JACKSON, MS (WLBT)- A senior at Murrah High School was surprised while sitting in class Tuesday morning.  Kenya Odems will now be heading to college next fall with a free laptop computer.

The announcement inspired cheers from classmates as the unsuspecting Odems was presented The computer.  She was eligible for the laptop giveaway, because she applied for FAFSA.

Odems was elated after the presentation and tried to put the experience into words.

One of America's high ranking naval officers, Rear Admiral (sel.) Michael Jabaley, a 1980 graduate of Murrah High School, visited his high school alma mater recently.

During his presentation, Jabaley described how his days at Murrah provided the foundation for his technical career in the military.

Jabaley attributed two experiences, in particular, that influenced his career the most – the team building skills he learned as member of the soccer team, and challenging mathematics classes taught by Pauline Tramel and science classes taught by Pauline Carter.

Almost half of the 1,313 students participating in the Region II Science Fair were from Jackson Public Schools.

On the elementary level, JPS students brought home nine special awards and 44 category awards. On the secondary level, JPS students received 36 special awards and 70 category awards. Thirty-two JPS middle and high school students advanced to the State Fair where six students took 1st, 2nd, or 3rd places. They were:

• Kelly Hill, Jim Hill High – 1st place, Class 5-Zoology
• Justin Porter, Murrah High – 1st place, Class 5-Medicine & Health
• James Davis, Bailey Magnet High – 2nd place, Class 4-Engineering, Computers & Math
• Austin Davis, Jim Hill High – 2nd place, Class 5-Botany
• Kristen Hudson, Forest Hill High – 3rd place, Class 5-Engineering, Computers & Math
• James Gill, Murrah High – 3rd place, Class 5-Medicine & Health