Benson High School Senior Awarded the ‘Maverick in the Making’ Scholarship

When the world is in need of a helper, Jade Reed will be the first to lend a hand.

The Benson High School senior is the latest recipient of the Maverick in the Making scholarship and intends to use the award to pursue a degree in criminal justice, which will give her the knowledge and skills she needs to serve others in her community.

“I want to go into criminal justice because I want to be able to help people. I’m looking to better the community,” Reed said. “In the area I grew up in, it wasn’t always a good area, and I want to be able to help the kids around.”

Maverick in the Making recognizes high school seniors like Reed who are making a difference in their communities by awarding a scholarship to the University of Nebraska at Omaha for $4,000.

Reed said the grade requirements for cheerleading played a role in keeping her academic journey on track in high school, which made her lifelong dream of attending college a reality. In addition to pursuing a criminal justice degree, she hopes to continue cheerleading.”

“I’ve always wanted to go to college since I was little, but it has always switched between different things,” Reed said. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do until up until last summer when I looked into criminal justice.”

Tori Haas, a Benson High School teacher, cheer coach, and Reed’s mentor, watched Reed grow and mature over time and believes the future is bright for the Maverick-to-be.

“Jade overcame those first couple of years of high school and has really grown into herself and has really grown into somebody who is going to college,” Haas said.