Local Students Named
National Achievement Semifinalists
Three Alachua County Public School students have been named semifinalists in the prestigious National Achievement Scholarship Program, which recognizes outstanding African-American high school students throughout the nation.
Ritza Calixte and Ashley Killgore from Eastside High School and Clarece
Polke from Gainesville High School were named semifinalists by the National
Merit Scholarship Corporation, which also administers the National Merit
Scholarship Program. The three are among just 1600 African-American high
school students nationwide to earn semifinalist status based on their high
scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
“This is an outstanding achievement,” said Superintendent Dan Boyd. “These three students have clearly pushed themselves academically, and as a result they are among the top high school students in the nation.”
Calixte and Killgore are both enrolled in Eastside’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, while Polke is in the Cambridge Program at GHS. All three say that being involved in a rigorous academic program is a worthwhile challenge.
“The courses are harder, but I know I’m more prepared for college,” said Killgore. “It’s forced me to get better and better every year.”
All three attribute at least part of their academic success to the strong encouragement and support they get from their families. But they also say that the urge to do well has to come from within.
“It’s a matter of motivating yourself and knowing what it is you want to accomplish,” said Polke. “You also have to recognize that education is really important, that it sets the foundation for the rest of your life.”
Calixte says she feels a responsibility to encourage other students, particularly other African-American students, to aim high when it comes to academics.
“I believe anyone can achieve anything,” she said. “Stereotypes don’t help, they aren’t encouraging. I want other students to know that they can do so much more than they thought they could.”
Calixte, Killgore and Polke are now eligible to become National Achievement Finalists. They must keep their grades high, score well on the SAT, earn the recommendation of their principals and complete an extensive application, including an essay. About 1300 finalists will be announced in April, and those students will then be eligible for about 80 scholarships worth over $2.6 million.