As a high school student, Jaylon Thompson ’17 was focused on becoming a Georgia Bulldog.
His scholarship helped him get
To UGA and the Olympics
As a high school student, Jaylon Thompson ’17 was focused on achieving his dream of becoming a Georgia Bulldog; even his sleep schedule was disrupted by the “pure excitement” he felt when envisioning life at the University of Georgia and its renowned Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Little did Jaylon know, but his experiences at UGA would one day take him to the Olympics.
When Jaylon set his sights on attending UGA, he focused on his schoolwork and graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. Scholarship support gave him the financial means to turn his aspirations into reality. Along with the Hope and Zell Miller scholarships, Jaylon received the One UGA Scholarship, which is awarded to academically strong students who contribute to diversity on campus. The One UGA Scholarship is funded, in part, by donors who make unrestricted gifts to UGA.
In 2016, Jaylon was chosen through a rigorous application process to cover the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for the U.S. Olympic Committee website, TeamUSA.org. Not only did Jaylon meet athletes he’d admired for years, like Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, and Usain Bolt, but this achievement solidified his promising career as a sports journalist.
“If it wasn’t for my scholarships, I wouldn’t be at UGA to begin with, and if it wasn’t for the scholarship support I got from Grady, I probably wouldn’t have been able to go to the Olympics. I’m very appreciative. This support has helped me better myself for my future.”
In his own words
“If it wasn’t for my scholarships, I wouldn’t be at UGA to begin with, and if it wasn’t for the scholarship support I got from Grady, I probably wouldn’t have been able to go to the Olympics. I’m very appreciative. This support has helped me better myself for my future.”
-Jaylon Thompson
He’s using his talents
to uplift others
Scholarship support attracts students like Jaylon to UGA and helps them dive into campus activities that enhance their classroom learning. Jaylon leveraged his UGA career to help himself and others be better prepared for the future.
The digital and broadcast journalism major’s resume reads like that of a seasoned journalist. As a writer for The Red & Black, UGA’s student-run newspaper, he covers the sports beat and writes features that illuminate the art in student-athletes’ sportsmanship and commitment to their teams. In 2015, Jaylon interned with the Houston Chronicle and secured a front-page article about the 2015 Women’s World Cup. In 2016, he interned with his hometown newspaper, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, covering the Atlanta Braves and Falcons.
“I still have a copy of that [front page Houston Chronicle] article in my house,” said Jaylon. “I’m going to frame it. That really started it all. It let me know that people believe in me and that I can do this.”
On top of his impressive internship experiences, Jaylon is a leader on campus and seeks to help his peers achieve their goals, too.
“Once I stepped on campus, I knew I wanted to make a difference. My biggest inspiration came from my grandmother, who passed away when I was in high school. She would always tell me to ‘work hard and do what you can to help others.’ I knew my goal was to be bigger than a sports journalist; it was to uplift others as well.”
As co-editor-in-chief of E.L.I.T.E., a student-run online storytelling platform, Jaylon promotes peer-to-peer dialogue and opportunities for constructive feedback and positive encouragement on contributors’ writing projects. He also serves as the executive outreach chair for the UGA Chapter of National Association of Black Journalists, and was chosen as a McGill Fellow, a fellowship awarded to Grady College students who exemplify excellence in academics and leadership.
After graduation in 2017, Jaylon will begin an internship with mlb.com to cover the Atlanta Braves. Ultimately, he aspires to become a sports analyst for ESPN like the late Stuart Scott, an anchor for ‘SportsCenter.’
“[Scott] had the rare ability to make sports relatable and interesting for everyone. He is a pioneer for many African-American journalists and I hope to carry on his legacy through my career.”
Update: Jaylon accepted a position as a multimedia and sports journalist at MLB Advanced Media in May 2017.
Jaylon Thompson
