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Ninth Grade: Jordan Jensen

By Pablo Lopez / The Fresno Bee

Sunday, May. 17, 2009 | 12:00 AM

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Jordan Jensen may be only 4 foot, 11 inches tall, but she stands out in any crowd.

She has won gold medals for doing flips, flying twists and other acrobatic feats.

She also has earned straight A’s in subjects such as biology, Algebra II and honors English and is a key member of her school’s dive, dance and acrobatic gymnastics teams.

In her spare time, Jordan watches SpongeBob cartoons and scary movies, coaches a youth cheer team, makes quilts for foster children, and provides food to senior citizens and low-income families.

“Jordan has tremendous dedication and passion for everything that she puts her mind to and does,” said Sarah Murrietta, activities director at Madera High and Jordan’s nominator.

But it hasn’t always been easy for her. Born three months premature, Jordan weighed only 2 pounds, said her mother, Barbara Jensen.

Jordan credits her mother and grandparents, Vincent and Dolores Sanchez, for raising her. When her grandfather died a few years ago, she honored him by working with a nonprofit that hands out food to senior citizens.

Jordan said her three biggest accomplishments are her 4.0 grade-point average, her gold medals for acrobatic gymnastics, and being named a Bee Academic All-Star. She plans to go to college to get a degree in science or medicine. She wants to be a crime-scene investigator.

“I want to thank my mom and the teachers and staff at Madera High,” Jordan said. “They have opened a variety of doors that most kids don’t get to do.”


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