Del Valle senior Jesus Humberto Espinoza-Cervantes earns full-ride scholarship to Stanford University
Del Valle Early College High School senior Jesus Humberto Espinoza-Cervantes was recently surprised to learn he was accepted to Stanford University with a full-ride scholarship.
Jesus has attended Del Valle ISD since pre-kindergarten, starting at Gilbert Elementary School when it first opened. Over the years, Jesus has worked diligently inside and outside the classroom to reach this milestone in his academic career. Still, the news of his acceptance to the prestigious No. 4-ranked university felt almost unreal.
“I couldn't believe my eyes, honestly. I just looked and said, ‘No way,’” Jesus said. “It's been incredible. Like I never imagined I could make it.”
Jesus was selected through the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program, which matches select high-achieving students with the nation’s top-ranked universities. After entering the program as a junior, he participated in a summer session on college scholarships and admissions. He later ranked his top university choices, hoping to secure a match and a full scholarship. The caveat was that not all who ranked their schools matched.
“Honestly, I was already warming up to attending the University of Virginia because it was one of the schools I ranked, and I had pretty good odds of getting in,” Jesus said. “I was already warming up to the idea, and then I opened my letter and saw Stanford.”
Jesus is passionate about protecting the environment and hopes to help preserve the planet by studying civil engineering at Stanford. He originally wanted to study environmental science but said his success in math and science led him to explore engineering as an avenue to protect the environment.
“I want to study civil engineering because it's a broad field, and as I dip into the various fields, I can see where I feel like I'll have the most impact,” he said. “I’ll take it as it comes, but my vision is traveling and doing my part to clean up the environment and prevent more issues.”
Coming from a family of eight, Jesus is the oldest of six and a first-generation high school graduate and college student. His family came to Del Valle from Guanajuato, Mexico, to create more opportunities for their children. They always believed in his potential, reassuring him that he could match with a top school, even when he doubted himself.
“They're proud of me,” he said. “When I told my dad my plans and going to Virginia, he told me I could get into it, and I didn’t believe him. And when the day came and I got into Stanford, I told him, and he said, ‘What did I tell you?’ My brother didn't believe me at first when I told him I had made it. Then I showed him my letter, and he was amazed.”
ECHS Counselor Nicole Archambault helped Jesus with the QuestBridge application. She’s known Jesus for three years, describing him as intelligent, independent, and resourceful.
“I’m just super proud of him,” Nicole said. “He’s been quietly driven this whole time, just crushing it. And I think he will thrive in an environment with like-minded students like him.”
Jesus attributes his academic foundation at Gilbert Elementary for sparking his love of learning, particularly through reading. Growing up in a Spanish-speaking family, English was the language of education to him, learning it when he enrolled in DVISD. Specifically, he recalled Gilbert Elementary teacher, Mrs. Sandra Sanders, developing his passion for reading early on.
“That was really like the foundation all the way up to this point because my parents speak Spanish at home, so we spoke Spanish,” he said. “We didn't have many books, so when my second grade teacher introduced me to them, reading really became a thing for me. Every morning, I would get to school, go to the library, and get a book, and I would just read, read, read. That really helped me with my vocabulary and just helped me be academically successful.”
With one semester left before graduation, Jesus remains focused on finishing strong and graduating with a high school diploma from DVISD and an associate's degree from Austin Community College. He encourages students who want to get into college to start on that path early.
“Put your effort into academics, but don't let that be the only thing you do,” he advised. “You want to align what you want to do in the future with what you're doing right now, so get involved in programs that show you're already working towards your future.”