From an Orphanage in Ethiopia to a Small Town in Michigan, Piston Scholar Samson Fisher’s Car Restoration Journey was Fueled by a 1956 Chevy Bel Air

Pursuing the Dream, Years Later

Now, at the age of 18, happily ensconced in Big Rapids, Michigan, and a freshman at Ferris State University, Fisher never forgot that ride in the Chevy Bel Air and credits his adoptive family for re-introducing him to the automotive arena.

His sister, Sofanit, eight years older than Samson, was adopted with him, and was a women’s soccer star at Michigan State University until 2022. Clearly, the siblings, both of whom have always spoken English, are thriving in the U.S. “We were very fortunate to get adopted together, and we had a very loving family that took care of us,” said Samson.

As for his passion for cars, “I’ve been blessed that a lot of my older role models have been into the car scene,” Fisher said. “My [adoptive] grandfather Thomas Brand worked at GM and Borg Warner, as a transmission technician specialist.

Fixing models with Grandpa

“I’d always have these model cars as a kid, and I would play with them a little bit too rough. I’d break them and he would sit down with me and we’d makeshift fix them with little scraps and stuff. That was my happy place. So, whenever there’s a chance for me to work on cars or learn more about cars, I always try to jump at the opportunity.”

A friend’s father has also been an inspiration. “He has all these project cars in his garage and he teaches me about them and let’s me work on some of them with my friend,” Fisher said. “When in high school I found a technical center where I could learn more about cars and get certifications. So, I attended that in my junior and senior years, where I was able to do a lot of hands-on work.”

Working his way to an education

At his young age, Fisher has already worked on a variety of cars, while studying for a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Engineering Technologies at Ferris University. “I’ve worked on a lot of newer cars, like the EV Audi Quattros. I’ve also worked on older vehicles, like the 2000 Escapes and Fox Body Mustangs.”

He’s also helped restore two Mitsubishi Monteros he co-owned with a friend, but now has no cars. “I’ve sold all my cars so I could get money towards college, but I do plan on buying a project car soon,” he said.

a valuable resource From Piston

Earning the Piston Scholarship became a valuable resource for Fisher. “I was doing some research with my mom (Colleen), and we stumbled upon the Piston Foundation Scholarship, and I thought it fit me,” he said. “And then I gave it a shot and Piston gave it to me, and I was so grateful for that.

“If I didn’t have the scholarship, I don’t think I would be at the school right now. It’s allowing me to chase my dreams and learn what I can. I would tell anybody else who’s on the fence about [applying for a Piston Scholarship] to go for it. It’s definitely worth it.”

Family and Gratitude

Moving forward in his education, he appreciates the support he’s received from his mom, a teacher, and his dad Jason, a civil engineer. His advice to other parents guiding their kids on this kind of career path is simply “be supportive and help them as much as you can. I think this is a great career choice, period. I think there’s so much to be gained from the automotive industry.”

Fisher would like the collector car industry to know that the pre-notion that his generation is lazy is incorrect. “I feel like a lot of us are not the ones playing video games, but we are actually doing things. We are hardworking and we can prove it to you if you give us chances,” he said.

The Long And Winding Road

Following graduation, Fisher plans to use his bachelor’s degree to get a job out of state, if possible. Having grown up in Waterford, Michigan, he’d like to venture to other parts of the country. “I know there’s a big car scene in California, but that’s also a pretty expensive place to live. I feel like I do better when I put myself in new environments. And I think a change of scenery would do really well for me,” he said.

He’d like to work perhaps at a dealership or car restoration shops, and “being a part of the car scene and restoring them as well.”

As he stated in his scholarship application, “The road from a life in poverty in Ethiopia to pursuing a career in restoring classic cars has been long and winding – (well, at least winding so far, as he’s about to turn 19) – but it has been a journey of hope, discovery, and passion. It is confirmation that no matter where you start in life, your dreams and passions can guide you to an extraordinary destiny.”