 Warren Buffet, the American businessman and investor, personally awarded Fabian Fernandez-Han 10 shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock. |
Lone Star College-Montgomery dual credit student Fabian Fernandez-Han. The Foundation has selected him as a 2016 Gates Millennium Scholar (GMS) based on his academic achievement, leadership skills and commitment to community service. Fernandez-Han competed against 53,000 applicants for this distinction, which fewer than two percent of applicants earn.
As a 2016 GMS, Fernandez-Han will receive a full four-year scholarship to any US-based accredited college of his choosing, mentorship from the GMS community, leadership development retreats, and even a full scholarship to attend graduate school in select disciplines. He was accepted and will attend Pomona College in California, which is ranked by Forbes magazine as the nation’s top college, above Stanford, MIT and Harvard. Fernandez-Han will study economics and international relations at Pomona this fall. “I am honored, grateful and humbled to earn the trust of both the Gates Foundation and Pomona College to apply myself to the fullest to serve the greater good,” said Fernandez-Han.
It is easy to see why the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation selected
Fernandez-Han. The 18-year-old simultaneously completed
high school and more than 80 credit hours at LSC-Montgomery, including classes
with the honors college. “My teachers at LSC-Montgomery were dedicated to student
success,” said Fernandez-Han. “Several of my classes emphasized
discussion-based learning, which promoted inquiry, discovery and debate. My psychology
and philosophy professors were extraordinarily effective in opening my mind,
challenging my preconceptions and provoking me to build my understanding of the
human condition. The lessons I learned from them and other dedicated LSC-Montgomery
professors will serve me for my entire life.”
Fernandez-Han’s résumé as an18-year-old already rivals that of a successful
business professional. He is the Chief Creative Officer for “Raccoon,” a start-up
company that connects college students to employment opportunities and
internships at top firms. Last year, Raccoon was the only start-up out
of 40 competitors to earn a $100,000 investment from Silicon Valley’s Draper
Investments, the same venture capital firm that invested in Tesla and Skype.
Fernandez-Han was one of the youngest winners of the Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize, considered
a ‘Millennial’s Nobel.’ He also beat out over 2,000
competitors to win the top prize and a $25,000 grant from The New York Stock
Exchange for his financial literacy smartphone app. Popular Science magazine
named him one of USA’s top 10 high-school innovators for inventing “H2O” a
bicycle-based water desalinator. Fernandez-Han presented this invention to American businessman and investor Warren Buffet
who personally awarded him 10 shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock.
During his time at LSC-Montgomery, Fernandez-Han served in various leadership roles
in the Student Government Association’s TEAM Ambassador Program and the President’s
Student Advisory Council. “Fabian worked hard and fully engaged the
professors and resources at LSC-Montgomery,” said Dr. Rebecca Riley, president
of LSC-Montgomery. “He is most deserving of all his accomplishments as well all
other achievements to come. With his academic and entrepreneurial prowess, he
will excel at Pomona College and beyond. He is a millennial to watch.”
In his spare time, Fernandez-Han loves to travel. His
family inspires him. “I have achieved what I have so
far only because of the love and support from my family, friends, mentors,
teachers, and allies,” said Fernandez-Han. “My family risked everything to come
to the United States. They started at the bottom of this country’s social and
economic hierarchy. So if I fail to give my very best, then I disrespect the sacrifices
they made for me. There were weeks where I pulled consecutive all-nighters to
achieve straight As and meet my commitment to my entrepreneurial ventures.
Sometimes I would even study for exams in the shower.”
In establishing the scholarship, The
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation hopes to create a network of future leaders like
Fernandez-Han who will
bring a new vision and commitment to improving the world. Over time, Gates
Scholars are expected to become leaders in their respective fields and together
will help address global problems related to health, equity, technology, and
learning –
all areas in which the Foundation is deeply engaged.
To learn more about Fernandez-Han, you can visit
his website fabianfernandezhan.com
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200
College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The
Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit LoneStar.edu/Montgomery.
Known for its leadership,
innovation and steadfast commitment to student success, Lone Star College
provides high-quality academic transfer and workforce education / career
training programs to more than 83,000 credit students each semester, and a
total enrollment of 95,000 students. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the
community college experience to promote student success and economic
prosperity. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, the largest
institution of higher education in the Houston area, which consists of six
colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College
and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.