On Dec. 2, 2024, Jake Jackson’s life drastically changed.
While at baseball practice at Soddy Daisy High School, he received an email on his phone with incredible news: Jackson would be attending one of the most prestigious colleges in the world, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on a free ride for the next four years.
As one of 2,627 students across the country to receive the QuestBridge National College Match scholarship, which covers everything from tuition and housing to food and other living expenses, Jackson was overcome with joy.
“To match with MIT was a total dream come true. It seemed so unreal. I was absolutely ecstatic,” said Jackson, who graduated from Soddy Daisy this spring. “I just can’t thank my dad enough for always inspiring me throughout my life. He went to every baseball game, always kept me up to date with school and introduced advanced math topics to me at a young age. Without him, I am not sure I would be in the same position or even the same man.”
Jackson was always taught to take a head-on approach to life, attacking every challenge whether it was in athletics, academics or other areas.