Top LHS Senior A Budding Rocket Scientist

David Sindel is the top-ranking student in Ledyard High School’s graduating class. The son of Amy and Dennis Sindel, David has done a lot at the high school, from tennis to calculus. Now, he is preparing to study mechanical engineering, focusing on aerospace engineering.

“I knew from several years ago that I wanted to do mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering,” said the 18-year-old. It’s not a huge industry, he noted, but there are not a lot of job applicants, and it’s expected to grow. “I’ll probably end up working for one of the private space companies out west.”

The first step on his career path is college. Sindel has already chosen Boston University. His field of study left him with fewer options than many students face. “And I just like BU,” he said. 

Mechanical engineering requires more credits than most other fields of study at Boston University, although Sindel will be going with several credits earned already. High School students are able to take Advanced Placement classes. These difficult courses offer a test, which students take to earn college credit.

Sindel took three AP courses: calculus, chemistry and physics.  He said that AP Calculus was his favorite class.

He was also able to study multivariable calculus at Connecticut College. “It was a program called New London Scholars,” Sindel said. The program chooses two students from the area’s high schools and lets them take classes at the college. “I was lucky enough to be selected,” he said. 

In order to make time for the extra class, Sindel used one of the high school’s “senior privileges.” Seniors are allowed to skip a study hall during the first or last class period. “I managed to arrange it so each day I had fourth block off,” he said. He used the extra time to drive to New London and study calculus.

Not all his interests involve calculus and rocket science. Sindel is active in the school’s music and drama programs, too. He plays trumpet in band. “I’m definitely going to miss marching band,” he said. “That was the first thing I did at Ledyard High School… I love the people. Very quirky people.”

He also began working with the drama club last year. He helped with Students On Stage, a production of plays written by students. This year, he wrote a play of his own, but the performance was canceled. “It was a complete joke piece, a parody,” he said. “It was totally outside my realm.”

Writing plays was an unexpected accomplishment for a student who says he has “a love-hate relationship with English.” This spring, he helped with set production, too.

Sindel plays tennis and works as a page in the Gales Ferry Library.

Looking back on his academic career so far, he said, “I’ve gotten a good solid education.” He has been in the Ledyard school system since kindergarten, and his hard work is more than evident.

“I’ve just always pushed myself,” he said. “My parents, of course, are very supportive.”