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Dual credit student selected for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship

By: Stacey L. Hewitt
| Published 05/27/2016

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CONROE, Texas – The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has big plans for 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.

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