Titusville Area Chamber Awards Rising Star Student
Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Rising Star Student Jesse Hopkins
2024 Rising Star Awards and Partners in The Business of Education Luncheon
Titusville, FL, May 10th — The Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce awards the Rising Star award to Astronaut High School Student, Jesse Hopkins. The Rising Star Award program, sponsored by Community Credit Union and Jess Parrish Medical Foundation, seeks to celebrate North Brevard seniors who contribute positively to their community through extracurricular, volunteering, and work outside of school. The program is open to Astronaut, Space Coast, Temple Christian, and Titusville High Schools. Students submit an application which is reviewed and independently evaluated by a volunteer committee of at least three members. Scores are tabulated and a final meeting of the committee is held to select up to six students from each school. This year, 20 students were chosen out of 60 applicants, to be honored at our Chamber luncheons for their outstanding efforts. The selected students provide an essay, which the committee reviews, and one student is chosen to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Read Jesse Hopkins’s essay below.
“Hello, my name is Jesse Hopkins and I’m excited to have the opportunity to apply for the Rising State Award. I have had many struggles throughout life, my mom went to prison when I was very young, so I was sent to live with my dad and his wife separating me from my siblings the only family I knew. My stepmother was very abusive to me and even tried to kidnap me from my dad. At one point she took me away from him for a year and I lived in New Hampshire eventually I was given back to my dad but he wasn’t much of a parent. He has a serious drug addiction and can become very violent. I was lucky to have my grandparents who steered me in the right direction, with their encouragement I’m working hard to give myself the best future I can. I’ve maintained a 4.2 weighted GPA and I am ranked 20 out of my class. I hold down a job where I work 20-30 hours a week on top of school as a bartender/server. I’ve also followed a fun passion in high school which is drama, I’ve been in many plays but my favorite was my lead role in Importance of Being Earnest! I’ve also managed to become the drama club president which I’m very proud of! I also do my best to give back to my community by doing Meals on Wheels and peer tutoring. I want to make sure people don’t have to feel alone like I have in the past. I hope to continue my education by getting a bachelor’s in business management and a minor in hospitality. This will help me lead to my goal of opening my own pet store which has been my dream since I was young. I’m having trouble affording to continue my education so this scholarship would do wonders in helping me pave the way to my future!”
This event was hosted at the Chamber’s Partners in The Business of Education luncheon this past Wednesday, May 8th at the Indian River Golf Preserve in Mims, FL. The guest speaker was Dr. Mark Rendell, superintendent of Brevard Public Schools. Dr. Rendell gave an insightful look into Brevard Public Schools, new programs being implemented, and more.
Each year the North Brevard schools nominate a business that has been a helping partner for them during the school year. This year the following companies were nominated and awarded:
Andrew Jackson Middle – Zack’s Quality Lawn & Tree, Nicole’s Appliances
Apollo Elementary – First United Methodist Church, The Grove Church
Astronaut High – Rush Construction
Atlantis Elementary – Space Coast Nutrition,
Challenger 7 Elementary – Sizzlin’ Smoke, Prodigy Potential
Coquina Elementary – Wawa
Fairglen Elementary – The Sharing Center-Rockledge,
Imperial Estates Elementary – IRC Children’s Ministry, Roy Gainer-Mutter Realty
James Madison Middle – Indian River UMC, St. Andrews
Mims Elementary – Edna Wilson – REMAX Aerospace, Ron Norris Honda
South Lake Elementary – Honeysuckle Restaurant, Coastal Life Realty
Space Coast Jr./Sr. – Foundation of Random Acts of Kindness, American Legion Post 359
Titusville High – Sunrise Bread Company, Park Avenue Baptist Church
The Titusville Area Chamber is grateful to all the community partners for helping give back to our students and schools each year.
About the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce
The Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to develop, enhance, and maintain a strong and diverse business climate and support a prosperous community.
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For more information, please contact Erin Akins, President of the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce,
or Sierra Howard, Director of Communications 321-267-3036
