Seniors Margaret Hjort and Lucas Jennings have been selected to represent Darlington in the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority's John Pinson Outstanding Student Athlete Award competition.
“Margaret and Lucas haven proven themselves as outstanding student-athletes and as exemplary students and role models both on and off the field,” said Athletic Director Bob Stinchcomb. “We are extremely proud of all of their accomplishments. I have no doubt that they will represent Darlington very well in this competition.”
Hjort has run track for two years, played basketball for four years, played soccer for six years and run cross country for six years. This year, she helped lead the girls’ cross country team to win the 2010 Class A State Championship. She is a Wofford Scholar, a Furman Scholar, a spiritual life liaison, and a member of the Headmaster’s List, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and “Y” Cabinet. Hjort also takes dance and piano and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church youth group. She has won multiple awards at Darlington, including the AP Scholar with Honor Award, the Wellesley College Book Award and the George Eastman Young Leaders Award. She is the daughter of Emily and Peter Hjort of Rome.
“Margaret is an exceptional young woman and one who, while confident in her talents and abilities, is open, kind and warm to those around her,” said Gordon Hight (’94), director of Upper School. “Clearly an excellent student, she also makes significant contributions to Darlington athletically and is a trustworthy and dependable leader.”
Jennings has run cross country for three years, played soccer for four years and wrestled for four years. In 2010, he placed fourth in the Class A State Wrestling Competition in the 130-pound weight class. He is a University of Georgia Certificate of Merit recipient, a Centre College Fellow and a member of the Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Honor Society, Science Club, Chess Club, and the physics and math teams. Jennings is also a member of Arsenal Rome Club Soccer and First Presbyterian Church. In addition to serving as webmaster for the local charity Compassionate Paws, he owns his own website design company, Mincus Technologies. He has won multiple awards at Darlington, including the AP Scholar with Distinction Award; the Harvard Club Award; E.L. Wright Scholastic Awards for Algebra1, Spanish 2, Ancient World History and Algebra 2 Honors; and the Everett E. Porter Award for Excellence in Chemistry Laboratory. He is the son of Linda and Russ Jennings of Rome.
“Lucas is exceptionally smart and a hard worker,” said Brant Evans, history teacher. “He is also a very talented athlete who excels at everything he does. There is no doubt in my mind that Lucas is going to do something special with his future.”
The John Pinson Outstanding Student Athlete Award, which recognizes two outstanding high school seniors in Rome and Floyd County with a $1,000 college scholarship, will be presented at the Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame at Induction Banquet on Feb. 28.
Candidates must have received local, area, regional or state recognition in athletics and be active in school and community organizations and activities. They must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and submit an essay about what it means to be a student-athlete. Each candidate will be scored on individual scholastic achievement, individual athletic achievement, school and community involvement, and essay.
