Jennings wins prestigious scholarship from University of Maryland

Senior Lucas Jennings has been named a recipient of the University of Maryland's prestigious Banneker/Key Scholarship, which covers room, board, tuition and books each year for four years of undergraduate study and also includes an iPod touch. The total estimated value of the four-year scholarship exceeds $142,000.

Jennings has attended Darlington School since eighth grade. An AP Scholar with Distinction, he currently ranks fourth in the class of 119. Over his high school career, he has taken 19 AP and Honors courses. He is a member of the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Sociedad Honoraria Nacional de El Coronel, Science Club, Chess Club and the Math Team. He has received E.L. Wright Scholastic Awards for the highest average in Algebra 1, Spanish 2, Ancient World History and Algebra 2. A Centre College Fellow, he has also received the Class Scholarship Award, the Harvard Club Award and the Everett E. Porter Award for Excellence in Chemistry Laboratory.

“Lucas is among the best of the best of the well-rounded students,” said one of his teachers. “He is polite, athletic, intelligent and friendly. Lucas’ presence in the classroom is beneficial to all due to his desire to learn, his natural curiosity and his willingness to help others in class. He is adept at managing his busy schedule and maintaining high averages in demanding courses. There is no doubt in my mind that Lucas is going to do something special with his future.”

Jennings is a three-sport athlete in cross country, soccer and wrestling. He is a three-year member of the varsity cross country team, and has served as captain for the past two years. He is also a four-year member of the varsity soccer team and has played four years of Arsenal Rome Club Soccer. He is a four-year member of the varsity wrestling team and currently serves as captain. In both 2011 and 2010, he took fourth in the Class A State Wrestling Competition for the 130-pound weight class.

Outside of school, Jennings has developed his entrepreneurial skills by starting his own company. Minicus Technologies specializes in website design for small businesses in the area. He also enjoys volunteering at organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club and the Red Cross, serves as webmaster for Compassionate Paws, and works each summer as a luggage assistant at Camp Skyline. He and his family are active members of First Presbyterian Church.

Including the Banneker/Key, Jennings has received over $536,800 in scholarship awards for the fall. Others include the University of Southern California's Presidential Scholarship and Research Scholarship; Georgia Tech's Presidential Scholarship; the University of Alabama's Presidential Scholarship, Engineering Leadership Scholarship and Computer-Based Honors Fellowship; Clemson University's Out-of-State Academic Scholarship; and the University of Miami's University Scholarship and Gables Scholarship. He is the son of Linda and Russ Jennings of Rome.