Greene goes Gold

"I never dreamed that my love for bowling would bring me so many opportunities, so many resources with which to make myself a better, more productive person," Jacob said.

Every life has its ups and downs, but 2007 has brought 18-year-old Oklahoma native Jacob Greene some major highs and one big blow that taught him to treasure life's blessings.

A high-average youth bowler from Oilton, a small town west of Tulsa, Jacob graduated in May from Oilton High as the valedictorian of a senior class of 23 students. He earned straight A's throughout his high school career and served as student body president, captain of the school's academic team and business manager for the Oilton yearbook.

Jacob didn't let his small-town surroundings limit his outlook. He expanded his horizons by serving as a page in the Oklahoma State Senate and Oklahoma House of Representatives. He volunteered on several political campaigns for state and U.S. Congress hopefuls. He was accepted as a 2007 summer intern for U.S. Congressman Frank D. Lucas in Washington, D.C.

In January, Jacob did two things to make the most of his USBC Youth membership. He joined USBC's Junior Gold program for high-average bowlers. He also completed an application for USBC's Annual Zeb Scholarship, a $2,500 award recognizing academic achievements and community involvement that includes an expenses-paid trip for two to the USBC Junior Gold Championships award ceremony in Buffalo, N.Y., this July.

By April Jacob had earned his entry into the 2007 USBC Junior Gold Championships through his performance in the Sahoma Jr. Pros League at Sahoma Lanes in Sapulpa, Okla. That same month, he learned that he was the winner of the 2007 Annual Zeb Scholarship and would be formally honored at the close of the USBC Junior Gold Championships in Buffalo July 13.

"I never dreamed that my love for bowling would bring me so many opportunities, so many resources with which to make myself a better, more productive person," Jacob said.

A few things have changed since Jacob first applied for the award. He looks at life a little differently since the death of his brother Eric in an accident earlier this year.

Jacob decided to stick a little closer to home this summer and is forgoing his internship in the nation's capitol. He hopes to try for a similar internship next year, when he and his family have had more time to mourn and adjust to their loss.

Together they will celebrate Jacob's success at Junior Gold. They will enjoy each other's company while they can.

This fall Jacob will be moving across the country to study American politics, international relations and business at the University of Pennsylvania. He hopes that will help prepare him for law school and, eventually, a career in politics.