Each year, DSST honors a graduate whose life and career embody what it means to blaze a trail - someone who took everything the DSST experience offered and used it to do something extraordinary in the world. This year's Distinguished Alumni Trailblazer Award went to Evan Sauls, DSST: Montview ‘15, who is quite literally helping build the future of space exploration. His story is one for the ages.
When Evan Sauls was 12 years old, he made a decision that most kids his age would never consider. He chose to repeat sixth grade, not because he had to, but because he wanted to attend DSST: Montview. It was a bold, deliberate choice. And it changed everything.
"Little did I know, this would change my life entirely," Sauls said when accepting DSST's Distinguished Alumni Trailblazer Award. What followed wasn't just an education. It was the beginning of a life built around curiosity, courage and the kind of doing-your-best mentality that DSST instills in every student who walks through its doors.
At Montview, Sauls didn't just study engineering - he lived it. He built a Rube Goldberg machine showcased at the Slice of Pi event. His team launched tennis balls across the soccer field with a trebuchet. And for his senior project, he engineered a solar-powered go-kart that earned him the Senior Project Award. These weren't just class assignments. They were the early blueprints of a career that would eventually reach orbit.
Today, Sauls has a unique position at Sierra Space. He uses both his creativity to engineer spacecraft, as well as his love for hands-on experience to bring them to life. He has worked on Dream Chaser, a next generation spaceplane. Now, he builds satellites that protect our country from threats. "Now my projects impact more than just my grades," he said. "Since I was little, I imagined myself in a clean room smock building spacecraft. DSST helped make my dreams come true and I am forever grateful."
What makes Sauls' story resonate beyond the remarkable career trajectory is everything else DSST gave him. He met some of his closest friends at Montview, people he now considers family. He met his wife, Daria, during their freshman year. Together, they have a son named August. The school that shaped his mind also shaped his world.
"I want to thank my parents, my teachers, my family and most importantly, my wife for always believing in me," Sauls said.
Evan Sauls is exactly the kind of graduate DSST set out to develop: a STEM leader who didn't just reach for the stars, but is now building the machines that get us there. His story is proof that a single, courageous decision made at 12 years old can launch a lifetime of impact.