Jackson Williams

Ambitious and hard-working individual seeking to assist in any way possible. Experienced in managing volatile and challenging environments while maintaining composure and ensuring support is provided. Proven ability to foster welcoming atmospheres and unite people, regardless of the circumstances. Contributes positively to teams through strong leadership, initiative, and a commitment to ensuring all voices are heard and respected.

• Mr. Tilghman: The male student who best exemplifies the qualities that represent a student should have at Paducah Tilghman High School
• Henry Vogt Scholar: A scholarship gifted to talented students at the University of Louisville
• Honors Student: Honors student at the University of Lousiville, focused on a pre-med track.
• Presidential Scholar Male Nominee: The male student for my high school that was selected to represent it nationally. Was one of 9 students in KY to make it to the final round.
• Co-Captain of Cross Country Team: I worked tirelessly with my co-captain to create a team that valued hard work and competition, which went to turn a team that did not qualify for state my junior year, to a team that won Regionals for the first time in 18 years and won bronze at state.
• RaiseRED participant/RSO RaiseRED board: I worked for weeks to raise money for children with cancer, and pushed the rest of my fraternity to raise as well. Finished the week by attending a 18-hour dance marathon where I almost doubled the money I raised. Over half a million was raised for the children, and our fraternity was ranked as the 3rd highest-earning RSO.

• RaiseRED, Jan-Feb (2025): Texted, called, met with people in order to raise donations for children with cancer. Attended dance marathon to raise money, met personal goal and contributed to $533k donation.
• Fryberger, Jan-Feb (2025): Worked everyday for weeks to develop dance/song routine to preform in show featuring the sororities and fraternities of UofL in order to raise money for charity. Won second overall after performance.
• Danceshow, Oct-November (2024): Worked for weeks to preform dance at charity event in which over 20k was raised in one night for Serious Fun. Worked outside of dance show doing challenges as well to raise money for Serious Fun.
• Freshman 1st semester charity events: Minor events attended in order to help community. I worked Boo at the Zoo, handing out candy to kids, cleaned up farms, worked security for school event. Over 50 hours earned first semester.
• Reidland Church Family Camp, (2019-2023): Worked making food, cleaning, setting up events, and building connections with campers
• Starfish Orphan Ministry Volunteer, (2019-2025): Worked sorting clothes, cleaning, and make it a mission to work the entire week of their Christmas Charity for the last 3 years, acting in the play and working to give out the presents to families.
• Family Service Society, (2019-2020): Worked sorting groceries and gathering the donations from the community
• Mayfield Tornado Clean-up, (2021): Worked for several days to pick up destroyed houses and gather donations for the families affected by the tornado.

Academic Team Participant: (2019-2021)

-Focused on quick response and future problem-solving. This used a background that was not solely gained in the classroom but also experienced in real life. I was starting varsity my sophomore year as we won, or were runners-up, in many competitions.

Beta Club Participant: (2019-2024)

-Beta club focuses on both high academics and community involvement. Through this organization, I have worked with elementary students learning to read, cleaned up areas around town, helped at back to school nights, volunteered at events and elementary carnivals. It has taught me that every small contribution adds to something larger.

National Honor Society: (2022-2024)

-Academics is the core of National Honor Society, as well as volunteering and dedication.

I have assisted with setting up awards nights at my school and area schools and have volunteered at local nonprofits, such as Community Kitchen and Starfish Orphan Ministry

Governor's Scholar: 2023

-I spent 5 weeks at Murray State University over the summer experiencing college life and academics. I learned about agribusiness and solving unsolvable problems. I learned that college was not only about the place but the community you build around you.

Dauphin Island Sea Lab: 2024

-Attended the sea lab for 3 days to experience and understand the stewardship of oceanic and coastal resources. I helped engineer an ocean robot, collected an invasive jellyfish species, and learned about oceanic balance.

Student Equity and Advisory Council (SEAC): (2021-2024)

-The Student Equity and Advisory Council has been possibly the most important and touching work of my high school years. In this organization, I have actively lead parents, students, teachers, councils, and community groups in forums and discussions about race, equality, diversity, and change. I have helped my school and a rival school during a challenging interaction about race. I have helped teachers have discussions about inequality in education. I have lead leaders in the community in ways to achieve more diversity. This group has been a passion of mine and has given me voice and experience in very important topics of our culture. I have been invited many times to prepare and lead these forums in our community. These opportunities have helped me gain a voice and shown me how to lead others in seeing the humanness of those around them.

Interact Club: (2019-2024)

-Interact is a community service organization. It has a focus on community involvement and volunteering. During my time in Interact, I have worked frequently with local elementary schools, doing reading times, games nights, and homework help. I have also spent time in community kitchens, community resource organizations, and food pantries.

Track and Field: (2019-2024)

-I have participated in Varsity Track and Field all four years on the distance team. I have run the 800m, 800m relay, 1600m, and 400m. I have helped the team reach both regional and state competitions. I have been a co-captain for two years and have worked both on and off season to improve my running.

Cross Country: (2019-2024)

-Cross country is one place I have seen my biggest improvements. I started as a freshman and was taken under the wings of upper-classman. They taught me a love of the sport and a true heart for the team. Over four years, I worked year round to improve my techniques and my times, as well as help develop a team that also loved to run. My race time was reduced by over 6 minutes over the four years. I was co-captain both my junior and senior years. My senior year, through ceaseless hours of training, and sometimes a long dreary run, I brought my team to a regional win for the first time in 19 years. At state, we placed an exceptional third place after being predicted to place 7th.

Mission Trips: (2019-2025)

-Through my local church, I have spent every summer involved in a weeklong domestic mission trip. I have gone to Nashville, TN and helped with meals preparation and distribution alongside of an inner-city church. I have helped work children’s programs and summer camps in Nashville. I have spent two summers in Chicago working with children and homeless ministries. I have done mundane work, such as sorting donated pens, and the more lively work of putting on a children’s puppet show. In 2019, I traveled to Puerto Rico for a week to help rebuild after hurricane damage, as well as work in children’s ministry.

Church Youth Group Leadership: (2019-2024)

-I have participated in Youth Group since 5th grade at my church. I have led singing and prayers, read scripture, participated in plays church camps, and retreats. I have helped with the younger children and served alongside other members. Church and faith have helped me both to give and to receive, to work inter-generationally, and participate in things that have challenged me.

Phi Kappa Tau: (2024-2025)

-I rushed Phi Kappa Tau in the fall of 2024 and was immediately drawn to the organization. It has given me a platform to work heavily with volunteer organizations, network with professionals in my line of work, work with DEI, and grow a future platform for my experience at the University of Louisville.