Articles
HCC Central student earns International Society of Automation scholarship
By Wendy Oyedeji, communications Intern, Houston City College Central
Oct 14, 2025
Simon Obame stands in front of the HCC Central Campus holding a scholarship check from the International Society of Automation, Houston Section.
When Simon Obame came to the United States nearly two years ago from Gabon, his intent was to improve his English and return home to Africa and advance his career in the energy industry. He never intended to stay long in the U.S., but he fell in love with America’s culture and decided to take a huge step and start another degree. With that came the hardest part: leaving everything behind – his family, 12 years of career growth, and a stable life.
His decision to enroll at Houston City College (HCC) has paid off as Obame recently earned a $5,000 scholarship from the International Society of Automation (ISA) Houston Section to further his academic journey in HCC’s Smart Building Technology program.
“It is truly an honor,” Obame said. “Winning this scholarship feels like recognition, not just for my project, but also as a chance to grow as a professional. This has also helped me relieve the financial pressure associated with my studies, thereby allowing me to focus on my project.”
The ISA is a non-profit professional association dedicated to advancing the field of automation through standards, education and networking opportunities. The organization was founded in 1945, and its mission is to empower the global automation community through standards and knowledge sharing.
Obame’s winning project highlighted his founding of a technical training hub in Gabon that provided over 400 students with STEM and professional development skills in 2015. Later, in 2022, he helped bring clean water and solar power to his home village in Gabon.
“Simon’s inspiring video submission showcased his dedication to using engineering as a force for good,” said Leticia Zarpellon, president, ISA Houston Section. “We are proud to support Simon’s continued growth and his goal of contributing his expertise to Houston’s energy industry. His achievements embody the values of innovation, service, and technical excellence that our organization strives to promote.”
Obame acknowledged international students like himself face many challenges as there are limited scholarships and opportunities, so winning the ISA scholarship lifted a heavy financial burden for him to achieve his goal of graduating HCC.
“The scholarship has helped me with my tuition; that is the first benefit,” he said. “But it has also brought me recognition. This scholarship from the ISA has shown me that they value my work and vision. It also looks good on a résumé, showing that your work has been valued, reviewed, and recognized positively at a professional level.”
Obame will serve as a Student Ambassador for ISA Houston Section and promote the organization with fellow students at HCC. His goal is to network for the organization, connect with students and amplify the benefits of ISA.
He is already setting sights on his future in America where he desires to seek more opportunities.
“The population is much larger in Texas than in my country, Gabon, so I would say that, after this, the scholarship could take me anywhere,” Obame said. “The next step is an internship program or a job, so I am unsure of where it will take me. If anything, I would like to start here in Texas first. This scholarship has definitely pushed me ahead and helped me grab opportunities I did not think I would get. So, wherever it takes me is fine, but my focus is the U.S.”