What do former President Bill Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, journalist Maria Shriver and actor Bradley Cooper have in common? All are graduates of Georgetown University.
Soon, Oak Cliff native Adan Gonzalez, a boxer and graduate of Dallas' Adamson High School, will join those ranks.
"[Boxing] relieves my stress, my frustration and beyond anything I feel at home when I put the gloves on," said Gonzalez as he strapped on gloves for a sparring match.
Gonzalez is the top collegiate boxer in the country. But that's not the only reason why he stands out at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
"I am very proud to say I am from South Oak Cliff in Dallas, Texas," said Gonzalez. "I'm the son of immigrants. My dad is a janitor. My mom's a mail house clerk which I'm very proud of."
During the summer of 2014, Gonzalez interned at the White House in the office of public engagement. He said working alongside President Barack Obama was definitely the highlight of his internship.
"And you're waiting for Secret Service to tell you to back up or don't get too close, but no you're allowed to be there and I think that's pretty cool," said Gonzalez of his internship.
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After graduation in spring, Gonzalez plans to attend law school at Harvard. His ultimate goal: become an immigration lawyer.
"I think the importance of having my family having a voice and in essence, having my community — being able to protect our rights is something that's very important and dear to my heart," said Gonzalez.
While at Georgetown, he is still reaching back to Dallas. He founded the Si Se Puede Network which helps poor high school students realize they can attend college as well.
"How can we be the best if we don't even know how it looks like?" said Gonzalez. "Si Se Puede Network is important because it provides exposure and high expectations for students to really have the opportunity to reach their dreams."
During his breaks, Gonzalez has spoken to hundreds of Dallas students about higher education and scholarships. He also held a luggage drive to provide luggage for students going to college who couldn't afford it otherwise.
"As a young, educated Latino. I am here," Gonzalez said. "We are here and we're ready to continue to make an impact."
