By Susan Hardee Steger
February 22, 2017 10:46 a.m.
Fernandina Beach high School students, teachers, staff, and parents have a lot to be proud of as the National Merit Scholarship Program announced that the Fernandina Beach High School Class of 2017 have three National Merit Finalist (NMF) included in its ranks. Gabrielle Bayacal, Jessica Clark, and Scott Wardrop, were selected based on Preliminary SAT and a National Merit Qualifying Tests. 15,000 students from across the country were recognized. The National Merit Program began in 1955.
Over the years FBHS has produced a number of NMF, but based on an informal survey of other graduates, not since the FBHS Class of 1967 have three students in one class been selected.
Personal information regarding the finalists follow:
Gabrielle Bayacal
Intended Major: “I intend to study biomedical sciences, with a possible minor in Chemistry. I want to become a pharmacist and specialize in pharmacogenomics, which is the study of how genes affect a person’s response to drugs by combining pharmacology (the study of drugs) with genomics (the study of genes). I hope to work for NIH or the CDC to focus on pharmaceutical development.”
College choices: “I am considering attending the University of Central Florida. I intend to be part of their National Merit Program through the Burnette Honors College.”
Extracurricular Activities – “I am an officer in the FBHS chapter of the National Honors Society. I also serve as the Vice-Chair on the Youth Advocacy Board of Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT), a teen-led anti-tobacco advocacy group. In addition, I play piano for my church’s choir. I’m a member of the High-Q Academic Trivia Team at FBHS.”
Extracaricular Activies: “I’ve played piano since first grade, and I have a soft spot for Broadway Showtunes. I am the Harry Potter trivia champion of Europe, having been the only person to correctly answer all of the questions posted during the Harry Potter tour of London. My three favorite cities in the world are Florence, Italy: Washington D.C., USA and New York City, New York.
Scott Wardrop
Intended major: “Applied Mathematics Engineer, Aviation Management, or Pilot and Aviation Lawyer”
College choices: “Considering the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, the University of Oklahoma and Auburn University.”
Extracurricular Activities: “Soccer, National Honors Society Vice President, Student Government Executive Officer and Academic Worldquest. Eagle Scout from Troop 152, Currently seeking private pilot’s license.”
Jessica Clark
Intended major: “I intend to major in mechanical engineering. I would love to work with NASA or Space X to develop the technology to explore and understand the universe.”
College choice: “I am considering the University of Central Florida, as they have wonderful Honors and National Merit programs.”
Extracurricular Activities – “I am a member of the National Honor Society. I play clarinet in our school’s symphonic and jazz bands, and am the head Drum Major of our marching band.”
“I’ve played music since I was seven. I’m fascinated by historical and fictional mythologies, and have amassed a vast collection of useless trivia on everything to video game lore to ancient religions. I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. Freshman year, I fulfilled a personal goal in reading through Tolstoy’s War and Peace.”
FBHS has a student population is 913 with 225 in the Class of 2017. Graduation takes place at UNF on May 20.
Editor’s Note: Having graduated from FBHS in 1967, I was so pleased when Google alerted me to the fact that FBHS had three graduates who were recognized as National Merit Finalists. It brought back memories of my four years in high school days when graduating classes had two or three NMF in each class.
A 1967 News Leader article reported a quote from the National Merit program: “Finalists are usually products of a combination of able parents, wholesome home influence, superior schools, and effective background experience both within and outside of formal schooling.” Congratulations to all!
This is a wonderful testimony to the quality of instruction at FBHS. The school district and especially the faculty should be very proud of these three students. Congratulations to these students and the FBHS community.
AWESOME accomplishment, Jessica, Scott and Gabrielle!
Congratulations Gabrielle, Jessica and Scott on this outstanding achievement that obviously came through a lot of hard work and dedication to your studies. Best wishes for the future!