ALEX KAUTZMAN Bismarck Tribune
Mandan High School senior Josey Jackson said she first tried swimming in second grade and has loved it ever since. She started competing at the college level in seventh grade and grew from a team player to a team leader.
“Being captain means a lot to me, it’s an honor,” Jackson said. “I’ve been voted out twice now and I love the girls I swim with.”
The daughter of Thomas and Tanya Jackson, from Mandan, is this week’s teenager of the week. Thirty-two high school students will be recognized by spring, when a teen of the year will be selected from weekly winners to receive a $5,000 scholarship sponsored by MDU Resources Group.
Jackson made his first appearance in a state swim meet as a seventh grader. She has reached the final every year since eighth grade. Last season, she finished third in the WDA and fifth in the state 100-meter butterfly. She has earned Academic All-Conference honors five times.
People also read…
Jackson can even be found at the pool during the off season. She swims with the Mandan Marlins Swim Club and works as a lifeguard in the summer.
In the spring, Jackson competes in a clay court league. She said it’s a fun hobby that has broadened her horizons beyond swimming and school. She is also involved in the Latin club and the student council.
Stephanie Bouche, a social studies teacher and student council adviser, said Jackson is a helpful, respectful and generous person who is committed to helping others.
“I had the opportunity to watch Josephine become an outstanding student council leader,” Bouche wrote in a letter of recommendation. “She has shown her commitment to helping others by getting involved in charity fundraisers and service projects. She is always ready to serve her school and community.
The National Honor Society member said she enjoys serving her community with her church’s youth group. Her favorite volunteer experience dates back to 2019 when she traveled to Guatemala with the God’s Child service project to provide humanitarian aid.
“It was life changing,” she said. “Volunteering allows you to get a grip on the real world and see how other people live.”
By the end of the year, Jackson will have completed four advanced placement classes and three dual credit classes. She is proud to have maintained a weighted GPA of 4.14, which she attributes to her love of learning.
“I consider my GPA a very big achievement,” she said. “Teachers really push you and you have to work for that from the start. It is difficult to achieve.
Jackson hopes to continue swimming in college while studying either data science or probability and statistics. His goal is to one day work in statistics for a professional sports team.
