SUCCESS: Rosette Sims (12) qualified as a semi-finalist for the National Achievement Scholarship Program, a part of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
By Leti Bernard, Features Editor
As high school students, we are strongly encouraged to take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) either during our junior or senior year. Many of us take the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT) our junior year. Taking this test qualifies juniors for the National Merit Scholarship if they have high enough scores.
Last year, Rosette Sims (12) took the PSAT/NMSQT; her scores earned her a semi-finalist spot in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, a scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation open only to African American high school students. In order to be eligible for this scholarship, Sims requested consideration in the 2013 National Scholarship Program when she took the PSAT/NMSQT; but to be considered she had to be one of the highest-scoring program entrants in the state that makes up her geographic region. She was one of the highest scorers in the PSAT/NMSQT; in fact, she was the only one in Poly High School who qualified for the National Achievement Scholarship Program, as well as the only one for the National Merit Scholarship.
The National Achievement Scholarship Program is designed for students who are successful and are able to make a lasting impact wherever they go. Approximately 1,600 semi-finalists were selected, and about 1,300 are likely to go on to the finalist level. All Achievement Scholarship awardees, selected from those who advanced to the finalist level, are chosen based on students’ abilities, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Valerie Titus, Sims’ counselor, was one of the first to know about Sims’ academic success. As Sims’ counselor, she was required to write an endorsement letter to help Sims advance to the finalist level, which she said she “truly enjoyed writing.” Sims, along with the other semi-finalists, also had to submit a detailed scholarship application that provides information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities and educational goals. In addition, the semi-finalists were required to present a record of high academic performance throughout their high school education, write an essay and earn SAT scores that reflect their PSAT/NMSQT performance. Once everything is submitted, the semi-finalists have to sit and wait until January of next year for a response from the program indicating if they will proceed to the finalist level. Considering how hard-working Sims is, Titus has tremendous faith in Sims and her ability to advance to the finalist level, saying that “Rosette is an outstanding student who will definitely make her mark on society.”
Although the selection process is tedious, Sims is more than qualified to become a finalist and an Achievement Scholar awardee. Her achievement puts Poly in a positive light, and we should root for our fellow Poly bear’s advancement to the higher levels.