GEM Fellow, Chris Hill, making name in information technology

Chris Hill is making a name for himself in his academic and professional career.

A 2006 graduate of Jones County Junior College, he was remembered for his outstanding efforts on the football field and in the classroom at Laurel High School and at JCJC. However, after graduating from Laurel High School in 2000, he decided to put his academic and football career on hold to join the U.S. Marine Corp for four years.

Upon returning to Laurel, he re-enlisted into the U.S. Navy Reserves and went to JCJC. While at Jones Hill served as the Student Government Association President, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, involved in Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, he made the national Dean’s List, Who’s Who Among Junior College students and he was a member of Phi Beta Lambda professional business leaders organization, while also playing football for Jones.

He transferred to Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina on a full athletic scholarship with his eyes still on his career.  Excelling on the football field, “The ‘Mighty Vikings’ were CIAA Eastern Division Champions in 2006 and for the first time in school history they were selected for the NCAA Division II playoffs and were undefeated in conference games with the best school record of 9-2,” stated Hill.

Academically Hill did just as well.

“I received the award for having the 2nd highest GPA in the Technology Department and I made the Dean’s, Vice Chancellor’s and Chancellor’s Lists.”

While trying to finish his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology, specializing in Computer Networking, Hill continued looking forward with aspirations of earning his doctorate degree.  In his pursuit, he applied for internships, scholarships and fellowships.  “I was selected for the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Conference in New York and became a Thurgood Marshall Leadership Scholar following the conference.”

Hill noted that this opportunity with the Thurgood Marshall group opened the door for him to the corporate world, leading to an internship with BMW. “I was the only one out of the entire pool of students from ECSU to be selected for the BMW internship in Greenville, South Carolina.”

While interning with BMW Hill was also taking 12 credit hours through distance learning, earning a 4.0 GPA.   His drive earned him more recognition. “I believe that as a reward for my hard work, determination, drive and unwavering constitution, the Tom Joyner Foundation announced on the Tom Joyner Morning Show that I was the recipient of the Hercules Scholarship for $2,500.”

Although the BMW internship delayed his goal of graduating this year, it better positioned him for the National GEM Fellowship program.  As Hill prepared for his third internship, moving to California to work with Intel, the world’s largest, leading microprocessor corporation this summer, he was waiting to hear from the National GEM Consortium.  According to the GEM website, the nonprofit corporation’s core business is providing graduate fellowships in the areas of engineering and science to highly qualified individuals.  The elite students selected for the GEM Fellowship are required to participate in two summer internships with their GEM Corporate Sponsor.

Hill recently learned that he has been selected for the National GEM Fellowship program, fulfilling a dream.  “I owe Jones County Junior College for putting me on the right path to a steadily progressive career and for what I have achieved thus far. I attribute my career preparation and industry education solely to Jones, because I have built everything off of the solid and concrete academic and professional foundation that was established through the curriculum, the challenges, the camaraderie, and the close knit family network that I shared with everyone and learned about while I attended Jones.”

After graduation from ECSU in the fall of 2009, and the completion of his internships, this GEM Fellow will enroll in one of the 169 GEM partner universities like Harvard, Mississippi State, or Florida State, and begin his Master’s degree with the goal of earning a doctorate degree in Information Technology.  Once accepted to one of these universities’ graduate programs, Hill’s tuition and fees will be waived.

The determined JCJC grad hopes to specialize in Network Security and start his own IT Consulting Agency.  “I have the passion, commitment, fortitude, and determination to see all my dreams come to pass,” said Hill.

There’s no doubt in Hill’s mind that the Jones family inspired him to reach his goals by providing him a solid foundation.

Published September 18, 2008 on www.leadercall.com