Each year, students wait with anticipation to find out who will be named National Merit Finalists.
Last year, about 16,000 students were named semi-finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.; 15,000 make the finalist cut, a chance to receive one of 8,500 National Merit scholarships and opportunities for institutional scholarships at colleges throughout the country.
Two Columbus seniors received the distinction this year — Timothy Lind, who attends Heritage Academy and Rachel Stanback, who attends Columbus High School.
Both students attribute their academic success to their schools, as well as support from their parents.
Along with family and “several influential teachers,” Timothy said music has helped him academically.
“I think music has helped me, particularly band,” he said. “Being in band and learning to play an instrument helps in a number of areas, most especially math.”
Rachel will be one of 22 students to graduate in the first class of International Baccalaureate students at Columbus High School, this year. For her, the IB experience “has been especially rewarding.”
“It”s taught me to push myself in so many new ways, and I”m definitely glad I chose that route for my junior and senior years,” Rachel said.
“I was so thrilled to find out I had made finalist because it”s such a competitive process, and I had no idea what the results would be,” she said. “I knew National Merit opened up tons of scholarships and other opportunities, so I was very excited and honored to receive the award.”
“I honestly had no clue whether I was going to be a semi-finalist, but once I knew I was, I was fairly certain I would be a finalist; about 93 percent of semi-finalists become finalists,” Timothy said. “It made me feel really good about myself. It was virtually the first time I had received national recognition, and I was unsure about what was going to happen.”
Timothy plays bassoon and trombone in the school band, is captain of the Quiz Bowl team and, as a member of the senior class, is working to build Patriot Park, a playground at the hospital fit for children with and without disabilities. He also is performing as Zeke in Heritage Academy”s production of “High School Musical,” showing April 29 and 30 and May 1.
Timothy plans to attend Yale University and major in archaeological studies. He is the son of Bert and Cristy Lind.
Rachel plays the piano and is a member of the yearbook staff, LTS social club, Columbus Girlchoir, Fairview Baptist Church youth group, Beta Club and the National Honor Society.
Rachel plans to attend Samford University and major in journalism and mass communication. She also is Columbus High”s Star Student, having scored a 32 (out of 36 possible points) on the ACT. She is the daughter of John and Courtney Stanback.
Andrew LaFrance, a senior and student journalist at Starkville High School, also is a National Merit Finalist and a Star Student for SHS, scoring a 35 on the ACT. LaFrance plans to attend Mississippi State University and major in computer programming and physics. His parents are Robert and Linda LaFrance.
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