A Scholar's Progress

Kayla Love, Class of 2004

National Merit Scholar

We've traced the progress of Kayla Love, most recent SHS National Merit Scholar, toward her goal in the various publications that documented her accomplishment.  Along the way, we have learned much about the program that colleges and universities use to gauge their status--a college that can boast of high numbers of National Merit Scholars is considered a GOOD school.  Did you know that the National Merit Scholarship Program was started the year we were seniors at Sheffield High?   We've also learned that it is a distinct honor that a small town public school can produce National Merit scholars.  So, it's hats off to you, Kayla Love, and to you, the faculty and administration of Sheffield High.

Kayla was an outstanding student during her years at SHS.  She was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the 24 Karat Club.  She served in the Keller Club, on the Demitasse and Hi-Lites staffs, DECA and the Foreign Language Club.  As you will read below, she credits a number of factors as helpful to her in her achievements, not the least of which are her parent's encouragement and support, and the fact that she diversified her high school experience:  academics and service.  

Since I reside in the town in which she chose to attend college, I decided to see how she has fared at The University (We call the University of Alabama, "THE University," as if there is no other contender for best university in Alabama).  As  you might have expected, she is doing well in a tough, challenging curriculum.  As a sophomore, it is quite an honor to receive a research study appointment.  I asked her to tell me some things about how she got to be one of the elite scholars of the nation's high schools, what SHS did to get her ready for college, her advice for other students who aspire to college and what has happened in her college career, thus far.  Here's the unaltered response.  She's good at report writing and composition, as you see.

Okay, so here’s a little bit on how I got to where I am today.

Kayla on the Quad in front of the Gorgas Library at U.A.

I had taken the ACT a few times already and had pretty good scores so when time came around for the PSAT I was ready for it. I took the test along with over a million other students around the country. Soon after that, scores were mailed back and notifications were given to about 50,000 students that they had qualified to be recognized in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Each person is asked to fill out a form specifying his or her top choices in colleges. Later, this group is cut to a third to be recognized as Semifinalists. Another form must be sent in to qualify as a Finalist. After I was told I qualified, I decided to attend the University of Alabama which I had listed as my first choice school on the first form. The University offers an amazing scholarship for National Merit Finalists who designate UA as their first choice school, a scholarship that includes among other things a laptop computer and money to be used for study abroad. 

I graduated in May of 2004 as the Salutatorian. I attended Sheffield City Schools for my whole life through then. During high school I took College Preparatory classes when available. There really isn’t anything that I would want to change about my high school experience. I was involved in several clubs, many of which were service oriented. These were very important for applications for scholarships and college entrance. I would definitely advise students to get involved in activities at school. Grades are extremely important, but extracurricular activities can be the things that really set you apart from everyone else and get you recognized. 

My parents were always helpful and encouraging of me with my schoolwork. They helped me push myself to get where I am today. Through help from my parents and the education I received at Sheffield, my transition into college has been very pleasant. I have been inducted into Phi Eta Sigma, a national honor society for freshmen, and put on the Dean’s List. I am majoring in Psychology. I just recently applied for and got accepted into the Psychology Honors Program. This is a two-year program completed during the Junior and Senior year. It involves running an actual psychology research study guided by a faculty member. The study is very much like the type of work done in a graduate school setting only this undergrad program allows students to work closely with a particular faculty member in his or her focus area in order to gain excellent experience for future studies. The program is supposed to be very difficult and challenging, but I am going to embrace it to the best of my abilities.

                                                                                                                                       Kayla Love, SHS Class of 2004

Published Articles Which Chronicle Kayla Love's Journey to Becoming a National Merit Scholar

Local Merit semifinalists named                               

Staff reports

Ten local students have been named semifinalists in the 2004 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The Florence school district is represented by Bradshaw High School students, Roshan Ahmed, Allen Bagents, Alexander Fraser and Ginny Gattman.  Coffee High School's winner is Finn Breland.  Mars Hill Bible School had two students named semifinalist, Edward Morris and Chris Smeal.  Brooks High School student Hannah Lemaster made the list as well as Muscle Shoals student Nicole McGee.

Sheffield High School student, Kayla Love, was also named among the Alabama winners.

Nationwide, approximately 16,000 students were named semifinalists in the scholarship program, which is in its 49th year.  The list will be narrowed in the spring to 8,000 winners from across the nation.  The scholastically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for merit scholarship awards worth $32 million.  The semifinalists must fulfill several requirements and advance to finalist standing to be considered for a merit scholarship award.  The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state's percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance.  Scholarships awarded through the National Merit Program are underwritten by approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions.  The winners are selected on the strength of their accomplishments and abilities without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference.  More than 1.3 million eleventh graders in 21,000 U.S. high schools entered the 2004 National Merit Program by taking the preliminary qualifying test, which serves as a screening for the program.

Kayla Love Advances in the National Merit Scholarships Program

Senior Kayla Love has been selected from among 16,400 National Merit Semifinalist as a National Merit Finalist. This qualifies Kayla for one of the National Merit Scholarships which will be awarded in March. This award is based on scores obtained on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Less than 1 % of each state's high school seniors qualify as a semifinalist. Kayla is a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and the 24 Karat Club. She has served in Keller club, on the Yearbook and Newspaper Staff, DECA, and the Foreign Language Club. Kayla plans to attend a four year university and is undecided on her major. She is the daughter of Janine and Whit Love.

Congratulations Kayla!

Published in The Bell, February 2004                          

State of Alabama

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

COLLEGE-SPONSORED MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS^® AWARDED

Montgomery, Ala. — Fifty-three Alabama public high school seniors have won College-sponsored Merit Scholarships through the National Merit^® Scholarship Program. The 2004 scholarship winners were judged to have the strongest combination of academic skills and achievements, extracurricular accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. More than 2,600 winners of Merit Scholarship^® awards financed by colleges and universities were chosen from 15,000 finalists nationwide.

Scholarship winners must advance to the Finalist level of competition in the National Merit^® Scholarship Program and meet scholarship sponsors’ criteria. The 210 colleges and universities, located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, sponsor these scholarships which range between $500 and $2,500 annually.

 Established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit^® Scholarship Program, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. The majority of Merit Scholarship^® awards each year are made possible by approximately 500 independent sponsors – 300 business organizations and 200 colleges.

Today’s announcement is the third Merit Scholar release in 2004. NMSC named recipients of corporate-sponsored awards April 21 and winners of National Merit $2,500 Scholarships on May 5. Additional winners will be announced in July, bringing the total number college-sponsored Merit Scholarship^® recipients in this year’s competition to 4,500. By the conclusion of the year’s competition, more than 8,000 students will have won Merit Scholarship^® awards worth over $33 million.

College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Recipients-May 26, 2004

  For more information on NMSC programs, contact Elaine Detweiler or Gloria Ladendorf at 847-866-5100 or publicinfo@nmerit.net or visit www.nationalmerit.org.

Published in News Releases at the State of Alabama Department of Education website, May 4, 2004