Canyon Crest's Scott Jacobson Wins $5K Don Diego Scholarship

The Don Diego Scholarship Foundation has chosen Canyon Crest Academy's Scott Jacobson for a $5,000 award for his 4-H success and love of animals.

“In a year with a record number of applicants and three strong finalists in the highly competitive 4-H category, Scott’s academic excellence, public speaking skills, 4-H achievements—including a blue ribbon at the Fair for every animal shown over the last 10 years—and, not least of all, his ambition to succeed and passion for animals, made the selection committee’s choice apparent," Don Diego Vice Chair Paul Ecke III said in a statement.

Each year, the foundation provides scholarships to high school seniors in four categories related to the San Diego County Fair: Fair Exhibitor, Fair Employee; 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). Jacobson, who said he wants to study agricultural/animal science at the University of Wyoming at Laramie, won in the 4-H category.

The Canyon Crest Academy senior said he struggled with learning disabilities, but is still graduating with a 3.48 GPA.

“I was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at an early age, but my mom never let me use this as an excuse to not do well in school and set goals," Jacobson said in a statement. "I attended several hours a week of special tutoring through junior high so I could to learn to overcome and adapt to these disabilities rather than succumb to them.”

Jacobson, whose mother Kim was livestock coordinator at the fair, said he has a passion for livestock and exotic animals fueling his desire to attend college and develop conservation programs to allow the two to co-exist.

The foundation, started in 1986, is named after Tom Hernandez who was the legendary host of the San Diego County Fair as Don Diego from 1947 until he died in 1984.