Jake 'the snake' runs away with college scholarship
Launch the media gallery 1 playerSome people wake up and say “Dang, I have to go to school,” but Jake Faulkender, Saint Francis senior, is different. He always has a smile on his face and is always cracking a joke and stays out of trouble, for the most part.
Steve Jenkins, history teacher, gave Faulkender the nickname ‘Jake the snake.’ “Jake is like a rattlesnake,” Jenkins said. “If you don’t mess with him then he is ok but as soon as you start messing with him he strikes.”
Faulkender was the only one that ran cross country and he said, “I like being on my own and being independent and not a lot of rules saying you can’t do this.”
Faulkender is a outdoorsman and loves adventure.
Classmate Nick Paulsen said, “Jake would never work at a desk.” He said he would try to stay outdoors as much as possible.
Faulkender is also artistic and has been involved in art all four years and loves taking photos of wildlife on his various vacations.
Jake is one of those friends everyone needs because he can cheer you up anytime.
Paulsen said Jake likes to play with knives. Paulsen said he does not know the reason behind Faulkender’s appreciation for knives, but knows he just does.
Faulkender said Ronald Reagan would be his biggest inspiration because “he just seemed like he knew what was going on and he understood things more than other people. He always knew the right thing to say.”
Faulkender received awards in cross country. He placed 17th at state in 2017 and placed 14th this year.
Faulkender recently signed to run track at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. He’ll run cross country, indoor track and outdoor track so he will be an all-year long athlete. Right now, Faulkender is thinking about majoring in something with art or design.
In 10 or 20 years, he sees himself back in Saint Francis or a small town like Saint Francis. “I like that I know everybody here,” he said. “It’s easier to trust people.”
