By SHANNON CAULFIELD
The Medford Sun
One percent of students are recognized for academic performance under the National Merit Scholarship Program.
For Shawnee students Allison Morgan and Charles Crawford, the announcement of semifinalist status ranks them with the small percentage of high-performing students.
About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program, by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test better known as the PSAT, according to the National Merit Scholarship Program.
The exam, which serves as the initial screen for entrants, incorporates nationwide semifinalists and includes the highest-scoring entrants from each state.
Both Crawford and Morgan, in addition to Shawnee, then must submit a detailed scholarship application for the final portion of the process.
Semifinalists are required to have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
“It’s a huge honor for the students to be nominated,” said Shawnee principal Matthew Campbell. “There was only a handful of South Jersey students nominated, maybe 30 tops. Some schools didn’t have any students that were nominated.”
Campbell attributes the success of students through community support and a rigorous curriculum taught by a staff of great teachers.
“I most enjoy the classes in which my teacher has a colloquial exchange with the class concerning our lessons, allowing us to better understand teach topic,” said Crawford. “Most of the teachers that I have had created this atmosphere effectively. I feel that the give and take between teacher and student is critical in a learning environment.”
Morgan found out she was a finalist through the morning announcements.
“It was the coolest thing, they showed my photo and everyone was congratulating me,” she said.
Since her acceptance, colleges have been sending packets of interest.
“I’ve mostly been getting mail from random schools, nowhere I plan on applying,” said Morgan.
So far, she’s been accepted to the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan.
“I’m not quite ready to decide yet on where I want to go. I’m still waiting to hear back from a few schools,” Morgan said, adding she plans on majoring in the sciences.
Crawford has applied to multiple colleges including Ithaca College, The University of the Arts, Montclair State University, Baldwin Wallace University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Cincinnati and Syracuse University.
“So far, I have been accepted at The University of the Arts,” he said.
Crawford is unsure of where he will be attending in the fall, but plans on majoring in musical theatre.
Both Crawford and Morgan are heavily involved in school activities.
“They’re both great kids. The most impressive aspect about them is how they excel outside the classroom and how well-rounded they both are,” said Campbell.
Morgan is heavily involved in dance outside of school, and dances at a local studio.
She is also the president of the Renaissance Club, involved in the musical as the choreographer and a cast member and a member of National Honors Society.
Additionally, she is a member of Buddies Club, a club that meets monthly to do crafts with the disabled students of Shawnee.
“I try to balance everything, but school is first,” said Morgan. “Everything else is important to me. I like to make it all work.”
Crawford spends time outside the classroom in the all school musical, French Club, Young Democrats Club, Youth For Truth, L.I.F.E., or Living Influence Free Everyday, the literary magazine, National Honors Society and Strategy Club.
“The title of “National Merit Semifinalist” makes me sound so official and praiseworthy. It feels like someone is addressing me as Lord Crawford. I could get used to that,” he said.
Crawford and Morgan will find out their status of their National Merit Scholarship Award sometime in early February.
“It’s nice recognition to see your academics on a national scale. I can compare myself to my peers in Medford, but this shows I can compare nationally,” Morgan said.
