King High IB Honor Student Receives Statewide Recognition

Eighteen-year-old Jessica Fielding is the “baby” of the family.

“She’s the finale of six kids, and we’re going out with a bang,” mused her mother, Ruth Morris, who married Marc Morris and blended two families when her daughter was just a toddler.

Ruth’s remarks allude to the fact that Jessica, a senior in ’s International Baccalaureate program, is making a lot of noise in school and throughout the community.

Fielding recently won the 2012 GFWC Florida Youth Leadership Award in the field of education, which came with a $500 check. Nominated by the , she competed against other contenders from 23 clubs across the state.

“The entire GFWC Florida Federation knows these awards highlight youth around the state of Florida who not only are strong leaders, but use their leadership to be involved in their communities,” said Jolie Frankfurth, GFWC Florida Director of Junior Clubs.

The straight-A student with all International Baccalaureate honors classes has a 6.4624 grade point average and during her four years at King has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll 14 times.

Despite the rigors of her demanding academic schedule she makes time to tutor fellow classmates and mentor students in the band, where she plays the euphonium, trombone and tuba and has been a participant in superior-rated All-State and All-County bands.

Fielding also is a member of the National Honor Society, King High’s Student Government Association, the Spanish Honor Society and the Science Honor Club, where she serves as vice president.

In addition, she volunteers weekly as an aide at Tennis for Fun, a program that benefits Special Olympic athletes, and she teaches Bible classes for young children at her church three days a week.

By way of a tuition-paid scholarship, the National Merit Scholar Finalist plans to attend the University of South Florida Honors College, where she’ll major in bio-medical studies with an emphasis on genetics.

“Jessica knew from a very early age what she wanted to do,” her mother said.

And doing the best job possible in her academic life has never been an option, Fielding said.

“Getting good grades is set before you as a challenge, and I’ve never accepted doing anything less than I’m capable of,” she said.