HISD senior earns full scholarship to prestigious Swarthmore College

Troy Jackson, a senior at HISD’s Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy, has been awarded a full academic scholarship to Swarthmore College. Jackson credits his success to hard work, perseverance, and the guidance of trusted adults.

“It feels almost unreal,” Jackson said. “I never thought much of myself, and when I got the acceptance letter, I was dumbfounded. People have always told me I’m going to do a lot, so now I’m living up to that.”

Jackson is known for his exceptional academic performance and community involvement. Swarthmore College, part of an unofficial group of small liberal arts colleges known as the “Little Ivies,” is highly regarded for its rigorous curriculum and selective application process.

Clifford Lee, Jackson’s fifth-grade teacher at Blackshear Elementary, recognized Jackson's potential early on despite the challenges he faced growing up in Houston’s Third Ward Cuney Homes. Lee provided mentorship that helped Jackson develop a love for learning and an interest in math and technology.

“I wanted him to know that he was somebody special,” Lee said. “I wanted him to know that he could do some great things because he was growing up in Cuney Homes, just him and his mom. I wanted to make sure that he knew that there was somebody there that he could talk to.”

Jackson also benefited from his involvement with the Positive Black Male Association (PBMA) of Houston, which creates opportunities for minority youth through academics, wellness, and community engagement.

“I feel like my education has prepared me,” Jackson said. “Not just the academics but for the people I’m going to meet, societal norms, the way I’m going to have to behave.” He added with a laugh, “I’m going to have to learn to be more punctual.”

Through PBMA and HISD’s EMERGE program—which provides intensive college counseling—Jackson toured different colleges and developed a portfolio of community service hours. Over the past year alone, he accumulated nearly 100 hours of volunteer work.

“I’m very proud of him,” said Takeisha Richmond, Jackson’s mother. “He chose his own college and took care of his own business.”

During his graduation ceremony, Jackson crossed the stage four times: first as salutatorian addressing his peers; second accepting the School Board Award for Student Excellence; third receiving a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's office; and finally collecting his diploma.

Jackson plans to major in Engineering and Computer Science at Swarthmore but is not yet certain about his career path post-graduation. He is confident he will use his education and skills to help others—just as those who guided him along the way did.