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Scholar Spotlight
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Elissa Jennings
“My philosophy of achievement has always been one of hard work and perseverance.”
- Alumni of: 2007 College Scholarship Program
- Resides: Smyrna, TN
- Hometown: Smyrna, TN
- Age: 23
- Four-year College or University: Harvard University
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Finance / Economy, Lawyer / Legal Scholar
- Other Interests: Foreign Languages / International Study, Literature, Nonprofits, Outdoor / Mountaineering / Camping, Politics and Diplomacy, Public Services, Sciences, Tutoring / Mentoring, Volunteer Work, Writing / Journalism
Biography
Upon learning that she was a Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholar, Elissa was elated. “I felt like the whole world was open to me,” she remembers. “I could really challenge myself and explore.”
Years later, Elissa’s appreciation for the Foundation has only grown. “The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and the JKC community as a whole exposed me to so much more of the world than I could have known without.” JKC facilitated her participation in things like mentorship programs, a summer ecology class in Costa Rica, and music lessons. The Foundation’s allowed her the growth necessary to win many academic and extracurricular awards and honors.
After high school, Elissa went on to Harvard University, where she is a currently a senior majoring in economics. Says Elissa, “Economics offers a unique lens through which to view the world – one holding the long-term solutions to many of its problems.”
Other Scholars Like Elissa
Velma Claypool
Graduate Scholar
Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine
Nikki Hurtado
Graduate Scholar
Pacific University
Luke McLaurin
Graduate Scholar
Washington University in St. Louis
Joe Cadena
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
University of California, Berkeley