RIVERDALE, NY — There's not much Jackson Haft can't do after leaving his mark as a pole vaulter for the Manhattan men's track and field team. As someone used to scaling new heights, Haft has done it again by being awarded Graduate Valedictorian honors for the upcoming Graduate commencement on May 16.
A native of Smithtown, New York, Haft earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Management last May before enrolling in the master's program for Electrical Engineering. Combining his engineering coursework with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence, Haft compiled a 3.8 GPA in graduate school to finish his academic career on top.
Haft cited his experience as a pole vaulter at Manhattan University as a factor in his success as a student.
"Pole vaulting plays a crucial role in being disciplined, consistent and persistent in everything that makes a good athlete," Haft said. "I like to view it as a 'big picture' problem which allows me to set my goals and figure out exactly what I want to achieve."
Haft's journey in Riverdale is as much about his "coming to age" as an athlete as it is about his remarkable academic track record. Being a pole vaulter at Manhattan offered its own unique set of challenges that Haft took head-on, including being the only such athlete on the squad this year.
"It was a perfect storm," Haft said of his commitment to Manhattan in 2020. "I won my county championships for pole vaulting during the winter season and was setting PRs but then COVID-19 sucked the wind out of my sails. Luckily, I was in contact with another athlete at Manhattan who sent my videos from the state meet to Coach Kerri, and she saw that I had potential and recruited me."
His grandfather, Alfred R. Lopez, a member of the Class of 1958 who majored in electrical engineering and ran track for the Jaspers, also left a legacy.
"My grandfather is my role model," says Haft, who added to his commitment story: "I showed up here without looking at the campus or anything and I would do it all over again."
Haft, who also played soccer at Smithtown High School-West on Long Island, dedicated long hours to improving his craft. He won second place at the 2021 Metropolitan Outdoor Championships and also earned fourth place at the 2023 MAAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
"Jackson has always been an outstanding performer in the classroom and a great role model for his teammates," said Manhattan University's Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Kerri Inman.
As a scientifically-minded engineer, Haft tried to incorporate his knowledge of physics into his craft as a pole vaulter. It has its perks, says Haft, as long as he doesn't overdo it.
"Pole vaulting is one of the juiciest problems in track and field, up there with hammer and disk and other technical events. It's a domino effect…you can't achieve the later phase without making sure everything else leading up to it is perfect," said Haft.
"Being an engineer and knowing physics has helped a lot with pole vaulting," he said. "But it's also a blessing and a curse in both ways."
"I like to get into the details of forms and where to apply pressure and how to manipulate it, but sometimes it's too much…Sometimes you have to screw the details and just try to run fast and jump high."
But nothing about Haft's success is by accident.
Beyond his jumping talents, Haft is a member of Sigma Iota Epsilon (Professional Management Fraternity); has served as vice president of the Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society; is an Eagle Scout; and has held multiple internships with the Antenna Group at BAE Systems, Inc. Haft's other campus involvement includes serving as a Resident Assistant for three years, being an active member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and working as a graduate assistant in the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department.
Haft's teammates within the Manhattan Track & Field program were elated to find out the news of him being named Graduate Valedictorian, he says. Haft calls the Jasper track and field family one of his "biggest support systems."
"People always say engineering is hard, but I tell them 'not if you love it. If you love it, it all comes easy,'" Haft said. "That's in both engineering and track and field. My teammates all share that passion and drive."
With Graduate Commencement approaching on Friday, Haft has been reflective in his journey in Riverdale, without taking any of these final days for granted.
"There's a very diverse group of people who come from all walks of life," Haft said of the Manhattan University community. "I tried to take knowledge from each person to understand people's perspectives better and try not to be as set in my ways… My grandpa would say 'the day you stop learning is the day you stop living' and I'm sure he got a taste of that from Manhattan."
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