National Merit Semifinalist from Maryville High

As a senior, Zoe is planning to apply to Brown University, Swarthmore College and Haverford College. History, especially renaissance studies, and physics are her major areas of interest. While at Maryville High School she has lettered in band, swimming and English. She is a member of the National Honor Society and involved in Amnesty International. In her spare time, she hikes, rock climbs and bicycles. Her parents are Beverly Green and Mark Durand.

National Merit finalists from across the nation will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth $33 million, that will be offered next spring. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. To become a finalist, Zoe must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm her earlier qualifying test performance. The semifinalist and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self-descriptive essay and information about the semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.

National Merit commended students at MHS
Over 1.4 million students took the 2005 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) last October and entered the National Merit Program, a nationwide competition for recognition and awards. Commended students names were recently announced and are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. While they will not continue in the competition for Merit Scholarship Awards offered next spring, their performance on the qualifying test earned them national recognition - ranking in the top 5% of more than 1.4 million students who entered the competition.

The Maryville City Schools are proud to announce the following Commended Students in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship program:

Lisa Waters

• Daughter of George and Sue Waters, Maryville
  
• College plans: Undecided
  
• Areas of interest: Psychology, International Affairs
  
• Awards: Maryville Scholar, Academic letters in English and Math, Furman Scholar, Sewanee Award of Excellence in Writing
  
• Extracurricular info: Cross country, student council president, Mu Alpha Theta, Church activities.

Chelsea Plaut

• Daughter of Conrad and Barbara Plaut
  
• College: Probably UT
  
• Major: Math or Music
  
• Honors: Governor’s School for the Arts 2006, Senior Clinic Blue band, Academic letter in Math
  
• Extracurricular: Band, JCL, National Honor Society

Andrew Hix

• Son of Dan and Pam Hix
  
• College plans: UT, TN Tech, Clemson, or NC State
  
• Areas of interest: Engineering
  
• Awards: 2005 Grand Champion of the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair; 2005 Finalist at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair; student at the 2006 TN Governor’s School for the Sciences; Academic letters in Physical Science, Biology, English, and social studies. Academic awards for Physical Science, Biology, Spanish II, and Who’s Who in American High School Students
  
• Extracurricular info: Band; National Honor Society; Church activities; volunteer in the community.

Whitney Prince

• Daughter of Denise and Dwayne Prince
  
• College plans: Undecided
  
• Areas of interest: theatre performance, Japanese language, astrophysics
  
• Awards: Quarterfinalist in 2005 Jeopardy Teen Tournament, Letter in Drama (10-12 grades), scholarship recipient to Tennessee Meiji Gakuin High School Summer Program in 2005/2006.
  
• Extracurricular info: MHS climbing team, forensics, orchestra, scholars bowl, Maryville College community orchestra, drama

Bethany Shoulders

• Daughter of Tim and Valerie Shoulders
  
• College plans: Freed-Hardeman University
  
• Interest: Biochemistry, biology, math
  
• Awards: NCTE Writing Award, Maryville Scholar, Academic letters in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies
  
• Extracurricular: Youth group, MHS rowing team, National Honor Society, and piano

Brittany Johnson

• Daughter of Dan and Chris Johnson
  
• College: undecided
  
• Interests: Nursing or pre-medicine
  
• Awards: National Honor Society, Maryville Scholars, competed in Maryville College Math contest for Algebra II and Pre-calculus
  
• Extracurricular: Swimming, track, rowing, FCA, STAR Mentor, Youth, vocal and bell choir at church.

Katherine Wilcox

• Daughter of Michelle and Ken Wilcox
  
• College: undecided
  
• Interest: Business (Marketing or Advertising), Psychology, Spanish
  
• Awards: Maryville Scholar, National Honor Society, Wendy’s Heisman Scholar, Who’s Who Among American High School Students
  
• Extracurricular: Captain-Varsity Swimming, FUMC Youth, Habitat for Humanity, STAR mentors, Student Council

Emily Hunt

• Daughter of Tommy and Carol Hunt
  
• College: UTK, UVA, Furman or UGA
  
• Interests: Biology or pre-medicine
  
• Honors: Maryville Scholar, Daily Times Academic Awards in English, math, Science, Social Studies
  
• Extracurricular: Volunteer with elderly, MHS swimming, Student Council, National Honor Society

Mallory Leonard

• Daughter of Tom and Debby Leonard
  
• College: Lee University, Cleveland, TN
  
• Major: Music Education
  
• Honors: Academic Letter in Language Arts, National Honor Society, Maryville Scholar, All-East Senior Band Clinic, First Place Drum Major at 2005 Coke Band Festival, Summer Honors program at Lee University, 2006 winner of the NCT English Achievement Award in Writing
  
• Extracurricular: MHS Band, Drum Major, Maryville Singers, Drama

Gabe Horton

• Son of Sharon Barnett and Mitch Horton
  
• College: Undecided
  
• Interests: Political Science, Music, Religion
  
• Awards: Academic letters in English and Math, Maryville Singers Award, and letter in Cross Country
  
• Extracurricular: Running, Student Council, Habitat for Humanity, Key club, Mu Alpha Theta

Lucia Hulsether

• Daughter of Anne McKee and Mark Hulsether
  
• College: Undecided; maybe Grinnell, Emory or Agnes Scott
  
• Major: Religious studies and social justice; Spanish
  
• Extracurricular: Amnesty International Founder; Young Democrat’s President; Girls Nation representative; Service Activities

Ryan DeLozier

• Son of Tom and Emily Delozier
  
• College: Probably UTK, but also looking at Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt
  
• Major: Mechanical Engineering and/or Music
  
• Honors: Eagle Scout, Maryville Scholar, National Honor Society, All-State Orchestra, Band Director’s Award
  
• Extracurricular: Boy Scouts of America, Trombone performance, Knoxville Youth Orchestra, MHS Band