Support Mason afford tuition to Phillip's Exeter

Empowering Legacy and Dreams - Help Mason Hernández raise tuition for Phillip's Exeter Summer Program

Background

Hi, my name is Haley Hernández. I created this GoFundMe to help my younger brother Mason pursue his educational journey. He is a brilliant, intelligent, young man who continues to amaze our family with his scholarly achievements despite our odds. Mason is an exceptional student with excellent grades and a member of University High's Academic Decathlon team - who placed 1st overall in the 43rd Annual Fresno County Academic Decathlon competition in February. In March we traveled to Santa Clara where Mason competed in the Academic Decathlon State Championships alongside his team, who scored first place in Division 1 small schools within California. He will subsequently be competing in the Academic Decathlon Nationals representing California - Division 1 small school rank. We couldn't be prouder of his determination to succeed and expand his knowledge in spite of everything. The day after state championships, Mason received news he was accepted into the summer program at Phillip's Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. It has been a lifelong dream of his to follow in our dad's footsteps to the east coast. Several members of my family including my dad, older sisters, aunts, and uncles, have attended this prestigious school in the past - solidfying attendance as a gracious legacy for our family to attempt to uphold.

Finance

We were further overjoyed by the news of Mason's generous and rarely gifted financial aid package of $8,900, covering nearly 90% of the $10,000 needed to make this whole experience possible. His hard work made it feasible to obtain a considerate amount of money that would cover five weeks of classes, boarding, meals, and travel fare from California to New Hampshire. However, $1,100 is the remaining amount left to be paid out of pocket. This remainder falls upon my family at a difficult time financially, we simply can't afford to pay it at this time. Phillip's Exeter is requiring a $500 deposit to be put down by April 4th 2024 to secure Mason's spot in July. We are hoping to raise a $1,250 maximum. This will be ultilized to cover fees taken out by GoFundMe. Any remaining balance will be placed in a bank account created for Mason funding his [potential] time away.

Closing Note

Education has and will always be of vital importance; this was a belief instilled by my parents for as long as I can remember. Phillip's Exeter boasts an impressive alumni of past presidents, billionaires, and other extremely notable individuals. My brother achieved acceptance solely on his merit, the hard part has been won. As the son of an immigrant mother, Mason aims to eventually earn his bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering to cultivate new technologies for the agriculture business. His progress deserves to extend beyond the small hometown we humbly live in, as a rural farm-bound mexican family of five. I know in my heart it's possible to rally up enough support to send a dedicated 16-year old boy across the United States to spend the summer immersing himself in a distinguished preparatory education, beyond what can be offered in Fresno. We implore past Phillip's Exeter Academy alumni, faculty, fellow students, friends, family, strangers, and anyone who Mason's spirit or story has touched to give to our cause for our youngest. Any monterary donation: may it be $5, $10, $20, $50, or more, would make all the difference to my family, every cent will be counted towards Mason. Again, no amount is too small, your generosity is guaranteed to power the minds of the future. We ask even if you can't contribute to please share, repost, link, or bring awareness to our fund to those who may be able to. The more exposure we gather, the greater likelihood there is of Mason's goal being met, anything you can do to help will be massively appreciated by every single one of us and will truly bring much relief and faith in community to my family.

Thank you so much for your time in hearing Mason's story