Wharton Valedictorian Jimmy Cannon Headed To Vanderbilt University

The last time Wharton High senior Jimmy Cannon says he took a non-academic elective at high school, it was orchestra his sophomore year. Since then, instead of taking music, weightlifting or art — like many of his peers — Jimmy has filled his schedule the last two years with electives that push him to reach his highest potential, such as physics and math. He even took college algebra after school two days a week. That, and a bioscience class, were the only classes he took that were not Advanced Placement (AP) during his senior year.

He says he wasn’t aiming for valedictorian — he just wanted to push himself to his own personal best — but that’s where he landed.

“I began the year in second place but thought I would probably fall behind,” Jimmy says. “I was hoping to hang on to second place, but what I really wanted was to be near the top of my class to get into a top-tier school.”

He succeeded at that, too.

Jimmy applied for early decision at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He was accepted and has been provided with what his mom, Marie Cannon Burnard, calls a “generous” financial aid package that includes a work study program.

Jimmy says, “We looked at a lot of schools and weighed the pros and cons but Vanderbilt seemed like the best fit overall.” He wants to study neuroscience and eventually go to medical school to become a psychiatrist. “Vanderbilt will be good for the neuroscience major,” he says. “I like the city of Nashville, and the community. It seems like a group of smart kids, but everyone seems friendly and nice.”

Jimmy says Vanderbilt recently hosted a “meet and greet” for students in the Tampa area who will attend this fall. Jimmy met several new friends and decided to be roommates in an on-campus dorm room with another student he met at the event.

While Jimmy worked hard to earn his weighted GPA of 6.93, he also worked hard outside of school, too. He has a job as a busboy at Liang’s Bistro on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and also works for his mom’s tutoring business. He doesn’t like to brag about himself, but his mom says he’s an avid volunteer who also gives of his time every weekend at Florida Hospital Tampa and with the New Tampa Young Life Capernaum program, which is based in Tampa Palms and provides activities for people ages 14-20 with special needs.

Moving out of state will be a big change for a guy who has lived in the same house in Hunter’s Green since he was two years old. “He’s a lifer,” laughs his mom, who used to teach kindergarten at Hunter’s Green Elementary (HGE). Jimmy attended HGE, then Benito Middle School before spending all four high school years at Wharton.

“I’m going to miss my friends I’m leaving behind,” he says, “and a lot of the teachers, especially the teachers who have become like friends.” He means teachers such as Christopher Hart, who Jimmy says makes AP Physics 2 his favorite class. “He’s a funny guy, and I just really enjoy him and his class.”

Marie says Jimmy — and his older sister Regina, too, who is now a junior studying nursing at the University of Tampa — have had great opportunities at their neighborhood schools.

“There are so many really wonderful teachers at Wharton,” she says. “Also, the students have the ability to get these courses. At some private schools, they cap how many AP classes you can take, but the sky is the limit at Wharton, and the guidance department is just fantastic.”

Ultimately, though, it’s something inside Jimmy that has propelled him to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to him.

“It’s an inner drive he has,” Marie says. “He always took the hardest classes he could, rather than playing it safe. Then, he balances all that hard work. Being a teacher, I want to help him, but he’ll go in his room and close the door and study for four hours, then come out when he’s done.”

“It’s been a struggle to juggle all of the APs,” Jimmy admits, “But, I did it.”

Just like his school work, Jimmy wrote his valedictorian speech behind that closed bedroom door. “I recounted my experiences and, moving on from that, I hope to inspire my classmates to understand their purpose and help others find their purpose, as well.”

When Jimmy gets the chance to give that speech in front of his peers and their families at graduation on Monday, May 22, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, his mom might just be the proudest parent in the room.

“Jimmy really overcame a lot,” Marie says. “For many years, I was a single mom and he was the little man of the family. I just thank God he’s a good kid and has a good heart.”