EPCHS Alum In The Spotlight: Victor Leal-Painter, Class Of 2021

A recently graduated Evergreen Park Community High School alum has already taken a big step toward his goal of becoming a history teacher.

Victor Leal-Painter, EPCHS Class of 2021, became the first recipient of the newly established Davee Foundation Scholarship at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Leal-Painter, a UIC freshman, was awarded the scholarship that will be given yearly to two high-achieving students in history and English.

Leal-Painter has always had a passion for history, and teaching it. He credits Ben Nesler, EPCHS division chair for social studies and business, for inspiring him to go to UIC and study to become a history teacher.

“He introduced me to a lot of the big books in the field,” Leal-Painter, a major in both history and the teaching of history, said in a UIC news release.

Nesler said Leal-Painter impressed him while in his freshman world history class as someone with “keen insights on our modern society.”

“As he did an amazing job as a freshman, around scheduling time, I asked him if he would consider bumping up to take AP US History. He accepted the challenge and continued to impress and hone his skills over the next two semesters of AP,” Nesler said.

The UIC scholarship award is named after Adeline Barry Davee and Ruth Dunbar Davee, and reflects their generosity and love for the disciplines of history and English, according to UIC. Winners receive full tuition at UIC until graduation for up to five years, and must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average.

“Usually, a student has two things in their head when they think of college: studying and figuring out how to pay for it,” Leal-Painter said. “I was so relieved that now I could focus entirely on my education.”

At EPCHS, Leal-Painter was an involved student. He was one of two student ambassadors to the Evergreen Park Community High School District 231 board of education last year, captain of the boys bowling team, and a National Honor Society member.

His goal in life has long been to be a teacher. In addition to Nesler, Leal-Painter credits EPCHS business teacher Scott Pasek and the education internship course he took as a senior for helping him move that goal forward.

“This class gave me the foundation I needed to go into my studies to become a high school history teacher,” Leal-Painter said.

Nesler said Leal-Painter “will be an amazing history teacher.”

“He is exactly the type of social studies teacher our students will need as they continue to navigate the complexities of the 21st century,” Nesler said.

Leal-Painter remains involved at EPCHS post-graduation, serving as an assistant coach on the Mustangs’ varsity soccer team.