BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School junior Jack Hendrix participated in the Sunshine State Scholars program, which was held April 13-15 in Orlando.
“It was a really good experience,” Hendrix said. “It definitely was a good opportunity to network and talk with like-minded people. I met a lot of people there and made some good friends.”
Participating school districts in Florida select their top 11th-grade students in the areas of science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). The Sunshine State Scholars program connects students with employers that specialize in the STEM fields and create a networking opportunity between the scholars and schools from Florida’s College and State University System.
Hendrix was looking forward to making connections with students from throughout the state, but also admitted the prospect caused some anxiety.
“I was definitely nervous,” he said. “I really did not know what to expect. I just didn’t know what they were going to be like. It was scary at first, but once I started talking with them, I did get more comfortable.”
Hendrix said one of his most enjoyable experiences was listening to a discussion by a panel made up of presidents of companies, who shared their life experiences. He described the opportunity as “valuable.”
It was good to hear what they did when they were younger,” Hendrix said.
Hendrix said the experience taught him that putting yourself in front of others is a factor in future success.
“I learned that it’s not hard to get internships and make connections with people,” he said. “One of the most important things is just to put yourself out there. If you don’t apply yourself, you’re not going to go anywhere.”
Along those lines, he heard something a company president said during the panel discussion that stuck with him: “Don’t let the box you’re in define you. Create the box that defines you.” Hendrix said he’s going to make it a point to create that box in and out of the classroom.
“I’m definitely going to try to apply myself more in my classes and even outside of school,” he said. “I’m going to try to put more effort into bettering myself and knowing my worth to companies and even to other people in general.”
To be selected as a Sunshine State Scholar, a student must meet the following minimum requirements: have an interest in pursuing postsecondary education opportunities in Florida, expressed and/or demonstrated an interest in STEM-related studies, have a weighted grade point average of at least 3.9 and should be on track to qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars Award according to the current guidelines established for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program (specifically, the student should have a minimum of 25 hours of approved community service).
Hendrix said he wants to pursue a career in computer science, an area he’s already shown proficiency in. During his sophomore year, as a student in North Florida Technical College’s Computer Systems and Information Technology program, he placed second in the area of Information Tech Services at the SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference.
“I’ve been around computers all my life,” Hendrix was quoted as saying in a May 19, 2022, Telegraph-Times-Monitor story about his performance at the SkillsUSA event.
