- April 19, 2024
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Eighth graders Gabrielle Johnston and Jude Flynn have been conquering the public school system, side by side.
Gabrielle Johnston and Jude Flynn have a lot in common.
Currently in eight grade at Ormond Beach Middle Schoo, the pair went through the gifted program at Pine Trail Elementary, play soccer, are members of the Junior Honors Society, finished the seventh grade with 4.07 GPAs, love math and are winners of the United States Achievement Academy.
Over 10,000 fifth to 12th grade students were nominated and only 401 winners were chosen. Of the 20 students that were awarded in Florida, these two OBMS students were chosen.
Though they didn’t win the first place $10,000 grant, the students each won smaller grants and will be featured in the National Academy Achievement Yearbook.
“When I first got nominated, I didn’t think of it as much,” Gabrielle Johnston said. “Once I got all the papers it really sunk in. All of my work so far has actually been leading up to big moments.”
“At first I didn’t know what it was,” Jude Flynn laughed. “But I thought I might as well apply for it. I’m still a little confused as to what is going on but I’m happy I won something.”
According to USAA’s website, the academy was established in 1978 by Dr. George Stevens. It has since recognized over twenty-seven million young people throughout the United States for their academic and extra-curricular achievements. Each student recognized by the USAA is nominated by a teacher, counselor, coach or community leader as among the sponsor's top students. The 13-year-olds were nominated by their social studies teacher, Christine Disinger.
“She’s a great teacher,” Gabrielle Johnston said. “She’s such a nice person. She has a good balance of teaching and having fun. She really knows how to relate to students.”
“She has a lot of patience,” Jude Flynn said with a smirk. “Everything is fun in her class. Nothing is textbook work. Everyone did good in her class.”
The pair will continue on their similar paths next year, as they both plan to attend Spruce Creek High School and enroll in its International Baccalaureate program. Though neither students are 100 percent sure of their future careers, both would like to do something with math. Gabrielle Johnston is thinking of pursuing the medical or engineering field.
“I haven’t the foggiest idea,” Jude Flynn joked. “But I like math because it makes sense. Everything fits together.”
Jude Flynn’s dad, Tom Flynn, has been teaching his son math since he was 5 years old.
“Jude works very hard,” Tom Flynn said. “His discipline is much better than mine ever was. He’s good about getting his work done. He likes to goof off and have fun, but he takes his school seriously.”
“On weekends when the other kids are all playing and doing stuff, ours are working,” said Michelle Corso-Johnston, Gabrielle Johnston’s mom. “I just want her to be independent and successful. She’s really paved her own way and done it on her own. She set standards for herself.”
And the standards for both Gabrielle and Jude, are very high.
