Ames Tribune described as difficult teenage years.
He moved around the country in pursuit of a high school diploma, eventually enrolling himself in Washington DC s Ballou STAY Opportunity Academy, a school for economically disadvantaged students who are at least two years behind, the outlet says.
There, Ben-David received just the support he needed to thrive, according to school officials.
Academics came naturally to Ben-David, who despite a lack of formal education scored impressively high on the SATs, the Ames Tribune says citing Ballou officials.
Ben-David started at ISU in 2019 as an aerospace engineering major, and reportedly made the dean s list that fall as an accounting major.