Student Spotlight: Vanessa Akinnibosun
Vanessa Akinnibosun is a seventh grade student at Fellowship Christian Academy. Vanessa has been a student at FCA for nine years and this year, she was selected as a Duke Scholar in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. (Duke TIP) identifies gifted children and provides resources to nurture the development of these exceptionally bright, high-ability students.
Favorite Subjects: Math
Extra Curricular Activities: Choir, Spanish and Journalism Club
Favorite Bible Verses: Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 100, Psalm 23
Favorite Song: Almost any “Mary Mary” song
Aspirations- Wants to be a Surgeon
People Might Find Interesting – Valedictorian of 6th grade. Parents from Nigeria, and although Vanessa is not fluent in speaking the language, she can read and understand the language.
She has three siblings that attend FCA and an older sister who lives in Europe.
She has traveled to Africa—and still has family members that live there.
Her inspiration figure other than God is MKL Jr., “Because he was able to demonstrate leadership without violence. He was also brave and courageous in doing God’s will.”
Student Spotlight: Demi Hairston
Her bright smile immediately brings audiences to life. Demi Hairston, an 8th grade student at Fellowship Christian Academy, is already showing just how talented she is. Although a full-time student, Hairston calls herself an entertainer. She dances, plays piano, sings and writes her own lyrics. Her most recent performance included singing three of her own songs before hundreds of young teens during the Highland Village Back to School Event in 2008. “I was surprised I wasn’t nervous at all, I was just having fun,” Hairston said.
The reason she may no longer experience those nervous jitters is because she’s been performing since the age of eight when she participated in the “Little Miss Dallas” pageant, where she was first-runner up. Since then Hairston has performed in a number of venues, including school and church plays and musicals. Her parents say they are not surprised because music has always been a part of her life. Both parents, Gerard and Tareska Hairston are musicians and have a recording studio; her dad is also a music engineer. “She’s a great songwriter,” her mom said, and writing songs has become her passion. “Most of my songs are inspirational,” says Hairston. “They’re about helping kids in any situation, trying to encourage them to keep going in life even in a difficult situation.”
“It seems like when I hear a track, the lyrics just come and it’s really easy,” Hairston said. Hairston dreams of becoming a professional entertainer and she appears to be well on her way to making those dreams come true. She’s working towards getting several of her songs published and her mom says she is constantly working on new music.
