Marissa Jackson, a sophomore at Hillsborough High School, has been recognized as a 2012-13 Discus Awards finalist in the areas of academics, athletics and faith.
The Discus Awards is a national program that honors all-around high school students who excel in three of 10 attributes. Finalists are considered for multiple college scholarships provided by Discus Awards partners.
Marissa said she excels in academics in a variety of ways. She said she plans to get into both the National Honor and German Honor societies in her junior year.
Marissa amassed a cumulative GPA of 97.44 percent in her freshman year, and took three honors classes in each of her first two years. She plans to continue to take all AP and honors classes. She excels in German, and has a 97 average in her future major, which is chemistry.
She participates in cross country, winter track and spring track, particularly in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes, as well as the 4-by-400-meter relay. She was selected to run in the Penn Relays as a part of the school’s relay team and competed in the Group 4 sectionals in spring track, where only the top three runners from each event are chosen.
She said she spreads the word of God through song, technology and teaching, and has been singing in the church choir since she was three years old. She helps in the media room every first Sunday, where the church records the sermon to sell on CDs, tapes and DVDs, and also projects the scripture and song lyrics on a screen so people are able to sing and read along with the choir and pastor.
Every second Sunday, she teaches the first and second grade Sunday School class.
She reads scripture and prays in front of the congregation a few times a year.
