Johnston, SC - Jari Smith can often appear to be everywhere at Strom Thurmond High School all at once.
His voice has entered every classroom over the school loudspeaker for morning announcements, he has served as STHS student body president, he has saluted while in uniform for the NJROTC unit, his arms have been raised leading the Rebel Regiment Marching Band as drum major, he has been a wonder to behold in a courtroom for the championship STHS Mock Trial Team and he has elicited laughter and brought joy to others on stage as a lead actor for the Strom Thurmond Theatre program.
He has done all these things (and more) with a kindness and grace that will not soon be forgotten in the halls of Strom Thurmond High School.
Parents: Antonio and Chemikia Johnson.
Accolades and Achievements: Class Rank (17); Grade Point Average (3.8); STHS Mock Trial (Multiple State Championships, 14th at National Competition in 2021-2022); Rebel Regiment Marching Band (Third in State Competition, 2019-2020); Solo Ensemble (Superior Rating, 2019-2020); Solo Ensemble (Excellent rating, 2020-2021); Solo Ensemble (Superior Rating, 2020-2021); Jazz Band (Superior Rating at South Carolina’s Jazz Performance Assessment); Symphonic Band (Excellent with Distinction Rating at South Carolina’s Concert Performance Assessment 2021-2022); Symphonic Band (Excellent with Distinction rating at South Carolina’s Concert Performance Assessment, 2022-2023); Marching Band (Fourth in Class AA State Competition, 2021-2022); Rebel Regiment Marching Band, Drum Major (Fifth in Class AA State Competition, 2022-2023); Nominated for Congress of Future Medical Leaders in 2019 by Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Mario Capecchi.
College/Career Plans: Jari will attend Furman University and major in Business Management and pre-Law.
Summer Plans: Camp Counselor at Furman’s “Top Mock” mock trial summer camp.
Memorable Moment(s) at STHS: “Taking third place at the 2019 Class AA marching band state championships and winning the Mock Trial state championship in 2019. It was my first year in the marching band and on the mock trial team and those teams were just irreplaceable. We just had that bond.”
Advice to Rising Seniors: “Take your time because it goes by fast. It really goes by too fast for comfort. Everything changes after high school so enjoy it.”
For the record, how many instruments do you play? What are they? “(Laughing) I can play all the percussion instruments. Alto saxophone. Tenor saxophone. Baritone saxophone. Trombone. Clarinet. Bass Guitar. I’ve tried to play the flute for years and I can make a sound, but it’s not pretty. So, I finally put it to the side. I’m sure I’ll come back to it. I’m working on the trumpet and cello right now.”
