Hector Duran, a first-year student in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), has been chosen as a Georgia Tech Clark Scholar.  

The 2020 cohort of Clark Scholars is made up of 10 first-year students majoring in various engineering disciplines. In 2018, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation partnered with Georgia Tech to launch the A. James Clark Scholars Program at Georgia Tech. The Clark Scholars Program is the Foundation’s signature academic program, combining engineering, business, leadership, and community service. 

Duran is from Miami, Florida and attended Jose Marti MAST, where he served as both class and school president. Duran co-founded a marine science lab and served as president of the Marine Science Club and the Technological Student Association. Additionally, he conducted research focused on a different approach to lab instruction in a secondary setting. Duran was also captain for his judo tournament team from 2017-2020. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, fishing, playing basketball, and spending time with his family. 

Duran is an electrical engineering major. He plans to focus on energy and the application of renewable energy sources, with a focus on efficient storage of said energy. Ultimately, Duran would like to start a renewable energy power company and more efficiently harvest the clean energy around us.

Duran is getting involved with the Energy Club at Georgia Tech, IEEE, and the Solar Racing Team. He would also like to join The Hive and become a peer instructor, and he said that he would like to be involved with energy-related research during his years at Georgia Tech.

“I come from a low-income family and this scholarship means everything to me; it gave me the chance to be here at Tech, and to receive a top tier education,” Duran said. “I will be eternally grateful to the foundation and to those that granted me this opportunity.”