Video: Student Athlete of the Week: Aliyah Gillespie, Aberdeen High

[syndicaster id=’5740896′]

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) — Aberdeen High senior Aliyah Gillespie recently signed a scholarship with Millsaps College in Jackson to continue her track career. She’s made it to state the last three years and she won the regionals in the 400 meter dash Saturday in Winona.

Tthis weekend, she’ll go for the north state title in her favorite sport and a return to the championships.

“I like track the most because it gives me a chance to be an individual,” Gillespie said.  “Basketball and volleyball, those are team sports because you have to work together as a team. But with track it’s just you and nobody can determine the outcome but you and that’s what i like about it the most.”

Aliyah carries 3.91 grade point average. She’ll take her grades and athletic ability to Millsaps College where she hopes to turn her interest in human anatomy and physiology into a dental career.

“I took human A&P last year and I just really fell in love with it because my teacher she got us involved,” she said. “Not only did we take notes, we were able to go to the biology lab and look at bones and muscles and I know that’s what I’m going to be studying in the future so it really helped me a lot.

“Dentistry is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I know track is kind of a hobby to me. It’s just something I like to do on the side but that’s not something I want to do do for the rest of my life.

Aliyah’s music and athletic talents come naturally. Her mother, Depree Jackson, played clarinet in the band at Aberdeen high and her father, Dennis, played football and ran track.