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Three Cape students among National Merit semi-finalists

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Three Cape Coral teens are among the students named nationwide as National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists.

Jacob David Williamson, a home-schooled senior who is a student with Stanford Online, and Sean Reagan and Helena Robertson, who attend North Fort Myers High school, will now advance in the program that rewards some of the best scholars in America.

Only seven students throughout Lee County are still in the running for one of the highest honors a student can receive.

All three Cape students are pursuing a rigorous course of study.

Stanford Online is touted as one of the most prestigious online programs for middle and high school students, and Williamson credits his high performance on the PSATs with his National Merit recognition.

“Last year’s cutoff was 208 and I scored a 220, so we pretty much knew all along,” he said. “I was much more excited to learn I had gotten it months ago when we did the math.”

Williamson said he is enrolling in courses now and will try Harvard first before examining his other options. As for what the future holds, he is keeping those options open.

“I’m not sure yet, but I’m cracking down on that,” he said. “I enrolled in a constitutional law course and a neuroscience course and am enjoying both of them. They’re on both ends of the spectrum.

North Fort Myers High school is known for its tough curriculum and its students who excel at living up to these higher standards.

Reagan said he was happy and hoped he could become a finalist with a strong SAT performance. He is still undecided on his school, though it’s expected to be a good one.

“I’m looking forward to college. There are a lot of options, but I would prefer to go north to MIT, Yale, Harvard, one of the big colleges,” Reagan said.

Reagan, who is on the math team and has done Interact the past several years, said earning the scholarship would be great because he knows he couldn’t afford to go to these fine schools by himself.

“The security of knowing I wouldn’t have to worry about that, that I can get a full ride, is amazing,” said Reagan, who plans to look into Bright Futures as well as local scholarship programs such as Kiwanis and the Cape Coral Mayor’s Scholarship, which puts considerable weight on public service.

“With the rising cost of college, it’s more heavy weight on all these new students, so I’m glad I don’t have to worry about it,” Reagan said.

Robertson, who is as adept at playing the violin as she is at academics, said she felt good about the semi-finalist designation, having prepared for all the required tests.

“I was totally surprised when I found out about it, but I’m still really glad and excited to be able to apply for finalist status,” Robertson said. “I’d like to get some great scholarships.”

Robertson, who plays in a youth orchestra, will put down the bow for a lab coat, as she plans to major in neuroscience and go to one of the schools Reagan listed.

“I will also be applying to the University of Miami and Florida in-state,” said Robertson, who is in North’s dual-enrollment program with FGCU and will likely enter college as a junior, with 63 college credits.

Robertson is in Key Club and Key Club International as a secretary. She said she would like to continue music if the course load will allow her to.

Debbie Diggs, North principal, said both students represent the very best of what any school would want as far as high-achieving students.

“They are very focused on their future and on their studies, but also with the community and the arts,” Diggs said. “They are also very humble about their accomplishments, but very driven.”

Darcy Coleman, guidance counselor, said they are also very supportive of their peers and integrated into the student body in the arts and clubs.

“They are in the heart of what we expect as a respectful Red Knight student. We’re proud of them. They’ve worked hard at this,” Coleman said.

The other five semi-finalists were all from Fort Myers High School.

Diggs believes it’s the rigor of the courses they offer, such as the AICE Cambridge program and Fort Myers IB program.

“It speaks of the two schools and the focus on the higher level intense academics,” Coleman said. “We have a committed staff that is focused on academics. We are always training on how kids learn and challenging kids to reach new levels every day.”