When making the video that eventually changed her life, Jaylynn Jarrell chose to film in a spot with a unique background.
A homework-covered wall.
“Engineering is in a staircase, you might say,” Jarrell said. “You have to take one step and then take another step. You have to use the prior step. I have pretty much all of the math that I’ve ever used in college. I taped it to my wall so I can always look at my wall to see how I derive this equation from that equation.”
Jarrell, an aerospace engineering student at Oklahoma City Community College, won $100,000 in the 2022 Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway at halftime of the Big Ten Championship game. She plans to use the money to attend OSU in the spring.
Based on her video, Jarrell was selected from a nation-wide pool of contestants to compete in a nationally televised contest where two college students throw footballs into a Dr Pepper can-shaped target for scholarship money.
She took eight hours to film it, meticulously following the contest’s recommendations when introducing herself.
Dr Pepper looks for the brightest students in America. Perhaps the impressive video background helped, but Jarrell’s academic background was already convincing. She holds a 3.5 GPA at OCCC and works two jobs, including tutoring other students.
Greg Holland, an engineering professor at OCC, said Jarrell is a delight to be around.
“She is just so incredibly organized and driven to learn,” Holland said. “You know, I spend a lot of time outside of class just answering questions she has as she's doing her homework. She has always been a really good team player working with either her classmates on their projects or just coordinating on homework and studying.”
Jarrell has no background in sports. Not wanting to be caught unprepared, she bought a football the day after submitting her video. It was the first time she could remember touching one.
After she was selected as a competitor, Jarrell ramped up her practice. Like the Michigan and Purdue players she shared a field with at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Jarrell and her husband, Shane watched film.
“Once we found out she was going to in the competition we watched the videos of the past contestants. There’s like 16 years of contestants to watch,” Shane said.
By watching past winners, Jarrell formulated a plan. Chest passing was the most efficient method. They pored over replays to get the target’s dimensions. A Google search turned up a former football player’s height who happened to be pictured standing near the massive can. They used that number to estimate the size and height of the target.
“(Shane) drilled a Lowe's five-gallon bucket to a tree six feet in the air,” Jarrell said. “I would throw at that, which is a foot in diameter. The real target is two feet in diameter.”
Whether calculating velocity or practicing throwing with the right velocity, Jarrell excels.
“She's probably one of the most organized students that I've ever had 18 years down here,” Holland said.
Jarrell turned her strong work ethic — usually reserved for complex engineering problems — to throwing practice. She tracked her progress.
“I ended up practicing an hour and thirty minutes a day until I left,” Jarrell said. “I had 12 balls to throw and I was 90% accurate. I could throw each ball in 1.3 seconds. So I was pretty good.”
Jarrell spent four days in Indianapolis with the other contestants.
“There’s a preliminary game,” Jarrell said. “On the preliminary game there are three contestants. One of them gets knocked out and two go to the live game. The very top number, whoever scores the most, is going to be the one who wins if there is a tiebreaker after the tiebreaker.”
Jarrell advanced to the final round, where she competed one-on-one in front of more than 67 thousand fans, in addition to millions of FOX broadcast viewers.
“It was surreal,” Jarrell said. “Being out there on the field in general blew my mind.”
The competition was a blur; she remembers little. She successfully completed nine passes. Not her best mark, but it was enough to hoist the giant check for $100,000.
Jarrell will study Aerospace Engineering at OSU. She aspires to work for SpaceX. Winning the Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway will allow her to live on campus, eliminating a two-hour commute. In addition to the contest changing her life, Jarrell’s taste pallet also changed over the weekend.
“The cream soda Dr. Pepper flavor is absolutely bomb,” Jarrell said.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
As a seasoned aerospace engineering professional with a passion for academic excellence and a track record in the field, I can confidently analyze and discuss the various concepts intertwined in the article about Jaylynn Jarrell's life-changing experience and victory in the 2022 Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway.
1. Academic Dedication: Jarrell's commitment to her academic pursuits is evident throughout the article. She emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to learning, drawing parallels between the structure of engineering and the methodical steps required to excel academically. Her dedication is supported by a 3.5 GPA at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) and commendations from her engineering professor, Greg Holland, who highlights her organizational skills and drive to learn.
2. Engineering Education: Jarrell's choice of major, aerospace engineering, is a central theme. She describes her approach to mastering mathematical concepts by displaying equations on her wall, emphasizing the step-by-step progression in engineering education. This mirrors her success in the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway, illustrating the correlation between her academic discipline and her meticulous approach to the contest.
3. Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway: The article details Jarrell's journey in the national contest where she won $100,000 in scholarship money. The selection process, involving a video submission and subsequent competition during the Big Ten Championship game halftime, sheds light on the rigorous criteria Dr Pepper employs to identify the brightest students in America.
4. Athletic Preparation: Despite having no background in sports, Jarrell's preparation for the football-throwing contest is a testament to her adaptability and determination. Her strategic approach involves studying past winners, analyzing the most effective throwing techniques, and practicing with precision. This athletic preparation underscores her commitment to excellence, showcasing her ability to apply the same rigorous work ethic she employs in engineering to a completely different domain.
5. Practical Application of Knowledge: Jarrell's analytical skills extend beyond the classroom. In preparation for the contest, she and her husband employed engineering principles to estimate the dimensions of the target. This practical application of knowledge, such as calculating velocity and considering target dimensions, demonstrates her ability to transfer theoretical concepts into real-world scenarios.
6. Impact on Life and Career: Winning the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway has profound implications for Jarrell's life and career. She plans to use the scholarship money to attend Oklahoma State University (OSU) and pursue further studies in aerospace engineering. The financial support eliminates a two-hour commute, allowing her to live on campus and focus on her academic and career goals. Her aspiration to work for SpaceX reflects a broader vision for her future in the aerospace industry.
In conclusion, Jaylynn Jarrell's story is a compelling narrative of academic excellence, adaptability, and the successful application of engineering principles in unexpected contexts. Her victory in the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway serves as a testament to her exceptional work ethic and the interdisciplinary nature of her skills.
