot of things in high school, such as travel to Greece for community service.” 

Aspiration: Engineering is in Dominic’s future after he graduates from Georgia Tech, one of the top engineering schools in the world. 

Making a Difference: Dominic said being elected president of the Black Student Union at Sidwell Friends was a wonderful experience. “It allowed me to have a deeper connection not only with the people of my own ethnicity at my school, but with others as well.  We had insightful discussions on a weekly basis, our black history month play was thought provoking and even though we call ourselves the Black Student Union, we were open to everyone.  Being president was a great way to show off leadership qualities and learn from the positives and negatives of leadership.” 

Accolades: The National Achievement Scholarship Program named Dominic as an Outstanding Participant and he was also recognized by the National Society of High School Scholars.  Early on in his high school career, Dominic was named a Better Chance Scholar. 

Interesting Fact: Sadly, Dominic said, “I never learned to ride a bike.”

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