George Lane, 18, a 2025 graduate of the Academy At Palumbo in Philadelphia and newly named Gates Scholar, tells his own story from the perspective of someone who has experienced violence up close.

“Growing up in North Philadelphia, I delved into social action during the 8th grade, especially in the aftermath of the Covid year. Witnessing the surge in youth violence in my hometown, Philly, became a catalyst for my involvement in initiatives against this growing issue, driven by a sense of duty to make a difference,” he writes in his LinkedIn profile.

In middle school, Lane signed up for “Enough Is Enough,” a student-led movement to address the city’s gun violence problem. He caught the attention of City Council member Isaiah Thomas, who offered him an internship in his office, and the youth also was named to the Philadelphia Youth Commission, which he now chairs.

“He’s just got this great reputation,” Thomas told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Lane’s family experienced loss long before he was ever born. The youngest of five children, and 18 years younger than his next youngest sibling, he never knew his brother Taron, who died of cancer at age 16. Gun violence took the life of another brother, Troy, when George was toddler.

“They are my motivation,” Lane told the newspaper.

The young man has a near-lifetime of accomplishments. He learned to read at 3. His mother, Danette Williams, has many trophies and certificates from his grade school years. He garnered a 4.0 GPA, was named to the National Honor Society, joined the Black Student Association and more at Palumbo, which heralded not just Lane but two other Gates Scholars this spring.

Lane was accepted at Harvard, Morehouse, and a slew of other colleges but has opted to enroll at Temple University, not far from where he grew up with a plan to study medicine and pursue a career as an oncologist.

“The reason I got my accomplishments was helping out my community, and I don’t want to leave — I want to finish what I start,” Lane told The Inquirer. “I don’t believe you have to leave Philadelphia to be successful. That leaves a lack of role models here, and I want to be the person I had, or the person I wished I could go to, growing up.”