Folsom Athlete of the Week: Alba Joy honored to earn scholarship from FAA

Alba Joy is a one of two winners of the Folsom Athletic Association's Chuck Harrison PACE Scholarship, given annually to one student-athlete from Folsom High and Vista del Lago who is considered the most-deserving applicant of those who apply for any of the scholarships offered by the FAA. Joy, who attended Folsom High, and Vista del Lago's Mai-Thanh Nguyen earned the scholarship this year, both earning $1,000 to go toward their post-high school education. Joy was a member of Folsom High's track and field team in her freshman and sophomore years. She plans on attending UC Berkeley to pursue a dual degree in mechanical engineering and business in the Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology program. Folsom Telegraph: What are your hopes/plans for after graduation? Alba Joy: I am getting a dual degree in mechanical engineering and business in the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology program (M.E.T.) at UC Berkeley so I'm really excited to pursue my interests in these two fields. FT: What sports have you ever been involved with? How did you get your start in them? AJ: I competed in track and field freshman and sophomore year in the jump events. I started running track in seventh grade when I lived in Florida. FT: What sport did you play in high school? What did you enjoy about it? AJ: What I enjoyed most about track was my extremely passionate and supportive team, as well as my coach: Coach Tracy. FT: Do you have a favorite memory from being involved in sports? AJ: We always left the invitational at Del Oro after sunset so it was nice driving home with the team at that hour. FT: What are your thoughts of earning the Chuck Harrison PACE Scholarship? AJ: I'm so thankful to both the Folsom Athletic Association and the Folsom Mid Management Group to have been awarded this scholarship. It will allow me to continue my college education at UC Berkeley and focus on my studies. This scholarship was not originally listed, so it's an honor to have been selected from the pool of applicants. FT: What are your thoughts about how your senior year at high school ended? AJ: Well, it was an ending that no one had expected, to say the least. While the school closures due to Covid-19 did take away many of the events and festivities that my peers and I were looking forward to, they were necessary to keep everyone's families safe so that's what I tried to focus on. I felt helpless at the beginning of quarantine, as I couldn't really do anything to help, so I started a hospital donation drive with two of my close friends called Folsom Crafts Against COVID. With the drive, we were able to donate homemade masks to Mercy Hospital of Folsom and that helped take away that feeling of helplessness. FT: How did distance learning go? AJ: Distance learning went well! I missed interacting with my teachers and classmates, of course, but I enjoyed seeing them through the zoom meetings. FT: What did you miss about school? AJ: I miss seeing my friends and teachers. FT: What was your favorite class/subject in school? AJ: My favorite class was Advanced Drafting and Architecture with Mr. Johnstone because I loved everyone in that class and designing buildings. FT: How was the drive-through graduation celebration at Folsom? Good? Bad? AJ: It was pretty fun! Folsom High did a really good job making the best of the situation and it was really good to see my teachers again all in one place. FT: Favorite music? AJ: Kpop, specifically BTS and Stray Kids. FT: Favorite Food? AJ: Mangoes. FT: Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time? AJ: I like taking pictures, listening to music, and getting food with my friends. FT: What inspires you in sports? AJ: The determination to excel in everything I do. FT: Is there a particular job or profession you'd like to have after college? AJ: Chief marketing officer at a tech company.