Jessica has made significant impact by isolating an enzyme critical to Bee Colony Collapse Disorder and developing – and patenting – a metabolite to remediate it. This achievement won her third prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Determination and grit drove her to rise from a low-income single-parent household in rural Georgia, and an abusive stepfather, to one of the elite colleges in the world – all while battling a chronic, fatigue-inducing genetic disorder. Jessica’s passion for the environment prompted her to establish the ‘Teens Turning Green’ club to help her fellow students also make a positive impact. She was the President of the National Science Honor Society and a Georgia Governor’s Honors School state finalist. Yet she still managed to work thirty hours per week as a waitress to help her mother and brother make ends meet.
