Garrett Johnson facts for kids
 |
||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality |  United States |
|||||||||||||
| Born | May 24, 1984 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
|||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Shot putter | |||||||||||||
| College team | Florida State University | |||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||
Garrett W. Johnson, born on May 24, 1984, is an American who has achieved success in both sports and business. He is known as an award-winning shot putter and an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is someone who starts and runs new businesses.
In 2006, Garrett won the top college championships for shot put, both indoors and outdoors. These are called the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Shot Put Championships. That same year, he earned a very special scholarship called a Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed him to study at Oxford University in England. Today, he is the Chairman of the Foundation for American Innovation.
Contents
Garrett Johnson's Career
Working in Government and Business
After finishing his studies at Oxford, Garrett Johnson worked for the U.S. Senate. He helped with important discussions about how America works with other countries.
In 2011, Garrett helped start a company called SendHub. He co-founded it with Ash Rust and John Fallone. This company focused on text message marketing.
Later, in 2014, Garrett also helped create the Lincoln Network. This is a non-profit organization. Non-profits work for a cause, not to make money.
Academic Achievements
High School and College Success
Garrett Johnson was a top student in high school. He was the salutatorian of his 2002 graduating class. This means he was the second-highest-ranking student. He attended Tampa Baptist Academy in Tampa, Florida, where he also won many state championships in sports.
Garrett then went to Florida State University (FSU). He was part of a special program there called CARE. He finished college in just three years. He earned two degrees, one in Political Science and another in English. He graduated with high honors, known as magna cum laude.
Awards for Academics and Sports
Garrett was recognized as an academic All-American in both 2005 and 2006. This award goes to college athletes who are excellent in both sports and school. He also won the Florida State Golden Torch Award. This award is given to the FSU student-athlete with the highest GPA (Grade Point Average). A GPA shows how well a student is doing in their classes. Garrett was on the FSU Dean's list, meaning he had a GPA of 3.5 or higher. He was also on the FSU President's list, which means he had a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Studying at Oxford University
In 2006, Garrett became a Rhodes Scholar. This is a very prestigious scholarship. It allowed him to study at Exeter College at Oxford University. There, he earned a master's degree in migration studies.
Track and Field Achievements
Shot Put Champion
Garrett Johnson was a talented Shot Put athlete. He won two major national championships in 2006:
His coach was Harlis Meaders. Garrett also competed in the 2008 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials. He was a finalist, but he did not record a successful throw in the competition.
Personal Life and Community Work
Garrett Johnson lives in Florida. He got married in 2014. He is involved in several important organizations. He serves on the board of directors for the Foundation for Florida's Future. He also advises the Cicero Institute and is a Steering Committee Member of the Tech Talent Project.
Awards and Honors
Garrett Johnson has received many awards for his achievements:
- 2004 Seminole Impact Award
- 2004–2005 ESPN The Magazine Second-Team Academic All America
- 2005 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar
- 2005–2006 ESPN The Magazine University Academic All American of the Year
- 2005–2006 ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All America
- 2006 Rhodes Scholar
- 2006 USTFCCCA Division I National Outdoor Men's Field Co-Athlete of the Year
- 2007 Inaugural Frank Dolson/Penn Relays Award
