Hi there, I’m Jesika

My name is Jesika McDaniel

Hometown: Greensboro, NC

High School: Southeast Guilford High

College: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

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Bio

Ever since I was young, I have always strived for going above expectations and being a positive role model for others. During my freshman year of high school, I decided I wanted to graduate a year early. I told my family, my friends, and my guidance counselor. The majority of the feedback I got was, "You can't do that", "Colleges won't accept you", "Your people don't usually do that". Although those words were discouraging coming from people whom I trusted and looked up to, it did not stop me. I was determined to fulfill my dream and set a precedent for the upcoming generation. 

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On June 12th of 2017, I graduated high school in three years at the age of sixteen. I placed in the top 10% of my class with over a 4.6 GPA. All of this proves that despite the odds if you work hard towards your goals, then you are destined for greatness. My purpose is to encourage, equip, and educate the next generation to chase their dreams of going to college despite what statistics, family, or your guidance counselor have to say.

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"Not everyone will see nor understand your vision, but remember it is not for them to comprehend but for you to conquer"

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- Jesika M. McDaniel

Education

Southeast Guilford High School

Class of 2017

Summa Cum Laude

Language Endorsement (Spanish)

NC Scholar

National Honors Society 

Youth Leadership Greensboro

Service-Learning Diploma (Earned over 400 Service Learning Hours)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Bachelors of Science in Biological Systems Engineering

Class of 2021

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Master's of Education in Science Education

Class of 2022

Organizations & Societies

National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE), Virginia Tech Chapter

  • Pre-College Initiative Chair (PCI), 2018- Present

  • NSBE-G, Graduate School Committee Chair, 2020- 2021

  • T.O.R.C.H Chair 2018-2019

Center of Enhancement Engineering Diversity (CEED), Virginia Tech

  • Graduate Assistant 2021-2022

  • Service Learning Committee Liason, 2019-2021

  • PEER Mentor for Black Engineer Student Transition, 2020 

  • Diversity Task Force Group, 2019- 2021

  • Hypatia Mentor for Female Engineers, 2018

National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), Scholar 

College of Engineering Dean's Team, Undergraduate Recruiter

Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program, Participant

Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Scholar