TOMBALL, Texas – LSC-Tomball honors student Fabio Andrean has always believed that getting a solid education could take him places, but he never thought that doing well in the classroom would take him to the 2017 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin.
“It’s pretty cool, because I’ve been watching Formula One motorcycle racing for the past year, and now I have the opportunity to see motorcycle racing in person,” said Andrean, who is one of four students selected as a winner of the 2017 Repsol Student Innovation Awards.
The award, given by Repsol, an international oil and gas company, recognizes local students in elementary through college for excellence in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Repsol will announced the winners during an awards presentation at the Repsol Houston Office, with Conroe ISD Superintendent Dr. Don Stockton, Lone Star College Associate Vice Chancellor Linda Head and Sam Houston State University Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Richard Eglsaer present. The awards were presented by Repsol Honda MotoGP riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa.
Andrean, 20, a native of the Netherlands, who moved to Houston at age 9, received $500, as well as tickets to the 2017 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin.
“Repsol is committed to being a good neighbor, and one of the ways we do this is by giving back to our community,” said Mariano Ferrari, Repsol Houston Office and U.S. Business Unit director. “We believe it’s important to invest in these students because they are the future leaders in our community and our industry. They are the ones who will help Repsol achieve its mission to build a more sustainable energy future.”
Nominations were based on academic performance, teacher recommendations and participation in STEM activities. Winners were selected by a panel of judges from Repsol, based on a review of applications submitted by the students. The judges selected four winners each from Lone Star College and Sam Houston State University.
“I’m so glad I applied,” Andrean stressed, before adding, “I really didn’t expect to win, but I’m so glad that I did.”
Andrean, who is slated to graduate in May, said he plans to continue his college education at a university in the Netherlands or in Canada, with a major in either aerospace engineering or naval architecture and engineering.
Lone Star College-Tomball is located at 35000 Tomball Parkway, at the intersection of SH 249 and Zion Road. For more information about the college, call 281.351.3300 or visit LoneStar.edu/Tomball.