Jackson receives NFL Essay Scholarship
Philadelphia High School graduate Zariyah Jackson is heading to Mississippi State University this fall with a $3,000 NFL Essay Scholarship thanks to her hard work in the classroom and involvement in extra-curricular activities
“I was excited when I knew that I got it. I was lucky to be the recipient of the scholarship because there were other people in Mississippi that applied too,” she said.
The NFL Professional Athletes Foundation supports a scholarship for a high school student athlete who lives in a city that has a National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Former Players Chapter.
Marcus Dupree arranged for the scholarship to be available at Neshoba Central, Philadelphia, and Louisville.
“I’m glad that somebody from Philadelphia won the scholarship,” said Dupree “I’m happy it’s somebody over by me. I’ve been knowing her grandma and them forever.”
The scholarship rewards high school athletes for their non-athletic achievements and assists them in achieving their academic career goals. Students are not required to compete in collegiate athletics to receive this scholarship.
Jackson’s mother, Natasha Foster, said, “I didn’t even know she applied. We got a box in the mail from the NFL, and I was thinking she just ordered something online, but she was like ‘no Momma that’s my scholarship that Mr. Marcus brought to the school!’ I was shocked and I’m glad she received it. I’m proud of her.”
The scholarship also requires an essay submission of 500-700 words and a copy of the student’s transcript.
The essay’s prompt was “Indicate Why Participation in High School Athletics Has Been Important to You.”
Jackson wrote about the positivity of being involved in sports and how the coaches disciplined her and helped her with time management to prepare her for life outside of high school.
Her essay was stellar, but she had plenty more high school accomplishments to be proud of at Philadelphia.
Jackson’s accolades include class Valedictorian, Homecoming Queen, and Cheerleading Captain. She was a part of the 2019 State Championship Fast-Pitch Softball team, volleyball team, and basketball team.
She accumulated a number of team awards from 2021-2023, most notably achieving the Scholar-Athlete Award in three sports due to her 4.0 GPA.
Jackson was also a member of the National High School Scholars of America and was a Star Student in math, English, history, and science.
“I would like to thank Mrs. Hollingsworth, Mrs. Lang, Mrs. Fisackerly, and Mrs. Spurlock who was my teacher and basketball coach. If I wasn’t on point in class, she’d get me in that gym,” Jackson said as she laughed.
When she arrives in Starkville, she plans to major in business information systems to learn data analysis for the next four years but will always cherish her memories of growing up in Philadelphia.
“The people in the community made Philadelphia the best by having community clean-ups and fun days on Booker T’s football field to get the kids together and just have fun around here,” she said. “Even though there’s not a lot to do, people in the community always find ways to get the youth involved in positive ways.”
Jackson additionally received the Old Main Scholarship, Citizens Bank Scholarship, and Community in Action Scholarship to help aid her journey through college.