Must-read success story out of Lennox*

Please read Larry Altman's moving story of Francisco Hernandez, a Lennox Mathematics, Science & Technology Academy graduate who overcame an unbelievable number of obstacles to make it to college. And not just any college.

Here's how it opens:

"My name is Francisco Hernandez and I am writing this statement to explain various events and circumstances that currently present themselves as obstacles toward my attending a four-year university."

Francisco went through the colleges' e-mailed responses one by one.

No. No. No. No.

Like so many other aspects of Francisco's life, adversity and disappointment again seemed to be taking over. He began to think about moving to Texas to live with his older sister.

It looked like Francisco would have to disregard the 4.1 grade point average he earned at the Lennox Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy. Instead, he figured he would work and attend community college.

Someday, the 18-year-old Lennox student would earn enough money to send himself to a university, one that wanted him and one he could afford.

Then he opened the last e-mail.

Larry's article has a sad and interesting backstory: Our colleague Vu Nguyen was working on Hernandez's incredible story when he died at age 34 last month.

*If you're interested in donating to Francisco, go here to find out how.