FWCD Names Nate Blan as its Davey O’Brien Scholarship Nominee

Senior Nate Blan is FWCD’s nominee for the prestigious Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship. A scholar, student-athlete and servant leader, Blan exemplifies the character and integrity the award celebrates.

At FWCD, Blan serves as President of the Honor Council, where he helps to uphold the School’s Honor Code, setting a tone of integrity and accountability across campus. He is also a Link Crew Leader, mentoring and supporting ninth grade students as they navigate the transition to high school. As captain of the varsity boys volleyball team, Blan leads by example both on and off the court. He has helped to guide the Falcons to their strongest seasons in recent years. 

A three-sport athlete, Blan competes in volleyball, basketball, and track & field. His athletic résumé includes multiple All-SPC honors in volleyball and track & field, an SPC Sportsmanship Award in basketball, and two SPC team championships in track & field. Individually, Blan has distinguished himself as a pole vaulter and discus thrower, and he trained independently to compete in the decathlon, placing first in his division at the AAU Region 18 Qualifier and finishing seventh at Texas’ Greatest Athlete Decathlon. Internationally, he represented the United States at the Tricolore Games in Reggio Emilia, Italy, earning a silver medal with the boys volleyball team.

Nate’s intellectual curiosity and love of learning have earned him recognition across disciplines. He is a member of the Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and the National English Honor Society. He has received the Yale Book Award, the Bill Arnold ’86 Award for History, and the Outstanding Undergraduate in Science Award. These honors reflect both his academic achievement and his ability to inspire his peers through scholarship.

His commitment to service is equally distinguished. Through Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder, Blan traveled to San Diego and Tijuana to study the U.S.-Mexico border, gaining first-hand insight into the experiences of immigrants and asylum seekers. Locally, he has contributed to FWCD’s Athletic Council, organized opportunities for younger students to connect with Upper School athletes, and worked summer jobs maintaining the School’s campus and supporting physical therapy clinics.

Whether leading in the classroom, competing on the field, or serving his community, Blan models the values of discipline, humility and service to others. His character reflects the kind of scholar-athlete the Davey O’Brien Scholarship was created to honor – a young leader committed to excellence and integrity in every arena of life.

The scholarship’s winner will be announced during the annual High School Scholarship Luncheon in January and then honored at the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Dinner in February. If selected, Blan will receive a $30,000 scholarship to be paid towards tuition, room and board, and books at the college or university of his choice. All other finalists receive a $2,500 award.