Vista Ridge High School Senior Brayden Cutshall’s life was upended after several deeply difficult events placed a huge emotional and financial strain on his mother, Ashley. Cutshall was in the 7th grade when the trauma and pain began to severely affect his grades. 

“At the end of my 7th-grade year, I saw my report card, and it deeply upset me,” Custhall said. “I realized I had a choice: I could give in to the pressures of my environment or step up. I decided I had to adapt or my family’s situation would worsen and I wouldn’t achieve my dream of commissioning in the military.”  

Cutshall also saw the pain his mother and sister were going through and recalls staying up until 3 a.m. on a school night in 2023 to help his mother move house and save much-needed money by not having to hire movers.  

“Looking back on it,” Cutshall said, “moving with my family so much strengthened my ability to grow, adapt, and push through with a team to achieve a common goal.” 

Cutshall never looked back after that low point in 7th grade. He will graduate with a 4.38 GPA and a 1460 SAT score, and will attend CU Boulder in the autumn. In those lean years, Cutshall also found a lifelong passion: aviation. 

“I have dedicated my entire academic career to a career in aviation,” Cutshall said. “I want to achieve a degree in aerospace engineering to work for a defense contractor by designing planes.” 

Cutshall’s original goal was to attend the United States Air Force Academy and commission as a pilot in the military, thereby following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, who flew bombers in World War II for the Army Air Corps. He was nominated by Congressman Jeff Crank to attend the USAFA. 

“I was elated,” Cutshall said. “It was one of the happiest moments of my high school career. I felt everything I had worked towards was paying off”. 

Through sheer grit and determination, Cutshall earned a scholarship, which enabled him to become a licensed pilot at age 17 after just 8 weeks of training. But due to medical reasons, Cutshall had to lay down the dream of being a military pilot. 

“It was very disappointing,” Cutshall said of learning that a military career wouldn’t be possible. “But I have learned to live with the philosophy to always keep pushing and never give up, so I pivoted to Aerospace engineering as a secondary career goal.” 

Cutshall has never forgotten how difficult school became during the upheaval in his personal life and has found immense satisfaction in tutoring. 

As a part of the Air Force Junior ROTC, Cutshall joined other cadets in tutoring groups of students. Cutshall’s mentees were some of the most successful in the program and won more competitive activities than any other group. 

“I received a thoughtful letter from the students I tutored and the teacher in charge of the program expressing their gratitude, showing me the impact patient leadership and service can have on others,” Cutshall said. “Helping others is something I absolutely love and plan to continue doing well into college.” 

Cutshall’s long-term goal is to make a positive impact on the world and, one day, retire his mother and provide her with a stable, good life in her old age, as a way of thanking her for her love and care during his childhood. 

“My family has helped me grow into an adaptable, resilient team player and individual,” Cuthsall said. “I will work toward a career that will provide financial freedom so that one day, I can help my mother and family for all the trouble they have gone through to help me.”