From the Capital-Gazette
Jack Stump, 16, has had
several hair-raising experiences since he became a teen. Make that hair-razing.
The Davidsonville teen has participated in
three St. Baldrick's shave-a-thon events in which participants raise money for
childhood cancer research
and, in return, they have their heads shaved. He raised $620 for his first
shave, $1,060 the following year, and $2,773 in 2015. He is already fundraising
for the upcoming shave-fest at Galway Bay in Severna Park.
"Going
bald after having long hair all year is nice," he said. "And, a
little cold. But, it feels good helping other people who need it, and making a
difference in kids' lives."
His
interest in Archbishop Spalding's Mock Trial Team is razor sharp. It is his
favorite extracurricular activity, and he's the team captain this year. "I
get an Adrenalin rush when we are competing, mentally rather than physically.
Like sailing, it's very strategic, more of a mental game than a physical one.
Our coach, Ms. Stevenson, is an attorney who makes it fun."
Inspired
by Project Lead The Way, a nationwide, four-year engineering program in which a
select group of Archbishop Spalding students participate, Jack is considering a
career in bio-medical engineering. "I want to help people with cancer,
like I do with the St. Baldrick's fundraisers. With a bio-medical degree, I can
make prosthetics and enhance people's lives."
He
has been chosen to participate in a one-month unpaid internship within the
Wilmer Center for Nanomedicine at Johns Hopkins University this summer. He will
be assisting Dr. Laura Ensign-Hodges in the department's research lab, possibly
aiding her in her work in cancer research.
Jack
was captain of Spalding's Sailing team last fall. The team sails 420s at the Severn
Sailing Association. For him, it's a form of de-stressing and relaxing after
school.
"It
takes my mind off all the homework waiting for me when I get home," he
said.
"My teammates and I
have a lot of fun out on the water."
No comments:
Post a Comment