Local High School Senior Turns Passion for Cars into Promising Career Path

Local High School Senior Turns Passion for Cars into Promising Career Path

Saya Sandoval, a senior at Rancho Mirage High School, is using her love for cars to pave the way for a promising career. Growing up attending car shows with her father, she developed a passion for the automotive world, which she has channeled through the Rattler Automotive Careers Education Academy (RACE).

Through the RACE Academy, Saya has gained hands-on experience, including a job shadow opportunity at Jessup Auto Plaza and the completion of a dual enrollment course with College of the Desert. She earned a prestigious automotive service excellence certification, a rare achievement among students.

Saya is not just excelling academically; she's also the captain of her high school’s girls’ basketball and golf teams. Her teacher, Will Bodner, admires her calm and collected approach to life, describing her as self-motivated and an inspiration to her peers. Bodner notes that Saya has left a lasting legacy at RACE Academy, with younger students aspiring to follow in her footsteps.

As a female in a male-dominated industry, Saya is determined to break barriers and prove her capabilities. She plans to attend College of the Desert’s automotive program, earn a business degree, and one day run her own automotive shop.

Saya’s story is an inspiring example of how passion and hard work can lay the foundation for a successful future.

Here is the link to the nomination form:
https://forms.gle/Wbj9XXn1raLmVDbb7