Jackson J. Cheramie, the son of Jennifer Birdwell Cheramie and Ethan Cheramie will be attending Columbia University in the fall. Gretna is proud of this native son who graduated Jesuit High School Summa Cum Laude with an overall 4.60 GPA. The family, including younger siblings, Annabelle and Grayson live in historic Gretna.
“When it came time to choose a college, I only dreamt of being able to attend Columbia, a place I saw as legendary for its programs in history and language and for its placement in the heart of New York City. When I was accepted and offered the opportunity to attend, I was beyond excited to have the chance to explore the world’s cultures and languages at Columbia, all while proudly representing my own,” Jackson Cheramie said.
He received the Rev. William J. Ryan Memorial award for excellence in Social Studies, was a National Merit Scholar Finalist and a National Merit Scholarship recipient.
While at Jesuit, he participated as a member and leader of the Marching and Concert Bands, the Student Council and the Model United Nations Team, as well as various other clubs and activities.
“The Model United Nations Team, helmed by my teacher and mentor Mr. Wade Trosclair, became incredibly important to me as I first began to dive into the world of culture and diplomacy, offering me an unforgettable chance to attend an international conference held in New York City. There in the actual United Nations headquarters, surrounded by countless foreign languages and customs in the heart of New York, I first felt the drive to pursue and study the many cultures of the world. I also felt a strong desire to live in New York, a land I was beginning to see as rich with culture and opportunity.
“The chance to attend Columbia will bring me closer to my dream of positively impacting the world through a study of and a better understanding of the world’s languages and cultures,” Jackson Cheramie said.
Coincidentally, there is a Gretna grandson who is also Columbia bound, Cason M. Hancock, who is the son of Chandel and Charles Hancock, both raised in Gretna, now Houston residents. Cason’s grandmother is M. Helen Williams, local blogger and reporter who is ecstatic that he is pursuing his first dream, to study at Columbia.
Kudos and best wishes for both of these deserving Columbia-bound students to have an amazing collegiate experience at this spectacular place of learning.
Update: Both of these young men are now settled in their respective dorms and heavily into classes on the Columbia campus.
