Analytical on the court and artistic off it, Rocky Mount's Jillian Schrimper wins the Extra Effort Award

At Rocky Mount High School the last name "Schrimper" resonates.

"That's a testimony to her parents and her family and how they raised her," Rocky Mount honors science teacher Paul Holloman said. "Her siblings they deserve a lot of that credit too."

Holloman has taught all five Schrimper siblings, including Jillian who is the youngest and a senior now.

"Academically she is really good at helping other people," Holloman said. "To me that's one of the hallmarks of a really smart student."

Jillian has a 4.6 weighted G.P.A., is dual enrolled at Nash Community College and is the vice president of Rocky Mount's National Honor Society.

"I think she likes to look up to us," Jillian's older sister Scarlett Schrimper said. "We all spend a lot of time together."

Tennis is another talent Jillian took from her siblings.

"When I was really little I took tennis lessons and I really liked it," Jillian said. "I didn't play in middle school, but I saw my sister and my brother play in high school and I just decided to try out."

"She came in pretty raw," Rocky Mouth Girls Tennis coach Charlie Lawrence Jr. remembered. "She took to it so readily. She listens well to instruction, and she tries to implement anything you tell her on the spot."

This season Jillian was Lawrence Jr.'s No. 6 player, but played an integral role in the team's conference championship run. Lawrence Jr. doesn't remember her losing a single regular season match.

"She is analytical," Lawrence Jr. said. "She will see what they don't like and she will give them a whole lot of that. She stays within her bounds, within her skills, and that's allowed her to win on a consistent basis."

She's analytical, you could also say she's artistic.

"I've been dancing for like fifteen years," Jillian said while taking a few practice swings. "Whenever my coach tells me to move that's like his favorite thing to say.  It's really easy for me to think about and do just because I move my feet at dance every day."

When she's not on the tennis court or in the class room you can probably find Jillian on stage. She started doing community theater at the age of eight and has since moved into television and film.

"I've been an extra in a few things," Jillian said. "There's a movie coming out this summer that I'm an extra in, it's really exciting."

This background player is finally getting her close up.

"This is a surprise," Lawrence Jr. said to the tennis team who had gathered around the Rocky Mount cafeteria after school. "This is the Tom Suiter Extra Effort award and it's going to Jillian Schrimper."

"I was very surprised," Jillian said after receiving the award. "I really try hard, so it was cool that it was recognized."

"I hope I'll be remembered for supporting everybody and helping out," Jillian said. "Just putting my best foot forward in everything that I do."