Alumni Spotlight

David Bannick, ’12 (center), with parents

We had the opportunity to reconnect with Dream Project alum David Bannick and hear firsthand from him and his father, Joe Bannick, about the impact Dream Project has had on their family. Together they offer a unique perspective on leadership and opportunities.—Megan Whitman, Ingraham High School Lead and Advancement Lead

A Mentor Alumnus on the Dream Project
By David Bannick, ’12

I started as a mentor in the Dream Project in the winter of my sophomore year at UW. Prior to joining, I was feeling unfulfilled with my experience at UW; I wanted to help my community. I had the privilege of being a part of the Dream Project for the next seven quarters. My experience with the Dream Project was the most important part of my undergraduate education.

Working as a mentor for my first four quarters was a difficult and inspiring experience. As a mentor I shared my experiences in college and really enjoyed talking to eager high school students. My job as a mentor became more difficult when confronting the challenging situations that our students faced. When facing these challenges, I worked collaboratively with my Dream Project peers. I was truly inspired by some of the students I was able to work with. Seeing our mentees ace their classes, fill out applications, and get accepted to college was extremely humbling and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

During my junior and senior years I served as a High School Lead at the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment (ACE). I also was able to work on events like Admissions Workshop Weekend, Scholarship Workshop Weekend and the first annual Dream Project fundraiser. These experiences were incredibly rewarding because of the hundreds of students we were able to help. In addition to helping students get into college, I gained experience in planning budgets, organizing complex events, and public speaking.

My experience with the Dream Project also shaped the direction of my education and career. The Dream Project exposed me to the inequities in our education system and how those inequities perpetuate poverty. Inspired by my experiences, I decided to study political science with a minor in human rights. I focused my studies on human rights abuses both in America and around the world.

After graduation I decided to attend law school so that I could combine my love of the law with my desire to help others. In law school I am pursuing a career in criminal law. Many of my experiences as a mentor, a high school lead, and an event planner have helped me as a law student and future lawyer. I am aware of some of the serious problems in my community. I have learned to communicate with different types of people and how to pursue long term goals. Most importantly, the Dream Project made me a harder worker.  Several of the students I had the privilege to know overcame incredible obstacles to get to college. Working with these students made me realize how lucky I was to be in college at an amazing university. This hard work and appreciation propelled me into law school and is something that I will take with me to my career.

A Mentor's Father on the Dream Project
By Joe Bannick

My son, David, who is featured in the Alumni Spotlight this edition, started working with the Dream Project after looking for a way to get involved in giving back to the community through a UW organization. The Dream Project was the perfect fit because it fulfilled his desire to help others while working with a grass-roots group that reached out to a community beyond the UW. David became energized by working with a caring group of people who helped him develop leadership skills that he utilized in his outreach to high school students.

The Dream Project success became very real to him when one of the students he was mentoring was awarded a scholarship, and David was able to see how the opportunity to attend school not only affected the student, but also his family and community, who saw the value of college education. The ongoing value of the Dream Project is reflected in students like David who joined the group from the general student population, but perhaps more telling is the fact that Dream Project is made up of students who have benefited from the program’s outreach. Those students truly understand the value of the DP, and are going back into their communities to show how others can also succeed with the opportunity provided by the Dream Project.