The Westminster College men’s lacrosse team is getting one of Huntington High School’s finest in Jahiem Hawkins. The senior has committed to the New Wilmington, Pennsylvania school. He intends to study there for a career in nursing.
Mr. Hawkins is a very impressive teenager. He recently helped the Blue Devil football team reach the Suffolk playoffs, excelling at his linebacker position. He plays long stick midfielder for the Huntington lacrosse team and head coach Julian Watts is counting on him to help the squad make a run at the county title next spring.
Vice-president of the Huntington NAACP chapter’s youth branch, Mr. Hawkins participates in the Wilson Tech Skills USA program, which helps prepare students for careers in trade, technical and skilled service (including health) occupations. The teenager also plays for Team Huntington Lacrosse, a local club program.
Mr. Hawkins has been accepted into Westminster College’s nursing program for the fall 2022 semester. “I want to become a critical care nurse practitioner who works in an intensive care unit,” the teenager said.
The senior is currently enrolled in Wilson Tech’s professional health careers program. At Huntington High School, he takes classes in AP US Government & Politics, AP Environmental Science and economics.
“I decided to attend Wilson Tech because I wanted to start my career in high school,” Mr. Hawkins said. “I completed nurse assisting last year at Wilson Tech. My favorite teachers are Mike Corcoran (chemistry) at Huntington High School and Terry Maratto (nursing) at Wilson Tech.”
Mr. Hawkins worked as intern for six weeks last summer at Tech Odet, Inc., assisting the company with diversity, equity and inclusion data analysis and creating ways in which employers can help diversify their workforce and hiring practices.
“My family and I traveled the Midwest this summer visiting colleges in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Upstate New York and we also attended several lacrosse tournaments in New Jersey, Maryland, Upstate New York and Delaware,” Mr. Hawkins said.
Born in Jamaica in the West Indies, Mr. Hawkins and his family travel there once a year. “I have also visited several other Caribbean countries such as the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas,” he said. “But I would like to go to Japan once I graduate.”
The teenager has enjoyed many happy days these past four years. “Huntington High School is family; the leaders, teachers, administration, staff and security guards are all family to me,” Mr. Hawkins said. “This is the Huntington way!”
While the senior is looking forward to his time at Westminster College and playing lacrosse there, he isn’t ready to let go of Huntington High School just yet. The Blue Devil is looking forward to one final lacrosse season with the teammates that have meant so much to him.
“These past four years I have grown attending Huntington High School and Wilson Tech,” Mr. Hawkins said. “My experiences at both buildings have shaped me into the person I am today, as well as my parents guidance to be who I want to be. My high school experience would not be what it is without my football family and lacrosse family.”
