Not By Chance

When Anthony Carreón stepped onto the stage at the 2025 AVID National Conference in San Diego, he wasn’t just representing his accomplishments, but the community that shaped him. In Lewisville ISD, he found a space to thrive where teachers, programs, and friends helped him create a future he once wasn’t sure existed.

Anthony’s childhood was fraught with challenges stemming from family instability. Despite the challenges he faced at home, he found comfort in the routines of school and the encouragement of the adults who saw his potential.

“I loved school,” he said. “Because of the turbulence at home, school was my place of stability and comfort. I made the most of it by staying after school to chat with teachers, practice trumpet, volunteer, and get my work done.”

Two programs became anchors for Anthony: band and AVID. Band taught him patience, focus, and the quiet discipline that comes from steady practice -- skills that helped him thrive academically. AVID, which he joined in eighth grade, gave him the organizational systems, college preparation, and long-term planning he needed to envision a future beyond the walls of Lewisville High School.

More importantly, AVID gave him champions.

Teachers like Rhoda Stelchek, Shawna Werts, and Grant Wilhite fueled his love of computers and space exploration. Band directors Nathan Cooley and Christopher Agwu taught him resilience and confidence. His calculus teacher, Karen Fieszel, sparked his drive for engineering, while world history teacher Elizabeth Gonzalez grounded him in the wider world. And through it all, his best friend, Katherine Johnston, cheered him forward.

After graduating in the top 1% from LHS in 2016, he attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computational Engineering in 2020. He later joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, simulating ice formation on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Today, he is a PhD candidate in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan, using AI and supercomputing to accelerate engineering research.

Now featured in the new AVID book, Not By Chance, Anthony recently shared his story at the AVID National Conference in San Diego. The conference brings together educators from across the nation to deepen their practice and celebrate student success.

Shawna Werts, his former AVID teacher and current AVID Coordinator at LHS Killough, attended the conference alongside him in what she described as a “full-circle moment.”

“It reflects the impact of perseverance, hard work, mentorship, and believing in what’s possible,” she said. “Anthony is an amazing young man, but more importantly, his representation gives all our students a voice.”

Anthony hopes the conference reminds educators of the power they hold.

“Most students lose contact with their former teachers,” he said. “I hope my story shows them that their work matters and has real-world impact.”

His advice to today’s LISD students is simple but profound: build your community.

“It’s impossible to be successful without the help of the community you build around you,” he shared. “Welcome those who bring good energy. Ask for help on homework and career advice from teachers. Collaborate and study with classmates. Building community is how you get ahead while helping others, too.”

From a young boy seeking stability to a scholar exploring distant worlds, Anthony’s journey stands as a testament to what happens when students are surrounded by caring educators, future-focused opportunities, and a district that believes in their limitless potential.