For Dawson Douglas, high school was more than a test flight, it was where he gathered speed for takeoff. The Alta High graduate credits the mentorship of teachers like AP Physics teacher Matthew Stanford and AP Calculus teacher Angela Price for helping him reach new heights. A little hard work also went a long way for the aspiring U.S. Navy pilot. A multi-sport athlete, Douglas recounts his time going for three on the basketball court, the roar of the crowd on the gridiron, and the adrenaline of running the 400 in track. “I learned that hard work pays off and a lot of life is about your mindset. When I ran the 400, if you decide you’re going to go faster, then you go faster. It’s about how you think about it,” he says. And go faster, he did. Douglas lettered in track and field all four years. He also achieved one of the highest scores possible on the ACT college entrance exam while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and earning National Merit Scholarship status. Douglas plans to take that “hooyah” mindset and put it to good use at the United States Naval Academy. “I love my country and I want to serve,” he says. He hopes other students have the courage to chase their dreams, no matter how aspirational they may seem. “Even if it seems like it is going to be a difficult goal to achieve,” he says, “go after it and see if you can.”