St. Scholastica student wins 2015 Google Lime Scholarship

2015 Apr 13

A junior at The College of St. Scholastica has been awarded a highly competitive 2015 Google Lime Scholarship.

Michael Jackson, a double major in psychology and computer science/computer information systems, will receive a $10,000 scholarship and will have a chance to visit Googleplex in Mountain View, CA, the headquarters of the search engine giant.

"I think the scholarship is a really great honor," said Jackson, who admitted the news hasn't quite "sunk in" yet. "I'm very thankful to have received it. I'm appreciative of Google and Lime Connect."

Lime Connect connects people with disabilities to career resources at top companies. Google has partnered with Lime Connect since 2008, and offers this scholarship to students with disabilities in the U.S. and Canada. Winners are selected based on their academic qualifications and passion for computer science.

Jackson, who has cerebral palsy, said he is most excited about the opportunity to visit Google for a Scholars' Retreat in June. He has relied on the products of Google Drive for his schoolwork for years, and has a great admiration for the company that has "shaped life as we know it."

"I'm fascinated with the Google culture and I'm fascinated with what they do," said Jackson. He unsuccessfully applied for two highly sought-after Google internships and got as far as an interview, which is an accomplishment in itself. But in winning this scholarship, he will get a third chance to be considered for an internship.

Jackson is known for his involvement both on the St. Scholastica campus and in the Duluth-area community. His freshman year, he was awarded $25,000 for the charity of his choice through the NASCAR Foundation's Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. He chose Starlight Children's Foundation, an organization that supports seriously ill children and their families.

He championed the Essentia Health Foundation's Legacy of Hope - a dinner, auction and golf tournament fundraiser for the Essentia Children's Hospital. The 2014 event raised more than $250,000. Jackson also won the 2013 St. Scholastica talent show with his "sit-down comedy" routine.