A national achievement

By KELLY RICHARDSON

Kelly Richardson

RAE PHELPS

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krichardson@thenewsenterprise.com

ELIZABETHTOWN — A local high school student is one of 16 semifinalists in the state in a national scholarship program.

Rae Phelps, a senior at John Hardin High School, is a semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, part of the National Merit Scholarship Corp. It and was initiated in 1964 to recognize successful black students.

Semifinalists can advance to the finalist level, where they will compete for about 800 available scholarships, according to a news release from the corporation.

Phelps became a semifinalist from her pre-SAT test scores. She said it was only after she learned of her semifinalist status that she became aware of the importance of the designation, from the reactions of her principal and others.

“I didn’t know it was such a big deal,” she said.

Phelps plans to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. She said she is interested in medicine, after wanting to be a veterinarian as a child. An accounting class she’s currently taking has made her interested in business as well.

“I’m kind of going to see where it goes,” she said.

She said receiving a scholarship would add to her credentials as a student, and it also reveals her capabilities.

“It kind of shows me where my expectations should be,” she said.

Kelly Richardson can be reached at (270) 505-1747.