Despite growing up in a "Penn State family," Palmerton speed specialist Jessica Pereira will be attending the University of North Carolina to further her education and field hockey career.

Her mother, Cindy, and father, Jerry, attend many Penn State sporting events and 'bleed Blue and White.' With their eldest being an integral part of the Division I powerhouse field hockey program for the Tar Heels, however, perhaps that blue-colored blood will become a little lighter."I grew up in a Penn State family," Jess mentioned. "My dad is a huge Penn State fan, but this past summer, I went to UNC for a field hockey camp and I fell in love with the campus. It was all I would talk about and my mom was getting frustrated because it was 'UNC this, UNC that,' and then when it came time for applying to schools, it was the first college I applied to."Pereira, who naturally excels on the track each Spring in numerous sprinting events, fell in love with the sport of field hockey a little late for her own liking, but feels more than confident in her choice to continue developing her skills in the sport. "I love how aggressive the sport of field hockey is," she admits. "Honestly, I wish that I would have decided on field hockey sooner. I probably became really interested in field hockey during my junior year and I wish I would have focused more, earlier on. I went to Arizona for a field hockey festival, where a bunch of recruiters come and I wish I would have done that at an earlier age."Having the dream of playing at the collegiate level is one thing, but to take on the challenge of getting accepted to play at the University of North Carolina is a new level of achievement, and Pereira realizes the accomplishment."It was definitely unbelievable. When I got the phone call from the coach, I was trying to keep my composure while I was on the phone with her," she recalled. "Getting into the school and getting accepted to be a part of the field hockey program is just amazing. It was my 'dream school."During her tenure on the scholastic level, Palmerton head field hockey coach Kim Seiler would utilize Pereira's skill set where needed and at different positions for each game scenario."Jessica is a player and athlete who studies field hockey and understands the game," Seiler commented. "She is also willing to take criticism in order to improve herself. Her academics are just as important to her as field hockey and she has the competitive drive to make her even more successful in the future. It's a great accomplishment for the Palmerton field hockey program to have a player go on to play in a division one college, and I'm sure she will take what she has learned here at Palmerton and be a successful student athlete."Despite the fact that her scholastic track career ended at the PIAA State Meet this past weekend, Jess will be heading to the campus in Chapel Hill for training on the 23rd of June and will have camps before the pre-season begins in early August. Instead of feeling depressed about the very little amount of down time she has, she is more than willing to get started with her next challenge."The weather down there is gorgeous and the campus is beautiful and the people are all really nice with their 'southern hospitality," she smiled. "I am so excited."