ORLANDO | By age 14, the Colombian guerillas threatened Gerardine H.’s family. Her father and brother received death threats. After a tumultuous year, living with relatives and trying to plan for their safety, her parents moved the family to Ecuador where they applied for refugee status in the U.S.

Now age 17, the Oak Ridge High School graduate is on her way to a career in nanotechnology with the help of the Sid Román Law Hispanic Student Scholarship.

Pia Román was inspired to award the scholarship to Hispanic refugee students after mentoring at Boone High School in Orlando. In the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program she realized the disadvantage these students had in pursuing higher education. With parents often working multiple jobs to keep afloat, like Gerardine’s family, few funds remain to assist their children with college. In collaboration with Catholic Charities of Central Florida’s Refugee Services, Román considered applicants from the program. Eventually she expanded that pool to Orange County Public Schools students.

Román said she was also inspired by former Pope Francis’ love for immigrants and their families. With Pope Leo XIV’s election and his focus on immigrant rights, dignity, respect and compassion, she felt the timing was right to get back to offering the scholarship to worthy refugee students.

“Gerardine’s application stood out,” Román said. “An overall, extremely positive attitude and a go-getter attitude about her, she’s motivated and has goals that she really has taken time to think through, understand, and set for herself.” She acknowledged she could also relate to Gerardine’s situation. Arriving in the U.S. as an immigrant herself at the age of 13, everything was different. “I came from a totally different culture, a totally different language, grading system and school set up to the U.S. It’s a tough transition,” she said.

Her husband’s firm awarded Gerardine a laptop valued at $1,000. It is equipped with the necessary software and technical requirements for Gerardine’s studies in engineering nanotechnology.

Gerardine will attend Valencia College for her undergraduate degree and plans to attend the University of Central Florida through Valencia’s DirectConnect program, then continue on to a master’s degree in nanotechnology.

Her interest in the field began in earnest after her grandfather died of COVID during its second wave. Gerardine explained, “Nano particles are the smallest in existence. It is the basis of all things. From there one can make changes and create all sorts of materials – from creating something small to making a large impact on civilization.”

Not long after her grandfather’s passing, a vaccine became available. “I thought, if we were more technologically advanced, maybe we would have found a vaccine sooner and he could still be here,” she said. “That interested me and since science has always been my strongest subject, I began to investigate. I learned that nanotechnology is the future of medical and technological advancement. I liked that a lot.”

She is excited about starting college and is eager to get to UCF and work in its nanotechnology lab. In the meantime, she plans to continue singing in the choir at Holy Cross Parish in Orlando, her family’s spiritual home. Gerardine said, “Throughout all this travesty we’ve been led by the hand of God. We go to church, spend time with family, and pray.” She noted her mother promised God, if the family could get to the U.S. safely, she would pray a chaplet to the Virgin Mary every day until her death. She consecrated herself to the Blessed Mother and gets up at 5 a.m. to start her day that way. “It gives us the strength to carry on,” said Gerardine.

Gerardine is grateful for the scholarship award and to Catholic Charities, especially Kim Latt from Refugee Services, who helped her and her family get English classes and assisted them in navigating the applications to become permanent residents.

Latt recalled Gerardine’s arrival two years ago. “While learning English was a challenge for her at first, she worked hard and will be graduating with a 3.4 GPA in a few days,” Latt said. “We couldn’t be more proud to reward and contribute to the academic journey of this outstanding young lady.”

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, May 22, 2025