Congratulations to Jillian Fahey!

Davis Senior High School’s Scholarship Committee has chosen Jillian Fahey as the recipient of the Barbara Neu Memorial Scholarship this year. She will be formally awarded the scholarship on Senior Awards Night on Tuesday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m.

There were several outstanding applicants for the scholarship this year and we thank all for applying.

Jillian stood out for her academic and extracurricular activities, as well as her portrait of her time at Fairfield.

The most special memory I have from Fairfield was my ability to carelessly wander about the gardens. My little feet scampering about with a joyous hop because of the delightful suspense of freshly grown snacks. Whenever I would raid my garden for an after lunch snack I would feel a wave of pure contentment wash over my body from my little pigtails to my multi colored toes, that I insisted upon painting. I stuck my tiny fingers deep into the soil to grab a carrot and ate it straight out of the ground. I can still taste the sweet crunch with a hint of dirt that would make  my mouth feel dry, although it didn't matter to me because I was fortunate enough to snag a carrot before they were all gone.

Jillian attended Fairfield from 2006-2010. She had Mrs. Neu her first two years and credits her with influencing her writing and interest in others’ well-being:

I spent some of my favorite summer' afternoons writing a letter to Mrs. Neu, telling myself that it had to be perfect for her. The excitement I felt to receive a note back was indescribable. She helped challenge me to write and create communication as a kindergartner, which was a tough feat.

Mrs. Neu always encouraged me to try my best and keep working at reading and writing when I didn't always gain skills as quickly as my classmates because of my Dyslexia. Mrs. Neu's early influence on my young self can only be rivaled by her later powerful influence,when I came back to visit her. Every time I came over, no matter how long ago my last visit was, she always lit up as she saw my face and remembered fun details about me. She made me feel important with her soft smile and her endless interest in my well being.

Jillian drew upon Mrs. Neu’s influence to write a book about an experience with social media bullying for her Girl Scout Gold Award. This took her on a journey to participate in the Building a Resilient Yolo (County) “Be the One” campaign, promoting the idea that one small, positive action can begin a trickle effect that can help people.

Jillian plans to study biology in college and aspires to become a wildlife veterinarian. She was inspired by an internship at the UCD Neurosurgery Lab, work at the Sacramento Zoo and a family trip to Costa Rica.

Congratulations Jillian, we wish you well.