From ACES Student to Future Educator: Daved Flores Builds a Future Through Service and Determination

When Daved Flores arrived at Montgomery College, he knew one thing: college had to make financial sense. The son of Salvadoran immigrants raising four children, Daved understood the realities his family faced. His older siblings attended Montgomery College, and he planned to follow their path. “We didn’t have money for college,” he said. “Anything for us was going to come from scholarships, grants, or our own hard work.”

Daved graduated from Montgomery College with a 3.89 GPA recently, earning an associate’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in history. This fall, he will transfer to Towson University after accepting a Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship, which covers tuition, room, and board as he pursues his bachelor’s degree. He can renew the scholarship for up to three years if he stays on track academically, providing him the support to stay focused on becoming a high school teacher—and eventually, a college professor. “I want to work with high school students,” he said. “Learning about the past gives you good insight about the future.”

Daved credits Montgomery College’s Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) program with providing him insight into his future. After joining ACES in high school, he found mentorship, scholarship support, and opportunities that boosted his confidence. “Sometimes you need someone to reassure you,” he said. “ACES helped me evaluate decisions and gave me support.”

Today, Daved gives back to the program that supported him. He works for ACES at Wheaton High School, helping students complete college applications, write resumes and essays, and prepare for life after graduation. “Before, I was the student,” he said. “Now I work side-by-side with my old coordinator.”

A focus on lifting others up became a defining part of Daved’s Montgomery College experience. His commitment to supporting others extended beyond his work at Wheaton High School and into campus life at Montgomery College. Through the ACES Ambassador Leadership Program, he strengthened his public speaking skills by serving on panels and representing the College at student events. He also participated in Impact MC, a service leadership program, where his team organized a book drive for Title I schools, collecting more than 250 books.

His dedication in and out of the classroom earned him numerous accolades, including Dean’s List recognition all four semesters, the Dr. Harry Harden Jr. Student Academic Excellence Award, the Outstanding Service Leader Award, and the Spirit of Service Award Medallion. He graduated with honors, capping off a college career defined by achievement and service.

His leadership and service efforts also gained kudos beyond the College. This spring, he earned recognition as a semifinalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, one of the nation’s most competitive awards for community college students. Although he did not receive the scholarship, the recognition highlighted his academic success, leadership, and commitment to service. For Daved, setbacks never outweigh progress.

“I’ve been rejected for a lot of scholarships,” he said. “You just keep going.” That mindset helped him balance classes, work, and family responsibilities while maintaining strong grades. He credits Montgomery College faculty, especially Dr. Glenda Hernandez Tittle, his professor in the Education Department, with encouraging him to grow as a student leader and future educator.

Just as faculty encouraged his growth, Daved hopes to become the kind of educator students can see in themselves. “When was the last time you saw a Hispanic history teacher?” he said. “I want to be that representation.” As he prepares for the next chapter, Daved hopes to continue mentoring students and giving back to the programs that shaped him. “If I can do it, you can do it,” he said. “College is possible. You just have to put in the work.”