Teen hailed as 'genius'

TAMPA - When you think of geniuses, you might think of Einstein or Edison. But a 16-year-old girl in Tampa could make her own place in the history books.

Jasmine Roberts is a sophomore at Wharton High School. Next week, she will represent Hillsborough County at a national science fair in Reno, Nevada.

Her project involved complex laboratory research. She proved that Diabetes hastens the effects of Alzheimer's Disease on the human brain.

"I'm just a normal teenager," Jasmine says. She enjoys going to the mall with friends, texting, and listening to all kinds of music, from country to classical.

Her advanced placement biology teacher Carmen Austin says Jasmine is very bright, but there's also another factor.

"She's coming from a household where education is the number one priority and that's why she'll continue to succeed," says Austin.

Jasmine made national headlines when she was just 12 years old. She sampled ice and toilet water from fast food restaurants.

Her tests revealed that 70 percent of the time, the ice contained more bacteria than the toilet water. She appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show to tell her story.

"I don't know if I'd use the word 'genius,'" says her mother, Minnie Roberts. She believes Jasmine's success comes mostly from hard work.

Jasmine has been going to science camps and competing in science fairs since elementary school. Jasmine's father, Justus Roberts, says he views his daughter's science competitions as other parents might view sports.

"At the Roberts household, there's education season, and science season," says Roberts.

Jasmine has set her goals high.

"Somewhere down the line, I want to become Surgeon General of the United States," she says.. "I want to make a contribution to society and leave a thumbprint and make a difference."