This is the ninth of 20 profiles of The Gazette's Best and Brightest Class of 2018.
Pine Creek High School senior Jack Harrington has a zest for life, delving deeply into everything from learning to play the bagpipes and attending flight school to playing varsity lacrosse.
"I guess the best summary of me is my nickname, 'The Jack of All Trades,'" he said.
He "jokes that he is the 'jack of all trades,' but that would minimize the lasting impact he has had on our school and community," said his school counselor, Stephanie Cornelio. "Jack lives each day to the fullest and genuinely cares about others in a manner rarely seen at his age.
"Jack is not comfortable unless he is thinking, learning and helping others."
"Throughout my life, I've been in leadership positions and have lived by this quote: 'A true leader, when he stands up, makes those around him the best that they can be,'" Jack said.
He has accomplished leadership in the Pine Creek DECA program, Cornelio said. "In Jack's freshman year, he fearlessly decided to run for office at the state level. No surprise to us, he won the position of vice president."
Jack became state executive president of DECA the following year.
"Over two years, I was able to lead and inspire the members of Colorado DECA to raise over $22,000, 21,000 pounds of food, and (contribute) 18,000 hours of community service," he said. "I couldn't be prouder of our team and Colorado DECA."
Jack has maintained a weighted GPA of 4.53 while juggling activities and working as a "broista" at Dutch Bros. Coffee. He said he enjoys interacting with customers there and hearing their stories.
"Jack really cares how people feel and genuinely makes a positive difference in his customers' days," his counselor said.
He will graduate from Pine Creek as an AP Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Commended Scholar and a Boettcher Scholarship Semifinalist.
Jack said he plans to attend the University of Notre Dame. "My dad, uncle and grandmother all graduated from Notre Dame. It's been my dream school since before I can remember," he said.
He said he intends to major in architecture. "I've had this idea of building a city from the ground up, starting fresh and watching it grow. So hopefully after college I can get started doing that."
And he hopes to play bagpipes with the Pipers of the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame.
Cornelio said she's excited to watch Jack grow. "His positive outlook is contagious, and he will be successful because of his abundant love for living life."
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