Jacob Johnston semi-finalist for National Merit Scholarship Program

Posted 12/16/20

Jacob Johnston, 12th grade scholar at Newburgh Free Academy’s Main Campus is a semi-finalist for the 2020 National Merit Scholarship program. After graduating from Newburgh Free Academy, Jacob …

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Jacob Johnston semi-finalist for National Merit Scholarship Program

Posted

Jacob Johnston, 12th grade scholar at Newburgh Free Academy’s Main Campus is a semi-finalist for the 2020 National Merit Scholarship program.
After graduating from Newburgh Free Academy, Jacob plans to attend college to study computer science. Jacob plans to be a software developer or entrepreneur. Prior to entering NFA Main, Jacob attended Horizons on the Hudson and Heritage Middle School.
Aside from academic excellence, Jacob has played tennis since he was 9th grade and made the Varsity team his junior year. Additionally, Jacob has played the trumpet since he was in 3rd grade. Jacob is also a member of the NFA Debate Team. Jacob thinks back fondly to his days in elementary school, remembering his favorite teacher, “My favorite teacher was my 5th grade teacher, Ms. Hoffman, who let us do lots of creative writing. I had a lot of fun in that class, making comic books and written stories.”
Outside of school, Jacob has explored his interest in computer science in a variety of ways. He has taken online classes, independent of his high school curriculum.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Jacob has developed a simple mobile game called “Orbit Hit,” available on the iOS app store. Jacob is currently interested in web development and created the game for fun as a way to develop his skills. Jacob was the winner of the Hudson Valley Hackathon in 2019 and 2020, in which groups had to develop application prototypes and pitch their creations to judges. Jacob is currently working on a website for practice. The concept is basically a stock market for YouTube channels.