THOMASVILLE — Thomas County Central celebrated Jaida Pinkins Thursday as the softball player committed to continue her athletic and academic career at Harvard.

Pinkins, who has a 4.7 GPA, said she has always wanted to be the best she can be in all aspects of her life. She said Harvard will fulfill that on the diamond and in the classroom.

She said it was a lot of hard work to get to this point, but she is excited it all paid off.

“It was kind of a mutual connection, you know? I liked what they were saying, they liked what they saw from me,” Pinkins said. “I went up to visit the campus in Boston, and it was immediate. I fell in love with the place. It just felt like home. I can see myself as a little girl now looking at myself and saying wow, I made it. It’s just the beginning but it’s great to know I’m here now.”

When athletes compete for an Ivy League school, athletic scholarships do not exist. Potential athletes have to meet the same academic requirements as any other student to get admission to the school, and then they can honor their commitment to compete.

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